Uganda
Casualties
Casualties Overview
|
All known casualties by end 2016 |
2,792 casualties (533 killed; 2,259 injured) |
|
Casualties occurring in 2016 |
14 (2015: 6) |
|
2016 casualties by survival outcome |
2 killed; 12 injured (2015: 6 injured) |
|
2016 casualties by device type |
14 explosive remnants of war (ERW) |
In 2016, the Monitor identified 14 ERW casualties in the Republic of Uganda from two incidents. In February, one child was killed and eight others wounded at their school by a grenade found near old military barracks.[1] In June, one person was killed and four injured by an ERW incident at a scrap metal factory.[2]
In 2015, the Monitor identified six casualties in Uganda from two incidents. Both incidents involved ERW explosions triggered by fire and occurred in northern Uganda.[3] Two men at Gulu Central Prison were also injured by an unknown explosive device that was accidentally detonated while burning garbage.[4]
Following a peak of about 150 mine/ERW casualties recorded per year during 1996–1997, the number of annual mine/ERW casualties has decreased significantly.[5] The most recently reported antipersonnel mine casualty occurred in November 2012; Uganda declared itself mine-free in December 2012.[6]
The total number of mine/ERW casualties in Uganda is not known. At least 2,792 casualties (533 killed; 2,259 injured) had been identified by December 2016.[7]
Cluster munition casualties
A 2006 survey of mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) casualties in Gulu district determined that 3% of recorded casualties (1,387 at the time) were caused by cluster munition remnants. Five other suspected submunition casualties were reported in 2006.[8] As of the end of 2015, no additional casualties caused by cluster munition remnants had been identified since 2006.
[1] “Child killed in Uganda by suspected old grenade,” 24 News, 18 February 2016.
[2] Yazid Yolisigira, “Factory blast leaves one dead, injures four,” Daily Monitor, 20 June 2016.
[3] A report referred to the device as a “bomb,” however it appears to have been ERW. Julius Ocungi, “Bomb blast injures Amuru family,” Daily Monitor, 5 June 2015; and Julius Ocungi, “Suspected bomb blast injures two inmates,” Daily Monitor, 24 March 2015.
[4] Police reported that the device could have been a planted bomb or other explosive device.
[5] Casualty data analysis over time based on previous Monitor data; and “Mines/UXO victim status in IMSMA: Mine and UXO Victims data collected by UMAC [Ugandan Mine Action Center]/DDG [Danish Demining Group], Handicap International [HI] and AVSI [Association of Volunteers in International Services] in Uganda 1971–2011,” provided by email from Afedra Robert Iga, UMAC, 25 May 2011.
[6] Media monitoring from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2015; and email from Samuel Omara, Information Management Officer, DDG/UMAC, 22 March 2013.
[7] Through August 2010 there were 2,744 casualties (524 killed; 2,220 injured) registered. No further casualties were confirmed between the date of publication (August 2010) and the end of 2010. Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD), “Comprehensive Plan on Victim Assistance 2010–2014,” Kampala, August 2010, p. 4; emails from Samuel Omara, UMAC, 27 June 2012, and 22 March 2013; and media monitoring, 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2015.
[8] AVSI, “Gulu District Landmine/ERW Victims Survey Report,” May 2006, p. 20; and HI, Circle of Impact: The Fatal Footprint of Cluster Munitions on People and Communities (Brussels: HI: May 2007), p. 147.