Key developments since May 2005: Ugandan forces have continued to
seize landmines from the Lord’s Resistance Army. There have been no
confirmed reports of use of antipersonnel mines in 2005 or early 2006. Uganda
submitted two Article 7 transparency reports in 2005. The National Steering
Committee for Mine Action met for the first time in January 2006; in February it
began drafting legislation in support of mine action. In April 2006, the Uganda
Mine Action Centre opened; almost 60 personnel from the army and police were
seconded to it. By May 2006, mine action needs assessments were ongoing in two
districts and technical survey continued in three other districts. In 2005, 40
new mine/UXO casualties were recorded. Casualties continued to be reported in
2006, with at least 22 by May.
Mine Ban Policy
Uganda signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997, ratified on 25 February
1999 and the treaty entered into force for the country on 1 August 1999.
In December 2005, Uganda reported that national implementation legislation is
“ready for parliamentary
debate.”[1] Similarly, it
reported in May 2005, “An implementation act is ready to be presented
before Parliament.”[2] However,
the legislation was not submitted in 2005 or early 2006. In March 2006,
officials told Landmine Monitor it was not possible to estimate when the bill
would be submitted to the new parliament elected in February
2006.[3] As a party to the Nairobi
Protocol, Uganda is required to enact legislation that, among other things,
should apply to possession and trafficking of
landmines.[4]
Uganda submitted two Article 7 transparency reports in 2005, one on 11 May
(covering 23 July 2003 to 1 May 2005) and one on 5 December (covering September
2004 to September 2005).[5] As of 1
June, it had not submitted a report for calendar year 2005, due by 30 April
2006.[6]
Uganda participated in the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in Zagreb, Croatia
in November-December 2005, where it made a statement outlining its achievements
and further plans for mine action, mine risk education and victim
assistance.[7] Uganda participated in
the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva in June 2005 and May
2006, where it gave statements on its mine clearance and victim assistance
efforts.
Uganda has not engaged in the extensive States Parties’ discussions on
matters of interpretation and implementation related to Articles 1 and 2 of the
Mine Ban Treaty, dealing with the issues of joint military operations with
non-States Parties, foreign stockpiling and transit of antipersonnel mines, and
antivehicle mines with sensitive fuzes or antihandling devices. With regard to
mines retained under Article 3, “Uganda supports the position already
taken by African states which have called for a minimum number of retained mines
to be of a bare minimum and not in
thousands.”[8]
Uganda is party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons, but not its
Amended Protocol II on landmines.
Production, Transfer, Stockpiling and Destruction
The National Enterprise Corporation, a state-run facility located at
Nakasongola, manufactured antipersonnel mines until at least 1995. It has been
decommissioned. Uganda states that it has never exported antipersonnel
mines.[9] In January 2005, a UN
report said that landmines had been supplied from a camp of the Uganda
People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to a rebel group in the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC) in violation of a UN embargo. The report did not specify if they
were antipersonnel or antivehicle mines. Uganda strongly denied the allegation
as “patently false and
inflammatory.”[10]
In July 2003, Uganda completed destruction of its stockpile of 6,383
antipersonnel mines. This figure was considerably higher than Uganda initially
indicated would be destroyed, apparently because of additional mines captured
from rebel forces and a decrease in the number of mines kept for training
purposes.[11]
Uganda has decided to retain 1,764 antipersonnel mines for training purposes,
less than the 2,400 it originally indicated would be retained. It is keeping
1,164 Type 72 mines and 600 TM-200
mines.[12] A Ugandan military
official told Landmine Monitor that some of the retained mines had been used for
training in 2005 and 2006 at the Kabamba Army Training School. He said mines
used in training are not destroyed in the
process.[13] Uganda has not yet
reported in any detail on the intended purposes and actual uses of its retained
mines—a step agreed by States Parties in the Nairobi Action Plan that
emerged from the First Review Conference.
The UPDF has continued to capture and recover weapons, including
antipersonnel mines, from the Lord’s Resistance
Army.[14] Some captured weapons are
destroyed in the field and others are taken to a military demolition range in
Gulu.[15] Uganda has not explicitly
reported on captured mines and their destruction in its Article 7 reports or
during meetings of States Parties.
Use
There have been no allegations of use of antipersonnel mines by government
forces inside Uganda in recent years. Landmine Monitor previously reported
serious allegations of use of antipersonnel mines by Ugandan forces in the DRC
in 2000.[16] On 19 December 2005,
the International Court of Justice issued its judgment, “Armed Activities
on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v.
Uganda),” in which the DRC accused Uganda of illegal interventions and
human rights violations in the DRC, including two claims of landmine use by
Ugandan armed forces or militias backed by Uganda. The first cited a statement
to the UN Security Council by the Permanent Representative of the DRC, on 10
September 1998, accusing Ugandan troops of having “laid mines around the
Inga Dam.”[17] The second
allegation cited a report by the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(Mission des Nations Unies en Répubique Démocratique du Congo,
MONUC) of an attack by Hema militias and UPDF soldiers on the town of
Zumbe.[18] The MONUC report stated,
“From Zumbe, the attackers burned all the surrounding villages, killed
around 125 civilians and planted several anti-personnel
mines.”[19] The Court judged
in favor of the DRC and directed Uganda to pay reparations to the DRC, with the
amount to be negotiated by the two countries. The judgment did not specifically
refer to either allegation of landmine
use.[20]
Non-State Armed Groups
Africa’s longest civil war is the armed conflict between the
Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan
government.[21] The LRA leader,
Joseph Kony, who was issued an indictment for war crimes and crimes against
humanity by the International Criminal Court in October 2005, reportedly fled
across the border into the DRC in February
2006.[22] There has been a decrease
in the activities of the LRA over the past few years, especially after 2002 when
the governments of Uganda and Sudan reached an agreement to allow the Ugandan
army to pursue LRA units into Sudan under Operations Iron Fist I and II.
While Landmine Monitor has regularly cited the LRA for using antipersonnel
mines over the years, there are no confirmed reports of use in 2005 or early
2006. In May 2005, a UPDF spokesperson stated that the LRA still possessed
landmines.[23] At the same time, a
former mid-level LRA commander acknowledged that he had been trained in the use
of landmines.[24]
In late February 2006, UPDF recovered 20 antivehicle mines in Bilinyang, in
southern Sudan, while on operations against the
LRA.[25] Throughout 2005, UPDF
reported that it captured or received 26 antipersonnel mines, 16 antivehicle
mines and fuzes for 25 antivehicle mines during military operations against the
LRA in Gulu, Lira, Kitgum and Pader districts and the West Nile area of the
northern region.[26]
In early 2005, the media also reported that UPDF had recovered weapons,
including a total of 24 antipersonnel mines, during operations against another
armed group called the People’s Redemption Army
(PRA).[27] Landmine Monitor is not
aware of any subsequent reports regarding the PRA and
landmines.[28]
A new DRC rebel front, the Congolese Revolutionary Movement (Mouvement
Révolutionnaire Congolais, MRC), was formed in August 2005 under an
agreement signed in Kampala by members of several militias active in
Ituri.[29] Among them is the Union
of Congolese Patriots-Lubamba (Union des Patriotes Congolais-Lubamba, UPC/L), a
Hema ethnic-based militia that reportedly has used antipersonnel mines, and with
whom Ugandan forces have been
associated.[30] The MRC engaged in
conflict with the DRC military and MONUC troops during disarmament operations in
Ituri in November 2005, and approximately 300 MRC rebels were reported to have
fled into Uganda during the campaign, where some were disarmed by the Ugandan
army.[31]
Landmine and ERW Problem
Uganda is contaminated with mines and explosive remnants of war
(ERW)[32] as a result of armed
conflicts and insurgencies over the past four
decades.[33] Landmines are found
mainly in the north and, based on available information, contamination is
typically in the form of nuisance mining rather than
minefields.[34] ERW contamination
in Uganda includes both unexploded ordnance (UXO) and, particularly in the
north, abandoned explosive ordnance.[35] The UN believes that UXO is the main problem in the western region and, to
a lesser degree, in the center of the
country.[36] In addition to killing
and injuring civilians, impeding infrastructure development and blocking access
to critical resources, mines and ERW are said to be a major impediment to the
return of approximately 1.4 million internally displaced persons
(IDPs).[37]
At least 11 districts are said to be affected by mines and/or ERW to some
degree: Adjumani, Amuria, Bundibugyo, Gulu, Kaberamaido, Kasese, Katakwi,
Kitgum, Lira, Pader and Soroti.[38] Heavily affected areas include Uganda’s border regions with the DRC
and Sudan as well as a region known as the Luwero triangle, north of
Kampala.[39] The LRA remains active
in the northern districts (Gulu, Pader, Kitgum and Lira), mostly from bases in
southern Sudan. In Acholiland, 90 percent of the population is displaced,
living in camps protected by the UPDF. Contamination also exists in the western
Rwenzori mountains (districts of Kasese, Bundibugyo and Kabarole) as a result of
insurgencies by the National Army of the Liberation of Uganda in the 1980s and
the Allied Democratic Forces in the
1990s.[40]
The nature of contamination in the different regions of Uganda varies
significantly. The full extent of the mine problem that exists primarily in the
north is unclear due to the sporadic nature of mine usage by the LRA and the
overall security environment. An estimated 80 percent of the population in the
northern districts is confined to camps to protect them from the LRA, which has
limited their exposure to the explosive threat. Previously, the UN believed
that systematic mine clearance in the north would not be possible due to the
sporadic, random nature of LRA mine
usage.[41] By May 2006, however,
little new mine use was being reported and the security situation had improved
significantly; accordingly, mine clearance was expected to take place, subject
to appropriate security
precautions.[42]
In 2006, it appeared that mines remained a significant concern to IDPs
planning to return home. In May, for example, it was reported that local
leaders in northern Uganda had appealed to the government to clear landmines to
enable their return under the “decongestion
programme.”[43] The previous
month, it was reported that the national authorities had set up a team of
experts to locate and remove landmines from areas of the war-affected north
before civilians who fled the conflict in the region would be allowed to return
to their villages. According to Christine Aporu Amongin, the minister in charge
of disaster preparedness, “they will demine the areas of Soroti, Amuria
and Lira to make them safe from non-detonated explosive devices as a decisive
factor for the imminent return of the internally displaced persons to their
homes.”[44]
Mine Action Program
National Mine Action Authority: Uganda’s program management
body is its National Steering Committee for Mine Action. This interministerial
body met for the first time in January 2006, with the next meeting planned for
the end of May. The first meeting included representatives of its permanent
members (the ministries of defense, finance, health, internal affairs, and
justice; and the offices of the President and the Prime
Minister).[45] The role of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the National Steering Committee remained to be
decided.[46]
The National Steering Committee has overall responsibility for mine action in
Uganda. In particular, this includes “the adoption and implementation of
the national mine action policy and strategy in line with The Ottawa Treaty, and
integrated annual work plans, and for reporting on progress to the Cabinet,
development partners, the United Nations and other appropriate
entities.”[47]
A mine action policy was drafted in early 2006 but its approval by the
Cabinet was pending as of May 2006 owing to the presidential elections. The
draft policy focused on the responsibilities of the main mine action
institutions and other actors in the mine action program. It was hoped that the
policy could be formally adopted before the end of the
year.[48]
National mine action legislation was under development in Uganda in
2006.[49] At a workshop in Jinja in
February 2006, government ministries and mine action operators began drafting a
law that would “empower and regulate the national mine action
programme.” The draft was circulated to members of the National Steering
Committee. As of May 2006, it was “ready for submission to the Cabinet
and the Parliament of Uganda.” It was likely that the draft legislation
would not be passed before the adoption of the mine action
policy.[50]
International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) had “been accepted” in
Uganda as of 2006.[51] It was
expected that national mine action standards would be drafted during the course
of 2006, probably before September, and on the basis of the field experiences of
some of the multipurpose demining teams. In the meantime, the teams were using
standing operating procedures adapted from those proposed by the International
Mine Action Training Centre (IMATC) in Nairobi,
Kenya.[52]
Mine Action Center: On 4 April 2006, the Uganda Mine Action Centre
(UMAC) was officially opened in Kampala under the overall responsibility of the
National Steering Committee. UMAC, which will be responsible for coordination of
all mine action activities, was functioning as of May, but the staff had not
been officially appointed and it was awaiting the arrival of computers and other
equipment. It was planned that a “fully fledged Mine Action Centre”
would be operational by the middle of
2006.[53]
In May 2006, Uganda reported that 11 staff had already been trained in the
management of mine action information using the most recent version (version 4)
of the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA), with in-depth
training for five national staff. A field-test version of IMSMA was installed
by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) in March
2006. GICHD planned to return in August to install the full
system.[54]
It was also intended that a regional mine action center would be established
in 2006, likely in Gulu in the north of the country. In 2005 and 2006, Uganda
sought US$450,000 to set up the two centers as well as annual running costs of
$150,000.[55] Difficulties in
raising the necessary funds meant that the regional MAC was unlikely to be
established during 2006.[56]
A total of 59 clearance personnel had been seconded to UMAC as of May 2006;
this included 20 army engineers and two paramedics, formed into two multipurpose
demining teams and deployed to the field, and 39 police officers formed into
four multipurpose demining teams but awaiting equipment and funding before being
deployed operationally. The UMAC director, chief of operations and deputy chief
of operations were seconded by the government. In May 2006, Uganda declared
that UGX500 million ($281,330) had been earmarked for mine action in the
national budget for the fiscal year
2006-2007.[57]
Strategic Planning and Progress
In 2005, the mine action program adopted a strategy aiming to ensure that,
“The Republic of Uganda is free from the most severe humanitarian and
economic effects of landmines and UXO by 2009.” In support of this
vision, Uganda has drafted eight strategic objectives, which it aimed to achieve
by March 2009. The first five related to mine action, as follows:
Reduction and clearance of mine/UXO-contaminated land in Gulu, Kitgum, Lira
and Pader districts by December 2007, in accordance with regional and national
rehabilitation and development plans and return or resettlement of IDPs;
Clearance of dangerous areas identified by needs assessment in Kasese
district, including affected parts of the Rwenzori National Park by early
2006;
Reduction and clearance of mine-impacted land in Soroti, Kaberamaido and
Katakwi, in accordance with regional and national rehabilitation and development
plans and return or re-settlement of IDPs by 2009;
Elimination of the socioeconomic impact of landmines and UXO on
mine-affected communities by 2009/2010; and,
50 percent reduction in mine/UXO incidents by 2007, and 90 percent reduction
by 2009.[58]
Emphasis was placed on demining in support of IDP return because in many
mine/ERW-affected areas there were displaced persons either present or planning
to return. Uganda’s national IDP policy states that prior to return there
should be both clearance of affected areas and mine risk education for the
returnees. However, according to the UNDP mine action advisor, the spontaneous
nature and increasing pace of return means that this policy is unlikely to be
implemented in full.[59]
In May 2006, Uganda declared that it would fulfill its commitments under
Article 5 as well as the Nairobi Action Plan by increasing demining capacity:
Four additional multipurpose technical survey/clearance/explosive ordnance
disposal (EOD) teams and two quality assurance teams in 2006;
Three multipurpose technical survey/clearance/EOD teams with a mine
detection dog team in early 2007;
Up to four more multipurpose technical survey/clearance/EOD teams in 2007,
subject to targeted needs assessments; and,
Establishment of a fully-fledged Mine Action Centre by
mid-2006.[60]
In 2006, UNDP support to the program included a chief technical advisor and a
technical advisor for victim assistance. It was planned that the chief
technical advisor would remain in Uganda until
2008.[61]
The mine action program hoped to establish two quality assurance teams in the
second half of 2006.[62] It also
sought to establish a mine detection dog capacity, for technical survey and
quality control.[63]
Summary of Efforts to Comply with Article 5
Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Uganda must destroy all antipersonnel
mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but
no later than 1 August 2009. According to its draft strategic plan, Uganda aims
to eliminate the socioeconomic impact of landmines and UXO on mine-affected
communities by 2009/2010, which suggests that it is unlikely to meet its Article
5 deadline. However, at the Standing Committee meetings in May 2006, Uganda
declared that it intended to fulfill its Article 5 obligations by March 2009.
It noted that this would be subject to the insurgency in the
north.[64] The UNDP mine action
advisor was optimistic that there would be only a residual risk from mines and
ERW by early 2009.[65]
Demining
Demining (technical survey, mine clearance and EOD) is the responsibility of
trained engineers from UPDF and the Ugandan Police Force. The total of 59 UPDF
engineers and police officers seconded to UMAC as of May 2003 had received
training in 2005-2006 at the UK-funded IMATC in Kenya, followed by
pre-deployment and on-the-job training. Technical survey training was also
provided by the Mines Awareness Trust (MAT), a British NGO, with funding from
the UK Department for International
Development.[66] IMATC provides
each trainee with a detector, personal protective equipment, a GPS receiver, a
medical kit and standard demining
tools.[67] Two multipurpose
demining teams of army engineers had been deployed, but the 39 police officers,
formed into four multipurpose teams, had not been deployed “due to lack of
resources for additional equipment and operational
costs.”[68]
There were no reports of any demining accidents during operations in 2005 or
January-May 2006. The draft national mine action legislation provides that UMAC
will be responsible for investigating any accidents during the course of
demining, which it will submit to the National Steering Committee. The draft
legislation also requires that all deminers are insured for injuries occurring
during operations.[69]
For personnel engaged in needs assessments, no HIV/AIDS awareness had been
conducted during training. It was planned that HIV/AIDS awareness sessions
would be held for personnel trained for technical survey. Both needs assessment
and technical survey personnel had received information on malaria and
typhoid.[70]
Identification of Mined Areas: Surveys and Assessments
By May 2005, the Anti-mine Network Rwenzori (AMNET-R) assessment team,
supervised by MAT, had identified 57 dangerous areas in Kasese district. In
August, MAT carried out a rapid assessment in Adjumani district in northwestern
Uganda.[71] It found relatively
little mine and ERW
contamination.[72]
Uganda sought $330,000 to fund a “general mine action assessment”
in 2006. The objectives were the identification and mapping of
dangerous/suspect areas, analysis of the socioeconomic impact of contamination,
and census of mine/UXO survivors in five affected districts of northern
Uganda.[73] As of May 2006, two
multipurpose technical survey/c1earance/EOD teams were fully operational and
deployed to conduct technical survey in Kaberamaido, Amuria and Katakwi
districts, and targeted needs assessments were in progress in Lira and Soroti
districts. MAT supervised the technical survey
teams.[74]
Further needs assessments were planned for Pader, Kitgum, and Gulu districts,
if funding is made available.[75]
Marking and Fencing
There has been no marking or fencing of dangerous areas in Uganda. During
needs assessments, a GPS reading is taken and included in the IMSMA database,
and the local authorities are informed. It is planned that during technical
survey of dangerous areas identified by the needs assessment, perimeter marking
will take place.[76]
Mine and ERW Clearance
There was no formal clearance of mines or ERW in
2005.[77] The UN reports that ad
hoc clearance of explosive ordnance has been carried out by UPDF engineers,
“though with inadequate procedures and
equipment.”[78] There have
been no confirmed reports of “village demining.”
Mine Risk Education
Uganda did not report on mine risk education activities in its Article 7
report for September 2004-September 2005.
Organizations involved in MRE in Uganda include the International Service
Volunteers Association (Associazione Volontari per il Servizio Internazionale,
AVSI), Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR), Anti-mine Network-Rwenzori
(AMNET-R) and, since January 2006, World Vision.
MRE organizations are reported as working closely with government ministries,
district authorities and the UPDF. During 2005, mine action staff of the Office
of the Prime Minister started to convene monthly coordination meetings on MRE.
Operators were requested to submit monthly written
reports.[79] As of May 2006, IMAS
for MRE had not been applied in Uganda, and national standards had not been
developed.[80] However, AVSI states
that its MRE activities are in accordance with IMAS.
MRE activities in 2005 and early 2006 were focused on IDPs in northern
Uganda.[81] MRE activities in the
north began in 2000, as a collaborative effort of NGOs and district
rehabilitation officers. In 2005, MRE conducted by AVSI and CPAR reached about
69,500 people in the districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Lira, Pader and
Apac.[82]
AVSI reported that a study in 53 IDP camps in the north showed that 84
percent of those injured were not previously aware of the danger of
mines/ERW.[83] Another AVSI study
in 2005 revealed that nearly 70 percent of mine survivors were male and two
thirds were between the ages of 18 and
45.[84] In May 2006, AVSI was
working in 80 IDP camps (49 in Gulu, 21 in Kitgum, 9 in Lira and 1 in Apac).
All AVSI activities since January 2005 have been supported by the European
Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), the Netherlands Embassy and Grapes for
Humanity-USA.[85]
CPAR’s Landmine Support and Injury Prevention Project covered 15 IDP
camps in Gulu district in 2005. CPAR partnered closely with AVSI, World Vision,
community counseling aides, advocacy groups and religious leaders. It has four
MRE agency staff assisted by community liaison personnel. In 2005, training of
trainers sessions equipped 30 volunteers and 400 members from eight drama groups
to conduct MRE. In January 2006, CPAR trained MRE educators in seven camps in
Lira district. CPAR uses IMAS to inform their training programs but has not
translated them into the local
language.[86]
World Vision trained 32 participants from Pader and 36 participants from Gulu
in December 2005 as community educators, including a basic knowledge of mine
action. Participants, including landmine survivors, community counselors,
community development officers and parish chiefs, started in January 2006 to
implement MRE campaigns. World Vision planned to carry out MRE campaigns in
schools starting in February 2006.[87]
In western Uganda, Anti-Mine Network–Rwenzori continued MRE in 2005 on
a very limited scale due to lack of funding. MRE is limited in Kasese district
as mine incidents have not continued to be
reported.[88] However, previously
trained mine risk educators continued to pass on awareness messages to the
communities. Reportedly, many people in Rwenzori region have not started using
their farm land for fear of landmines; most villages in Kasese district have
continued to report suspicious objects to the authorities. AMNET-R continued to
undertake locally recognized marking using poles in combination with
MRE.[89]
The UNDP chief technical advisor identifies three areas requiring continued
or new MRE activities in Uganda: IDP camps in northern Uganda, areas in
northeastern Uganda where IDPs may return as general security improves, and
post-conflict areas in western Uganda. Western Uganda, especially Kasese
district, is known to be affected by landmines and ERW and reportedly has more
mine incidents and casualties than northern Uganda; it received the first needs
assessment in the country. “However, due to the focus of need in the
north this is an area that is struggling to identify funds...so far and there is
no funding for MRE [in western
Uganda].”[90]
All MRE providers in Uganda follow a similar community-based approach on
three levels: a training-of-trainers workshop to build a large capacity of
volunteer MRE educators; awareness trainings targeting teachers, religious
leaders, NGO staff and other community leaders; and community awareness training
using drama, group discussions and question/answer sessions. MRE materials have
been developed to support these
activities.[91]
MRE in Uganda has been associated with continued reporting of suspicious
devices by local communities, leading to ad hoc clearance operations by
UPDF and the police. In 2001, UPDF removed 31 explosive devices in response in
local reports, but by 2002, “that number had jumped to 111, to 202 by
2003, 349 by 2004, and in the first 8 months of 2005, 258 mines and UXO had been
recovered safely.” AVSI’s program coordinator adds that this
increase is clearly linked to continuous
MRE.[92] However, CPAR pointed out
that the willingness to continue reporting may decrease unless clearance/EOD
capacity increases; on average, only one of the five requests arising from MRE
activities results in clearance/EOD due to limitations on UPDF
capacity.[93]
Regular MRE radio spots and talk shows continued to be aired, with CPAR and
AVSI involvement.[94] The Ministry
of Health and AVSI designed, field-tested and produced new MRE materials in
2005-2006. Publications included the Restoring Survivors’ Hope booklet
giving the stories of mine survivors from northern Uganda, MRE stickers for use
on jerry cans distributed in kits for IDPs and on vehicles, and exercise books
with colored MRE pictures. Local artists were trained in MRE and produced songs
on mine awareness which were recorded on CDs for radio stations and on tapes for
communities.[95] The Office of the
Prime Minister aired radio spots and distributed brochures on mine action to all
Ugandan members of
parliament.[96]
Evaluations: An external evaluation of CPAR’s MRE project was
undertaken in 2005.[97] According
to CPAR’s Uganda program manager, the evaluation showed the positive
impact of MRE in terms of safe behaviors adopted by communities, improved
reporting mechanisms, type of questions asked during MRE sessions in IDP camps
and at social gatherings, and attendance during
sessions.[98]
Asked by Landmine Monitor to evaluate the impact of MRE in Uganda,
AVSI’s program coordinator identified the large number of trainings
performed, of MRE teams formed, of dangerous areas reported by communities, of
mines and UXOs reported, and of IDP camps
sensitized.[99]
Funding and Assistance
In 2005, $1,763,449 was contributed by five countries for mine action in
Uganda, a large increase from 2004 ($228,539 reported by two
donors).[100] Donors for 2005
included:[101]
Canada: C$830,804 ($685,764) consisting of C$356,276 ($294,078) to World
Vision Canada for integrated mine action, and C$474,528 ($391,686) to Canadian
Physicians for Aid and Relief for MRE and victim
assistance;[102]
Germany: €220,000 ($273,878), consisting of €180,000 ($224,082)
in-kind to UNDP (secondment of UNDP technical advisor) and €40,000
($49,796) to UNDP for mine
detectors;[103]
Norway: NOK860,000 ($133,515) to UNDP for victim assistance and survivor
reintegration;[104]
US: $500,000 from the Leahy War Victims
Fund.[106]
The total amount sought by Uganda through the UN Portfolio of Mine Action
Projects in 2005 was $5,660,042, of which $1,030,022 (18 percent) was received.
The Portfolio’s end of year report stated that funding shortages in 2005
prevented the start of clearance operations and postponed needs
assessments.[107]
The European Commission (EC) had pledged €1 million ($1.24 million) for
MRE, victim assistance and needs assessments in Uganda in 2005. However,
proposals submitted by NGOs were not accepted and funding was not allocated in
2005.[108] The EC reported allocating €1 million ($1,244,900) to NGOs for MRE
and victim assistance in Uganda for the period
2006-2008/9.[109]
The Ugandan government covers the remuneration (total value not reported) of
mine action staff seconded to the
OPM.[110]
In late 2005 and 2006, the UK through its Department for International
Development and International Mine Action Training Centre in Kenya contributed
$250,000 for demining equipment, operational costs and technical expert;
$195,000 for needs assessment and $35,000 for monitoring and evaluation by
UNDP.[111] These amounts have not been included in the total for 2005.
Landmine/UXO Casualties
The number of new mine/UXO casualties in Uganda in 2005 is not known, as
there is no comprehensive nationwide data collection mechanism. In 2005,
Landmine Monitor recorded at least 40 casualties (including 11 killed and 29
injured) from NGO data, media reports and hospital records. This is an increase
compared to 31 casualties in 2004, which may be partly explained by improved
data collection in some areas, and the return of internally displaced
people.
AVSI set up a casualty collection mechanism in Gulu district in September
2005; AVSI recorded 25 new mine/UXO casualties in Gulu district during 2005
(nine people killed and 16 injured; at least nine casualties were female, eight
were under 20 years and six were between 20 and 30 years
old.)[112]
Limited information is also available from general hospital records and media
reports. In January, two soldiers lost legs above the knee in mine incidents in
Gulu district.[113] In another
incident in January, in Kisongora village in Muhokya sub-county, two people were
critically injured and three others received minor injuries. In March, at
Karambi sub-county headquarters, one boy was killed and four others were
seriously injured in mine/UXO
explosions.[114] In one incident,
the 13-year-old son of the local council chairman was killed by an explosive
device.[115] On 22 February, a
soldier lost a leg in a mine explosion and received treatment at Kitgum
Hospital.[116] On 29 December
2005, a former soldier was injured by a landmine in Kyondo sub-county, Kasese
district, while cultivating.[117] Bwera Hospital, Fort Portal Regional Hospita, and Kilembe Hospital in
western Uganda did not record any mine/UXO
casualties.[118]
Casualties continued to be reported in 2006, with at least 22 new mine/UXO
casualties by March 2006. AVSI recorded 15 new casualties, including two killed
and 13 injured, in Gulu district. AVSI recorded four children killed in Lira
district. Landmine Monitor has recorded one additional incident: in January,
three children were injured by a landmine in Paicho, Katakwi
district.[119]
The total number of mine casualties in Uganda is not known. The government
reports 900 known survivors in northern Uganda and 200 in western Uganda. The
Injury Control Center Uganda has an injury surveillance system in northern and
western Uganda, which reportedly records injuries caused by landmines and
UXO.[120]
AVSI collected mine/UXO casualty data in 53 IDP camps in Gulu, recording
casualties occurring between 1986 and 2006 and including 23 earlier cases. The
survey identified 1,387 casualties, including 534 killed (39 percent) and 853
injured (61 percent). Most casualties were male (969, 69 percent) including 383
men killed; 61 percent of fatal casualties died on-site, 20 in the health center
and 11 died during transport to medical care. The casualties occurred in the
following counties: Kilak (395), Nwoya (303), Omoro (290), Aswa (253); Gulu
(59); and 87 happened in other districts. Adults aged 31 to 40 constitute the
largest group of casualties (321), following by people aged 21 to 30 (271).
Incidents occurred on footpaths (38 percent), passing by/standing (14 percent),
traveling by vehicle (12 percent), and while farming (10 percent). Thirty
percent of casualties had previously visited the incident location several times
per week and 27 percent had visited at least once a day prior to the mine
incident, mostly from economic necessity (52 percent) or because there was no
other access route (19 percent). However, 1,165 casualties (84 percent) did not
know the areas where the incidents occurred were mine-affected. Antipersonnel
mines caused 61 percent of casualties, UXO caused 17 percent, antivehicle mines
caused 11 percent, cluster munitions caused three percent, and unknown devices
caused eight percent of
casualties.[121]
AVSI reviewed hospital and Gulu Regional Orthopedic Workshop records from
northern Uganda between July 1998 and August 2005. It concluded that mines/UXO
caused nearly 20 percent of all injuries in northern Uganda. Of the
approximately 2,300 amputees identified, over 40 percent were due to war-related
injuries and 46.2 percent of war-related amputations were as a result of
mines.[122]
Available data from the Ministry of Health, the International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) and NGOs show that there might have been as many as 2,000
mine/UXO casualties between 1999 and
2004.[123]
UMAC, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Gender,
Labour and Social Development, started to develop a national surveillance
network linking to all hospitals and police, using IMSMA, and including
information on casualties, their injuries, assistance received and health and
economic status.[124] IMSMA
training was scheduled for officers from the
ministries.[125]
In December 2005, World Vision started training 32 volunteers in Pader
district and 36 in Gulu district to collect casualty data, historical mine/UXO
victim information and to identify persons with disabilities to be referred to
rehabilitation services. The volunteers include landmine survivors,
community-based counselors, community development officers and parish
chiefs.[126]
Survivor Assistance
At the First Review Conference in Nairobi in November-December 2004, Uganda
was identified as one of 24 States Parties with significant numbers of mine
survivors, and with “the greatest responsibility to act, but also the
greatest needs and expectations for assistance,” in providing adequate
services for the care, rehabilitation and reintegration of
survivors.[127] Uganda prepared
its 2005-2009 objectives for the Sixth Meeting of State Parties from 28 November
to 2 December 2005. The objectives included: establishing a comprehensive
nation-wide casualty surveillance system, including economic and health status
by 2007; increasing community capacity to respond to landmine emergencies by
2006, developing emergency care health units by 2009 and a referral system by
2007 in all mine-affected areas; providing all registered survivors with
rehabilitation services by 2009 and provide information on how to manage
mine-related disabilities by 2007; establishing a psychological support network
by 2007 to provide center-based and community psychological support to 25
percent of registered survivors and families by 2009; making 10 secondary
schools accessible to children with disabilities; developing community
infrastructure and job opportunities by 2007, income-generation and
small-enterprise projects, and vocational training for 60 mine/UXO survivors by
2009; and campaigning for landmine/UXO survivors participation to represent
disabled people and formulating and implementing national policies and
legislative frameworks for full participation of people with disabilities by
2007.[128]
Uganda’s Article 7 report for September
2004-September 2005 did not include victim assistance information. A mine
survivor from Uganda participated in the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in
November–December 2005, and the May 2006 intersessional meetings.
The National Mine Action Steering Committee coordinates victim assistance, in
cooperation with the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health, the
Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the National Council for
Disability, as well as UMAC, the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda
(NUDIPU) and the Uganda Landmine Survivors’
Association.[129] Disability is
included in Uganda’s Poverty Eradication Programme. The casualty database
will include indicators to monitor the situation of mine/UXO survivors in
relation to the Millennium Development
Goals.[130]
The Minister of State for the Elderly and Disability Affairs reported on
Uganda’s progress at the Standing Committee Meeting on Victim Assistance
and Socio-Economic Reintegration in May 2006. She stated that, “a Victim
Assistance Action Plan is in place” and a technical advisor on victim
assistance was seconded to the OPM to work on implementation of the action plan.
Attention will also be paid to “capacity building of technical staff,
survivors and the communities to ensure that landmine survivors are fully
empowered and fully integrated into society.” She added that the draft
mine action legislation prepared by the OPM includes a victim assistance
component.[131]
Challenges are that much of the victim assistance work has focused on areas
where many people are in IDP camps with restricted movement, as well as funding
constraints. The victim assistance advisor identified the need to build
capacity to prepare mine/UXO survivors for their return by ensuring that
landmine survivors have a role to play in society, assisting survivors in
developing associations, and ensuring that survivors have access to
services.[132]
Uganda has 245 health facilities, but the majority are private. Healthcare
plans exist but are not
implemented.[133] Access to
quality services is limited for poor people, either because services are not
available or not affordable in their communities. In rural areas, only 49
percent of the population has access to healthcare facilities. The public
health system in the mine-affected areas of northern and western Uganda is
ill-equipped to handle landmine casualties. Reportedly, 58 percent of
healthcare facilities in Lira are not functioning; in Gulu this is 43 percent
and in Kitgum 25 percent. Less than half of the population in Gulu, Kitgum and
Pader districts has access to healthcare services within five
kilometers.[134]
Most health units do not have the capacity to effectively treat trauma cases
and there is a lack of qualified staff and emergency transport. In northern
Uganda, casualties are transported in army trucks or private vehicles; it can
take up to nine hours to reach the first health facility. Regional hospitals in
mine-affected areas have specialized surgeons to carry out amputations and
corrective surgery, but this is not the case in district hospitals. Orthopedic
surgeons visit mine-affected
regions.[135]
The ICRC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Uganda Red Cross,
supports war-related injured in eight hospitals and several IDP camps in Gulu,
Kitgum and Pader districts. Support includes training of health staff and
provision of materials and equipment, as well as renovation of infrastructure
and medical evacuations. In the last quarter of 2005, ICRC assisted 59
war-injured and performed 16-17 medical evacuations from IDP camps to referral
hospitals in northern Uganda.[136] Between May 2005 and December 2005, 10 survivors were assisted with
mobility devices.[137] From 25
April to 4 May 2006, ICRC in collaboration with doctors from Gulu Regional
Hospital, Gulu Military Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital in Lacor and Gulu
University Faculty of Medicine organized a surgery camp at Anaka Hospital to
build capacity of trauma surgeons.[138] Additionally, ICRC sponsored a Ugandan prosthetic/orthotic technician to
undertake a training course at the Tanzanian Training Center for Orthopedic
Technologists in 2005.[139] ICRC
has also set up small-scale livestock breeding projects for vulnerable people in
IDP camps, and assisted 439 households between October and December
2005.[140]
The Ministry of Defence has its own military hospitals at Mbuya, Gulu and
Bombo. The UPDF has a casualty unit in Mubende, and a smaller unit in
Nakasongola.[141]
The Ministry of Health has established a rehabilitation and disability
department and strengthened community-based rehabilitation services to address
the needs of people with
disabilities.[142] There are five
main orthopedic facilities in Uganda and seven smaller facilities, but only two
are in the most mine-affected areas of Gulu and Fort Portal. The capacities of
the orthopedic centers are insufficient to meet the
demand.[143] The center in Gulu
(supported by AVSI) has better trained staff, and faster, higher quality
services. The center in Fort Portal needs strengthening. Both centers need
more qualified staff. The cost of transport and accommodation further limits
the accessibility of rehabilitation services. Limited physiotherapy and
occupational therapy is available in Uganda. The National Union of Disabled
Persons of Uganda and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development
provide community-based rehabilitation in 13
districts.[144]
Psychological support is provided on a limited basis at the rehabilitation
center in Gulu and at the community level by NGOs. The Ministry of Education
and Sports, in cooperation with the Uganda Institute of Special Education, is
responsible for access to
education.[145]
Uganda is in the process of constructing 22 technical training centers and
provides financial support to 26 private providers of technical and vocational
training. Vocational training centers in the north supported by the government
are open to all, but are not free of charge. The Employment Exchange Service of
the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development facilitates job placement
and training for people with disabilities. Micro-credit programs also exist in
the north but it is not known if landmine survivors benefit from these.
However, accessibility problems and lack of knowledge of the available services
limit survivor participation.[146] Discussions are ongoing with the Japan International Cooperation Agency to
establish vocational training centers for landmine survivors and people with
other disabilities.[147]
The Uganda Veterans Assistance Board has a medical rehabilitation program for
disabled soldiers.[148] On 20 May
2005, refurbishment started on the UPDF Mubende Rehabilitation Centre for
disabled soldiers, with support from a South African organization, AMA Medical
Services. Provision of supplies and equipment by AMA is pending funding by the
Ministry of Defence.[149]
AVSI supports the Gulu Regional Workshop at the Gulu referral
hospital.[150]All services
are provided free of charge. From January 2005 to February 2006, 283
war-injured, including 150 mine/UXO survivors, had
benefited.[151] In 2005, the
workshop assisted 426 people, and distributed 154 prostheses, 23 crutches, and
other assistive devices; 56 mine/UXO survivors
benefited.[152] AVSI works with
the Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Health, local authorities, UN
agencies, local NGOs and CPAR. In January 2005, ICRC provided a new oven for
the production of prostheses worth UGX3.4 million ($1,913), and World Vision
donated 1,245 orthopedic devices to assist about 500 people, worth UGX7.9
million ($4,445).[153] In
November 2005, AVSI received a supply of below-elbow prosthetic arms and two
experts to help in their fitting from the Rotary Club of
Milan.[154] In 2006, AVSI aimed
to provide orthopedic appliances to 450-500 people and to send two technicians
to Ethiopia for training.[155]
CPAR’s Landmine Survivor Support and Injury Prevention Project in Gulu
district includes vocational and business skills training, small revolving loans
for income-generating activities, agricultural seeds and tools, as well as
psychosocial activities.[156] The
first group of 285 people including 138 mine/UXO survivors, have been able to
pay back their loan and have a sustainable income. A second group was scheduled
to start in the revolving loan fund in June
2006.[157] CPAR has started training mental health community workers in camps in
northern Uganda to strengthen capacities for psychosocial
support.[158]
AMNET-R provides transport to the orthopedic workshop in Fort Portal for
mine/UXO survivors and transported produce from income-generating activities to
local markets with trucks provided by
MAT.[159]
The Kasese Amputees Association runs a carpentry workshop for mine/UXO
survivors, which started in 2004 with 15 mine/UXO survivors who each made a
small contribution of start-up
capital.[160]
In November 2005, the Gulu Landmine Survivors Group was formed to advocate
for their rights, raise awareness, seek government assistance, and collect
landmine survivor data as part of the national surveillance network in Gulu.
The group secured a grant of UGX23,858,500 ($13,424) from PACT Omega for
capacity-building, including a public speaking course for 20 survivors, office
installation and salaries for five mine survivors working at the office. The
group plans to extend its membership to the district of Kitgum, Lira, Apac and
West Nile, to establish a revolving fund for survivors and to provide support
for mine survivors’
children.[161]
In July 2005, World Vision initiated its integrated mine action program,
which includes a component to assist mine/UXO survivors from Gulu, Kitgum and
Pader districts in northern Uganda, with support from the Canadian International
Development Agency and World Vision Canada. The program is scheduled to run
until March 2007 and reach 400 survivors. Activities included support to the
mobilization of survivor groups in Kitgum and Pader districts, linking survivors
with World Vision’s psychosocial counselors in northern Uganda, survey of
the numbers and needs of mine survivors and their families, and identification
of survivors to benefit from physical and psychosocial counseling. World Vision
identified vocational training centers and explored opportunities for formal
education for survivors and their family members. Since July 2005, 13 child
survivors have been enrolled in formal education and vocational training at the
Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda Together
project.[162]
The government-run District Rehabilitation Office provides community outreach
and psychosocial support for war victims in
Gulu.[163]
Other local organizations assisting mine survivors, and organizations
representing persons with disabilities in Uganda, were noted in last
year’s Landmine Monitor
report.[164]
Disability Policy and Practice
Uganda has legislation and policies to protect the rights and needs of people
with disabilities. Reportedly, people with disabilities, including mine/UXO
survivors are represented at all levels of politics. However, implementation of
legislation is weak in rural regions of the
country.[165]
The Uganda Person’s with Disabilities Bill that provides for
“full and equal participation” of people with disabilities was
adopted in December 2005 and a Disability Act focusing on discrimination of
people with disabilities, including mine/UXO survivors, was passed in May
2006.[166]
Uganda has a Minister of State for the Elderly and Disability Affairs and a
Department for Disabled Persons within the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social
Development. Five seats in parliament are reserved for representatives of
people with disabilities. In the February 2006 presidential and parliamentary
elections, two members of parliament who had been elected as part of the special
interest group instead stood on the ordinary ballot and were elected on their
own political party
merits.[167]
The National Disability Council coordinates all disability activities in the
country. However, there is a lack of funding to undertake any significant
initiatives to improve opportunities for people with
disabilities.[168]
In collaboration with the Ministry of Construction and Housing, disability
groups have drafted a bill to ensure that accessibility for disabled people is
taken into consideration in the construction of roads and major buildings. As
of August 2005, sections of the bill were approved. On other sections,
consultation among stakeholders is
ongoing.[169] Challenges to
implement the approved sections of the bill include lack of training on
disability issues for planners, architects, and construction
engineers.[170]
Uganda created a National Landmine Survivors’ Association to develop
advocacy groups and associations in the affected
districts.[171]
Uganda is working on mainstreaming disability issues, including mine/UXO
survivors into national social, political and economic
development.[172] The Ministry of
State for the Elderly and Disability Affairs has formulated a five-year National
Community-Based Rehabilitation Strategic Plan 2002-2007, taking into account the
Poverty Eradication Plan and Social Development Sector Strategic Investment
Plan.[173]
[1] Article 7 Report, Form A, 5
December 2005. No other national implementation measures are cited. The draft
law is titled, “1997 Mine Ban Implementation Bill 2002.” In May
2002, Uganda reported the act was before parliament. In May 2004, officials
told Landmine Monitor that a revised draft was due to be presented to the
cabinet for approval before going to parliament. In May 2005, officials told
Landmine Monitor that the Ministry of Defence was still reviewing the draft
legislation. [2] Article 7 Report, Form A, 11
May 2005. [3] Telephone interview with Capt.
Kagoro Asingura, Legal Officer, Ministry of Defence, Kampala, 26 February 2006;
interview with Isaac Biruma Sebulime, Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Kampala, 24 March 2006. [4] The Nairobi Protocol prohibits
the possession, manufacture or trafficking of landmines, among other weapons.
Under the protocol, Uganda is required to enact legislation, which would
sanction any act which violated a UN or regional arms embargo. This would also
apply to extra-territorial transfers organized by brokers operating from within
Uganda. The Nairobi Protocol encourages States Parties to develop joint and
combined operations across their borders to locate, seize and destroy caches of
landmines and other weapons left over after conflicts, and should any mines be
seized through such operations there should be an effective mechanism for
storing impounded, recovered landmines and other weapons, pending the
investigations that will release them for destruction. [5] Previous Article 7 reports were
submitted on 24 July 2003 and 24 May 2002. The most recent report is listed by
the UN with a 5 December submission date, but the report itself is dated 21
October. The May 2005 report on the UN website contains only Forms A and I.
Uganda did not submit its required annual updated Article 7 report in 2004. [6] A Ugandan official told
Landmine Monitor that a report was submitted to the UN on 28 April 2006, but as
of 1 June this was not listed by the UN website. Email from Eddie Mworozi,
Landmine Monitor researcher, citing Vicent Woboya, National Mine Action
Director, Office of the Prime Minister, 28 April 2006. [7] Statement by Martin Owedo,
Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister, Sixth Meeting of States
Parties, Zagreb, 29 November 2005. [8] Interview with Dorah Kutesa,
First Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Geneva, 23 June 2004. [9] See Landmine Monitor
Report 1999, p. 91. [10] Letter (MOT/383/406/01) from
Isaac Biruma Sebulime, for the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Kampala, to Stephen Goose, Landmine Monitor Ban Policy Coordinator, 2 September
2005. The full text of the letter can be found on the Landmine Monitor website
at www.icbl.org/lm. See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 596, for more
details on the UN report and the denial. [11] Article 7 Report, Form G, 5
December 2005. Uganda identifies seven types of mines destroyed (No. 4, PMN-2,
Type 72, POMZ, PROM-1, MON 100 and MON 200), but does not provide details on how
many of each was destroyed. Uganda first revealed details of its stockpile in
May 2002 with its initial Article 7 report, declaring a stockpile of 6,782
mines, of which 4,382 would be destroyed and 2,400 retained for training. In
May 2003, Uganda announced that the number of mines to be destroyed had
increased to 5,592, due to new mines captured from rebels. At the final
destruction event on 7 July 2003, Uganda said 5,018 mines were destroyed and
1,764 antipersonnel mines were retained for training purposes. The Canadian
government reported that the destruction certificate, dated 9 July 2003,
indicated that 6,383 mines were destroyed. [12] Article 7 Report, Form D, 5
December 2005. [13] Telephone interview with
Capt. Wilson Kabeera, Engineer, UPDF, Kampala, 24 March 2006. [14] Ibid. [15] Interview with Capt. Wilson
Kabeera, UPDF, Kampala, 27 February 2006. [16] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 834. [17] Statement by Pierre Klein,
Professor of International Law, Director of the Centre for International Law,
Université libre de Bruxelles, Counsel to the DRC, document CR 2005/16
(translation), 29 April 2005. In his statement he cites Security Council
document S/1998/778, RDRC, Ann. 42, www.icj-cij.org, accessed 20 March 2006. [18] “Public sitting held
on Wednesday 13 April 2005, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, President Shi
presiding, in the case concerning Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo
(Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda),” Verbatim Record,
www.icj-cij.org, accessed 20 March 2006. [19] “Special Report on the
events in Ituri, January 2002-December 2003,” MONUC report to the Security
Council, S/2004/573, 16 June 2004, p. 22, para 63, www.monuc.org, accessed 23
March 2006. [20] International Court of
Justice, “Case Concerning Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo
(Democratic Republic of the Congo V. Uganda),” 19 December 2005,
www.icj-cij.org, accessed 20 March 2006. [21] “UK government is
neglecting the victims of Africa's longest running war,” Joint Statement
by Oxfam, Christian Aid, Tearfund, International Rescue Committee, World Vision
UK, Save the Children UK, CAFOD and Quaker Peace and Social Witness, 30 November
2005, www.christian-aid.org.uk. [22] “Uganda says LRA
regrouping in Congo,” Sudan Tribune, 20 April 2006. Reportedly,
Kony joined Vincent Otti, his second-in-command, who had established an LRA
presence in the DRC in late 2005. [23] Small Arms Survey interview
with Maj. Shaban Bantariza, UPDF spokesperson, Kampala, 21 May 2005; Small Arms
Survey interview with Lt. Kiconco, UPDF spokesperson for northern Uganda, Gulu,
22 May 2005. Kiconco stated the LRA had large stocks of mines. Small Arms
Survey made the interviews available to Landmine Monitor. [24] Small Arms Survey interview
with Lt. John, former mid-level LRA commander, Gulu, 26 May 2005. Small Arms
Survey made the interview available to Landmine Monitor. [25] Telephone interview with
Capt. Wilson Kabeera, UPDF, Kampala, 24 March 2006. He said the mines remained
in Sudan pending arrival of equipment necessary to destroy them there. [26] Interview with Capt. Wilson
Kabeera, UDPF, Kampala, 27 February 2006. Information on the UDPF website (www.defenceuganda.mil.ug) indicates
from January-September 2005, 25 antipersonnel mines and 15 antivehicle mines
were recovered. In 2004, UPDF reported it had seized 106 mines of all types,
and in 2003 UPDF seized or recovered 99 antipersonnel mines and 35 antivehicle
mines from the LRA according to media reports. See Landmine Monitor Report
2005, pp. 597-598. [27] “Army Blasts Taban
Amin Over PRA Talk,” The Monitor (Kampala), 18 January 2005;
“Uganda Army says the country’s northwest ‘peaceful’
after anti-rebel operations,” The Monitor (Kampala), 4 March 2005.
Another report mentions recovery of antipersonnel mines, but does not cite a
total. “PRA Rebels Have Base in West Nile,” The Monitor
(Kampala), 7 February 2005. [28] The Ugandan government
claims that the PRA remains resident in the DRC, and transits through Rwanda to
Uganda, but activity by the PRA anywhere is controversial and has not been
verified. State Minister for Defence Ruth Nankabirwa, quoted in “Uganda:
Kagame Now Speaks Out On PRA, Rwanda Links,” The Monitor (Kampala),
2 April 2006. [29] “43 dead in latest
drive against rebels,” IRIN, 17 November 2005, www.reliefweb.int,
accessed 23 March 2006. [30] “New Congolese rebels
cause worry,” BBC News (online edition), 20 July 2005,
http://news.bbc.co.uk, accessed 20 March 2006. [31] “300 Congolese flee
into western Uganda following fresh fighting,” Xinhua News Agency,
17 November 2005. [32] Under Protocol V to the
Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, explosive remnants of war are
defined as unexploded ordnance and abandoned explosive ordnance. Mines are
explicitly excluded from the definition. [33] Government of Uganda and
UNDP, “Mine Action Programme Uganda, ‘To Support Safe and Protected
Return of IDP’,” information brochure (undated), p. 1; UN,
“2006 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, p. 404. [34] Telephone interview with
Hartmut Thoms, Mine Action Advisor, UNDP/Office of the Prime Minister (OPM),
Kampala, 24 May 2006. [35] Agnes Asiimwe,
“Uganda: Landmines Now Haunt Acholiland,” The Monitor
(Kampala), 21 May 2006. [36] UN, “Report from the
Inter-Agency Mine Action Assessment Mission to Uganda,” July 2004, pp.
1-2. [37] UN, “Country Profile:
Uganda,” www.mineaction.org,
accessed 20 January 2006. The figure may be as high as 1.6 million, according
to Government of Uganda and UNDP, “Mine Action Programme Uganda, ‘To
Support Safe and Protected Return of IDP’,” p. 1. [38] Email from Hartmut Thoms,
UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 25 May 2006. However, according to another source, the
mine/ERW-affected districts of Uganda are Acholiland, Bundibugyo, Gulu,
Kabarole, Kasese, Kitgum, Lira and Pader. UN, “2006 Portfolio of Mine
Action Projects,” New York, p. 404. [39] The Luwero triangle is an
area to the north of the capital, corresponding to some extent with the district
of Luwero. It is commonly used to refer to an area renowned for the persecution
of civilians during the second regime of President Milton Obote. [40] UN, “2006 Portfolio of
Mine Action Projects,” New York, p. 404. [41] UN, “Report from the
Inter-Agency Mine Action Assessment Mission to Uganda,” July 2004, pp.
1-2. [42] Telephone interview with
Hartmut Thoms, UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006. [43] Charles Ariko, “IDPs
fear landmines,” New Vision (Kampala), 2 May 2006. The
decongestion program is a term used to describe the return of IDPs currently in
camps in the north of Uganda into small settlements in areas where they could
easily access their farms. [44] “Uganda: Mines to be
cleared ahead of IDP resettlement,” IRIN (Kampala), 19 April
2006. [45] Email from
Jane Brouillette, Victim Assistance Advisor, UNDP, 20
June 2006. [46] Telephone interview with
Hartmut Thoms, UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006. [47] Government of Uganda,
“Draft Terms of Reference for the National Steering Committee,”
Kampala, 2006. [48] Statement by Uganda,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006; telephone interview with Hartmut Thoms,
UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006. [49] Government of Uganda and
UNDP, “Mine Action Programme Uganda, ‘To Support Safe and Protected
Return of IDP’,” undated, p. 4. [50] Statement by Uganda,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006; telephone interview with Hartmut Thoms,
UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006. [51] Government of Uganda and
UNDP, “Mine Action Programme Uganda, ‘To Support Safe and Protected
Return of IDP’,” undated, p. 4. [52] Telephone interview with
Hartmut Thoms, UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006. [53] Statement by Uganda,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006; telephone interview with Hartmut Thoms,
UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006. [54] Ibid. [55] UN, “2006 Portfolio of
Mine Action Projects,” New York, pp. 406-407. [56] Telephone interview with
Hartmut Thoms, UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006. [57] Statement by Uganda,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006; telephone interview with Hartmut Thoms,
UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006. Average exchange rate for 2005: US$1 =
UGX1777.2774, Landmine Monitor estimate based on www.oanda.com. [58] UN, “2006 Portfolio of
Mine Action Projects,” New York, p. 405. [59] Telephone interview with
Hartmut Thoms, UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006; email from Jane Brouillette,
UNDP, 20 June 2006. [60] Statement by Uganda,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006. [61] Ibid. [62] Telephone interview with
Hartmut Thoms, UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006. [63] UN, “2006 Portfolio of
Mine Action Projects,” New York, p. 408. [64] Statement by Uganda,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006. [65] Telephone interview with
Hartmut Thoms, UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006. [66] Ibid. [67] Interview with Lt. Col. Tim
Wildish, Commandant, IMATC, Nairobi, 24 May 2006. [68] Statement by Uganda,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006; telephone interview with Hartmut Thoms,
UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006. [69] “A Bill to Empower and
Regulate Mine Action in the Republic of Uganda,” Section E, drafted at the
Workshop on National Mine Action Legislation in Uganda, Jinja, 1-3 February
2006. [70] Email from Hartmut Thoms,
UNDP/OPM, 24 May 2006. [71] Government of Uganda and
UNDP, “Mine Action Programme Uganda, ‘To Support Safe and Protected
Return of IDP’,” p. 1; See Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p.
600. [72] Telephone interview with
Hartmut Thoms, UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006. [73] UN, “2006 Portfolio of
Mine Action Projects,” New York, p. 410. [74] Statement by Uganda,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006. [75] Ibid. [76] Email from Hartmut Thoms,
UNDP/OPM Kampala, 24 May 2006. [77] Telephone interview with
Hartmut Thoms, UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 May 2006. [78] UN, “Report from the
Inter-Agency Mine Action Assessment Mission to Uganda,” July 2004, pp.
1-2. [79] Interview with Hartmut
Thoms, UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 February, and email, 3 May 2006. [80] Email from Hartmut Thoms,
UNDP/OPM, 3 May 2006. [81] Interview with Hartmut
Thoms, UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 16 March, and email, 3 May 2006; AVSI, “AVSI
Humanitarian Mine Action Program, mine risk education and victim support in
northern Uganda, August 2005,”
p. 1. [82] AVSI reported 19,500 people
for 2005 and CPAR reported 50,000. In Apac district only one camp, where ERW
had been reported, received MRE. Email from Davide Naggi, Mine Action Program
Coordinator, AVSI, Uganda, 14 May 2006. [83] Email from Davide Naggi,
AVSI, Uganda, 14 May 2006. [84] Interview with Andrew
McCallister, Program Coordinator, AVSI, Gulu, 2 February 2006. [85] Email from Davide Naggi,
AVSI, Uganda, 14 May 2006. [86] Interview with Michael Opio,
Program Manager, CPAR, Gulu, 2 February, and telephone interview, 12 May 2006;
see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 88. [87] Interview with Monica Akot,
Field Relief Coordinator/Mine Action Program Coordinator, World Vision, Gulu, 3
February 2006. [88] Email from Jane Brouillette,
UNDP, 20 June 2006. [89] Interview with Wilson
Bwambale, Program Manager, AMNET-R and Gabriel Tibuhwa, District Health
Educator, Kasese, 13 January, and telephone interview with Wilson Bwambale,
AMNET-R, Kasese, 16 March 2006. [90] Email from Hartmut Thoms,
UNDP/OPM, 3 May 2006. [91] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 601. [92] AVSI, Humanitarian Mine
Action Program, “Mine risk education and victim support in northern
Uganda,” August 2005, p. 6. [93] Interview with Michael Opio,
CPAR, Gulu, 2 February 2006. [94] Interview with Andrew
McCallister, AVSI, Gulu, 2 February 2006. [95] Ibid; AVSI, Humanitarian
Mine Action Program, “Mine risk education and victim support in northern
Uganda,” August 2005, pp. 4-5. [96] Email from Jane Brouillette,
UNDP, 20 June 2006. [97] Interview with Michael Opio,
CPAR, Gulu, 2 February 2006. The evaluation was carried out by MAVIGGO
Development Consultants; the report was expected in early 2006 but has not been
shared with Landmine Monitor. [98] Ibid. [99] Interview with Andrew
McCallister, AVSI, Gulu, 2 February 2006. [100] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 595. [101] In addition, UNDP
reported a contribution of $288,590 from Sweden
UNDP, “Mine Action Contributions to UNDP’s Thematic Trust Fund
for Crisis Prevention and Recovery,” 20 April 2006. This amount has not
been included in the total of donor contributions. [102] Mine Action Investments
database; email from Carly Volkes, DFAIT, 7 June 2006. Average exchange rate
for 2005: US$1 = C$1.2115. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates
(Annual),” 3 January 2006. [103] Germany Article 7 Report,
Form J, 27 April 2006; Mine Action Investments database. Average exchange rate
for 2005: €1 = US$1.2449, used throughout this report. US Federal
Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2006. [104] Email from Annette A.
Landell-Mills, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2006. Average exchange rate
for 2005: US$1 = NOK6.4412, used throughout this report. US Federal Reserve,
“List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2006. [105] Email from Andrew
Willson, Department for International Development, 20 March 2006. Average
exchange rate for 2005: £1 = US$1.820. US Federal Reserve, “List of
Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2006. [106] USG Historical Chart
containing data for FY 2005, by email from Angela L. Jeffries, Financial
Management Specialist, US Department of State, 8 June 2006. [107] UNMAS, “2005
Portfolio End-Year Review,” p. 5. [108] Interview with Vincent
Woboya, National Mine Action Director, OPM, 21 February 2006; EC, “Call
for Proposal Notice,” 28 May 2006; Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p.
595. [109] Emails from Laura
Liguori, Security Policy Unit, Conventional Disarmament, EC, June-July 2006.
This amount was reported as allocated from the EC 2005 budget. [110] Interview with Hartmut
Thoms, UNDP/OPM, Kampala, 24 February 2006. [111] Ibid. [112] Email to Landmine Monitor
from Davide Naggi, AVSI, Gulu, 17 May 2006. [113] Interview with Dr. Martin
Ogwang, Lacor Hospital, Gulu, and review of hospital records, 9 March 2005. [114] Information provided by
Bahati Muhesi, Program Coordinator, AMNET-R, Kasese, 30 June 2005. [115] Interview with Robson
Tembo, District Councilor for Persons with Disabilities, Kasese, 29 March 2005;
“Blast kills,” New Vision (Kasese), 31 January 2005. [116] Interview with Dr. Alex
Layoo, Surgical Officer, Kitgum Hospital, and review of hospital records, 12
March 2005. [117] Interview with Canon
Benson Baguma, Director, and Muhindo Davide, Orthopedic Officer and landmine
survivor, Kagando Hospital, Kasese, 13 January 2006. [118] Interview with Dr.
Asingya E. Kapuru, Medical Superintendant, Bwera Hospital, Bwera, 13 January
2006; interview with Dr. Shaban Abdallah, Resident Surgeon, Regional Hospital,
Fort Portal, 11 January 2006; interview with Dr. Mugume Francis, Medical
Superintendent, Kilembe Hospital, 12 January 2006. [119] “Uganda: Mines, the
Biggest Challenge for Returnees,” The Monitor (Kampala), 19 April
2006. [120] “Final Report of
the Meeting of State Parties / Zagreb Progress Report,” Part II, Annex V,
“Victim Assistance objective of the State Parties that have the
responsibility for significant number of landmine survivors,” Zagreb, 28
November-2 December 2005, p. 211. [121] Email from Davide Naggi,
AVSI, Gulu, 14 May 2006; AVSI, “Gulu District Landmine/ERW Victims Survey
Report,” May 2006, pp.13-22. [122] AVSI, Humanitarian Mine
Action Program, “Mine risk education and victim support in northern
Uganda,” August 2005, p. 2. [123] UN, “2006 Portfolio
of Mine Action Projects,” New York, 2006, p. 404. [124] Statement by Florence
Nayiga Ssekabira, Minister of State for the Elderly and Disability Affairs,
Standing Committee Meeting on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic
Reintegration, Geneva, 8 May 2006. [125] Interview with Jane
Brouillette, UNDP, Kampala, 15 March 2006; interview with Vincent Woboya, OPM,
Kampala, 21 February 2006. [126] Interview with Rachel
Logel, Program Officer, World Vision, Uganda, 15 March 2006. [127] UN, “Final Report,
First Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the
Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel
Mines and on Their Destruction,” Nairobi, 29 November-3 December
2004,” APLC/CONF/2004/5, 9 February 2005, p. 33. [128]“Final Report of the
Meeting of State Parties / Zagreb Progress Report,” Part II, Annex V,
Zagreb, 28 November-2 December 2005, pp. 211-219. [129] Statement by Florence
Nayiga Ssekabira, Standing Committee Meeting on Victim Assistance and
Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 8 May 2006. [130] Ibid. [131] Statement by Florence
Nayiga Ssekabira, Standing Committee Meeting on Victim Assistance and
Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 8 May 2006. [132] Interview with Jane
Brouillette, UNDP, Kampala, 24 February 2006. [133] “Final Report of
the Meeting of State Parties / Zagreb Progress Report,” Part II, Annex V,
Zagreb, 28 November-2 December 2005, p. 212. [134] UN Economic and Social
Council, “Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health, Paul
Hunt, Mission to Uganda,” Geneva, 2005, pp. 9-12; UN, “Consolidated
Appeals Process (CAP): Uganda 2006 Revision,” 4 May 2006. [135] “Final Report of
the Meeting of State Parties / Zagreb Progress Report,” Part II, Annex V,
Zagreb, 28 November-2 December 2005, pp. 212-213; Landmine Monitor Report
2005, p. 604. [136] ICRC, “Activities
update October–December 2005,” 31 December 2005, p. 3. [137] Interview with Graziella
Leite Piccolo, Communication Delegate, ICRC, Kampala, 7 February 2006;
Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 604. [138] “ICRC launches
surgical training course,” ReliefWeb, 25 April 2006, www.reliefweb.int, accessed 20 May 2006;
Chris Ochowun and Cornes Lubangakene, “Uganda: ICRC trains doctors,”
New Vision (Kampala), 9 May 2006. [139] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 604. [140] ICRC, “Activities
update October–December 2005,” 31 December 2005, p. 3. [141] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 606. [142] “Final Report of
the Meeting of State Parties / Zagreb Progress Report,” Part II, Annex V,
Zagreb, 28 November-2 December 2005, pp. 213-215. [143] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 604. [144] “Final Report of
the Meeting of State Parties / Zagreb Progress Report,” Part II, Annex V,
Zagreb, 28 November-2 December 2005, pp. 214-215. [145] Ibid, p. 216. [146] Ibid, pp. 216-217;
Landmine Monitor Report 2005, p. 604. [147] Interview with Jane
Brouillette, UNDP, Kampala, 15 March 2006. [148] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 845. [149] Interview with Maj. Dr.
Kaita, Head of Medical Logistical Units, UPDF, 28 February 2006. [150] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 605. [151] Interview with Davide
Naggi, AVSI, Gulu, 2 February 2006. [152] Interview with Raphael
Amodoi, Orthopedic Workshop Technician, Gulu Regional Orthopedic Workshop, Gulu,
2 February 2006. [153] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 605. [154] “Uganda Mine Action
Newsletter,” December 2005, p. 6. [155] Interview with Raphael
Amodoi, Gulu Regional Orthopedic Workshop, Gulu, 2 February 2006. [156] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 605. [157] Telephone interview with
Michael Opio, CPAR, Gulu, 2 February 2006. [158] Interview with Jane
Brouillette, OPM, Kampala, 15 March 2006. [159] Interview with Wilson
Bwambale, AMNET-R, Kasese, 13 January 2006. [160] Ibid. [161] Interview with Monica
Piloya, Chairperson, and Akenna Jimmy, Secretary, Gulu Landmine Survivor Group,
Gulu, 3 January 2006. [162] Interview with Rachel
Logel, World Vision, Uganda, 15 March 2006. [163] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 604. [164] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, pp. 844-845. [165] “Final Report of
the Meeting of State Parties / Zagreb Progress Report,” Part II, Annex V,
Zagreb, 28 November-2 December 2005, pp. 217-219. [166] Statement by Florence
Nayiga Ssekabira, Standing Committee Meeting on Victim Assistance and
Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 8 May 2006; Person’s with
Disabilities Bill No.18 of 2005, Bill Supplement to the Uganda Gazette,
No. 42 Vol. XCVIII dated 19th July 2005. [167] Email from Dr Edison
Mworozi, IPPNW-Uganda, 28 March 2006. [168] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 607. [169] Interview with Julius
Kamya, Policy and Research Officer, NUDIPU, Kampala, 20 April 2005. [170] Interview with Dr.
Stanley Bubikere, Program Manager for Disability, Prevention and Medical
Rehabilitation, Ministry of Health, Kampala, 26 February 2006. [171] Interview with Jane
Brouillette, OPM, Kampala, 15 March 2006. [172] Interview with Dr.
Stanley Bubikere, Ministry of Health, Kampala, 26 February 2006. [173] “Final Report of
the Meeting of State Parties / Zagreb Progress Report,” Part II, Annex V,
Zagreb, 28 November-2 December 2005, pp. 219.
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