OCHA Situation Report
Uganda
March 2003
08 April 2003


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Food insecurity remains a concern in Karamoja

The impact of low food stocks in Karamoja continued to show with reports
of continued deteriorating health and nutritional status of people in
Kotido, Moroto and Nakapiripirit. In late March, Kabong Hospital and the
Church of Uganda clinic in Kotido reported higher rates of malnutrition
amongst under five-year-olds than had been the case in previous years at
the same period. It is hoped that WFP food distributions and the onset of
rains will alleviate the situation. Generally, however, as FEWS NET
states, the population's hope for improved food security hinges on the
next harvest, which is due in July/August. During the last week of March,
WFP released a second monthly tranche of 1,000 tons of food aid for the
59,000 most vulnerable drought-affected pastoral households (195,000
people) in Karamoja region. Distributions are carried out at the parish
level (lowest level administrative unit) to ensure appropriate targeting.
Meanwhile, WFP is planning, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health,
District authorities and UNICEF to conduct a nutritional status assessment
in the three Districts of Karamoja in April..

The issue of displaced children in Kotido has remained largely un
addressed. In Kotido town the number of unaccompanied displaced Acholi
children has gone down from about 2,500 at the end of 2002 to 900. The
children apparently returned home to Pader during the long holidays
(December 2002-February 10th 2003) and according to Medair, though the
figures are creeping upwards slowly, the number in town has for sometime
stabilized at 900. Unfortunately, their living conditions are still poor
and hostility towards the children remains; for example, if they are
identified as Acholi at boreholes, they are harassed. Another estimated
1000 displaced Acholi children are taking refugee in various schools in
Abim, south of Kotido and yet another 1000 in Karenga, in the north of
Kotido. The unaccompanied children, who reportedly arrived in Karenga only
recently are mainly in three schools located at the border with Kitgum
District - Karenga boys, Pire and Lobilangit primary schools. There is a
general lack of beddings, clothing and proper shelter. Sanitation in these
schools is also a sector that needs addressing. Medair reports that the
children in Karenga are worse off than those in town or in the south of
Kotido. Medair has continued with its water and sanitation programme and
is planning distribution of non-food items if funds are available.
Organizations reported that rains had started, and this implies that the
health risks due to poor sanitation and lack of proper shelter and
clothing will increase. Additionally, the area north of Kotido will be cut
off if the rains increase, as the roads tend to flood during the rainy
season.


KATAKWI

Karamojong raids perpetuate displacement in Katakwi

After a year of relative peace in Katakwi district of the Teso sub-region,
armed Karimojong warriors began raiding and stealing cattle in the
district in late 2002. These attacks intensified in January and February
2003, leading to new displacement and, in some cases, re-displacement of
people. Following numerous reports of deterioration of the IDP situation
in Katakwi district, OCHA in collaboration with ten NGOs and local
government officials, conducted a rapid assessment mission in the district
between 11th and 14th March 2003.

Some of the general findings are highlighted below:-

   District authorities indicated that cattle rustling currently affects a
   total of 117,000 people, with 88,267 of them living in camps. However,
   available records at the end December 2002 indicated that 45,774 IDPs
   were living in 46 camps.

   The situation in the camps is still deplorable. The huts are congested;
   malaria and Respiratory Tract Infections (RTI) - especially in children
   - are rampant. Moreover, inadequate drugs and the few medical personnel
   in health centres, which are often far from the camps, further compound
   this situation.

   The lack of sufficient latrines and inadequate or dysfunctional
   boreholes (causing an acute shortage of water) in some camps has
   contributed to the worrying sanitary conditions.

   Apart from the overcrowding in schools/school structures, another issue
   of concern in the education sector is that schools close earlier than
   usual - at 3.00 pm - to allow children return home when it is still
   safe. This trend is bound to affect the students' performance if it
   continues.

   The mission also observed that while the IDPs generally seemed to have
   some food stocks in their granaries, there were signs that they are
   bracing themselves for shortages in the future. While some are still
   able to buy food on the market, others are increasingly feeding on wild
   vegetables as sauce and are basically surviving on a meal a day, as
   normally occurs during the hunger gap. What is worrying though, is the
   inaccessibility of gardens at this critical time when farmers prepare
   their land for planting in the first and major season of the year
   (March-May). The food security situation will need reassessment
   particularly at harvest time (July/August).


Some of the major recommendations included:-

   That provision of permanent security is paramount. Security is the
   responsibility of Central Government and it is recommended that
   Government endeavours to solve the security issue in this district and
   region permanently; otherwise the issue of displacement will be
   cyclical. If the district is directed to recruit LDUs, provision should
   be made to support them especially with food, remuneration and proper
   security clothing for easy identification.

   The district should strive to ensure people are escorted to their
   gardens to enable them prepare and plant during the first planting
   season starting in April.

   Other recommendations are that IDPs should be sensitised on the
   importance of having a water maintenance system in place so that
   boreholes are quickly repaired when broken down. Agencies implementing
   water and sanitation projects in the district/sub-region should
   endeavour to train maintenance personnel for sustainability.

   There is also an urgent need for a proper recount and registration of
   IDPs, which should be followed by proper targeting when distributing
   aid to beneficiaries. (For the full report, please contact Jane
   Namulindwa in OCHA on Jane.namulindwa@wfp.org)


NORTHERN UGANDA

Peace continues to elude northern Uganda

March began on a hopeful note as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) declared
a unilateral ceasefire in certain areas of Pader District - one of the
three Northern Uganda Districts - on 01 March, in order to start
negotiations with the Government of Uganda (GOU) to end the 16-year
conflict. Consequently, on 10th March, GOU declared a five-day ceasefire
that was extended on expiry to 20th March. However, the Presidential Peace
Team (PPT) has to date not met with the LRA rebels after two futile
appointments through the Acholi religious and traditional leaders in
northern Uganda. The two sides are yet to build trust between themselves.
Another possible reason for the failure of a meeting between the PPT and
the LRA could be miscommunication. There seems to be no direct formal
communication between the PPT and the LRA - communication between the two
sides has so far, been facilitated by the ARLPI and the Acholi traditional
leaders. On occasion, the LRA have reportedly called certain members of
the PPT, namely Nobert Mao, MP for Gulu Municipality; and Okumu Reagan, MP
for Aswa County in Gulu District. However it is evident that stakeholders
in the humanitarian arena want the talks to succeed. Hence, while donors
condemned Joseph Kony and his LRA rebels for terrorizing the people of
northern Uganda, they urged Government on27th March, to continue with the
peace initiatives. The UN too encourages the on-going peace efforts and
continues to pursue moves towards realization of safe and unhindered
access by all UN personnel as well as staff of governmental,
non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations. Furthermore, in a
letter dated 28th March and delivered to the PPT by an Acholi cultural
leader, the LRA asked for an unconditional ceasefire in the entire Acholi
sub-region to enable peace talks between them and the Government. Though
at this stage, it is too early to predict the outcome of these peace
moves, the timing of the LRA ceasefire is crucial as it may allow
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to access their fields for the
March/April planting season.

But despite the hopes for an early end to the insecurity in the Acholi
sub-region raised by LRA's 1st March 2003 unilateral declaration of
cease-fire, and the subsequent limited ceasefires declared by Government
on 10th, 15th and 21st March 2003, there has been no let-up in abductions,
ambushes, killings by the LRA as well as clashes between the LRA and UPDF.
This continued state of insecurity in northern Uganda is a cause for
concern for the humanitarian community and casts shadows on hopes of
realizing early lasting peace. The perpetuation of insecurity means that:-

   The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Acholi
   sub-region of northern Uganda alone remains high at an estimated
   800,000.

   The LRA attacks, with their characteristic abductions, killings and
   fatal ambushes continue to cause general mayhem in northern Uganda.
   Thus activities of humanitarian agencies have, largely, been restricted
   to the townships and immediate surrounding areas, as the security of
   their staff cannot be guaranteed. WFP remains the only agency able to
   access most IDP camps in northern Uganda, though under heavy military
   escort.

   Because of fear of abductions by the LRA, large numbers of people,
   commonly referred to as "night stayers", comprising mainly of women and
   children, daily throng the cities of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader between the
   hours of 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.

   A mid-March assessment of Acet IDP camp in Gulu confirms fears that
   IDPs in this region do not have much hope of accessing their gardens in
   order to utilize the first planting season. Under normal conditions,
   farmers would, by now, be preparing land for planting of various crops.
   Unfortunately nothing is being done now, and no change in trend is
   expected soon. The continuation of this situation for three more weeks
   would mean a wasted first rains for the IDPs. This has negative food
   security implications as agencies like WFP would need to extend the
   current WFP emergency operations in northern Uganda for a period of not
   less than five months from now.



Following the Assessment Mission by GOU, WFP, and NGO partners in Pader
District, WFP plans to start distribution of food rations to 241,000
displaced persons in 13 camps on 26 March 2003. Training of block leaders
and registration of beneficiaries are ongoing in partnership with the
District Disaster Management Committees (DDMC), district planning unit and
the local council members. Verification of the beneficiaries in the IDP
camps will ensure maintenance of accurate beneficiary numbers. Food
insecurity in the camps is due to ineffective coping mechanisms and lack
of access to the fields of the displaced. Food stocks at the household
level in the camps are exhausted with 43-52 percent of their daily minimum
requirement unmet in the new and old camps respectively. An estimated
1,984 tons of food commodities is required on a monthly basis to feed the
displaced persons in Pader district. WFP, in co-ordination with the
District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) and District Planning Unit,
is conducting the registration of newly displaced persons in IDP camps in
Pader District.

And as a result of increased humanitarian needs due to prolonged drought,
LRA incursions and incessant raids by Karimojong warriors into the
district WFP, together with District Authorities and International NGOs
(AVSI and CRS), conducted a food needs assessment in Chua County, eastern
Kitgum District. WFP staff and district authorities conducted interviews
at the sub-county level to verify information on population figures,
influxes, coping mechanisms and the existing social structures. Based on
the findings of the assessment, WFP will establish the net food gaps and
intervene with a one-off distribution of food aid assistance to the
vulnerable population. AVSI will distribute seeds for March/April planting
season together with WFP rations.

AVSI will distribute seeds for March/April planting season together with
WFP rations. It should be noted however, that any long-term improvement in
the food security conditions in northern Uganda depends on improvement in
civil security and access to land to cultivate and well established
rainfall in the ongoing season.

World Vision is undertaking a program to improve sanitation facilities in
Gulu District. The sixmonth project targets 135,000 IDPs in 10 IDP camps
and 16,777 primary school children at 8 schools centres in camps. The IDP
camps are Unyama, Ongako, Awach, Paicho, Bibia, Palenga, Atiak, Teya,
Padhola and Amuru. The target schools are Bungatira, Awach Central, Gulu
Modern, Laliya, Olya, Pageya, Cwero, and Layibi Central. However, given
the very fluid security trends in the region, World Vision in consultation
with the donors and relevant district offices reserves the discretion to
relocate project activities to other affected IDP camps and schools in the
district.

The project aims at decreasing incidence of excreta-borne diseases through
increased access to improved sanitation facilities in IDP camps; and
increased community capacity to manage their own sanitation
infrastructure.


Project inputs in the 10 IDP camps include:-

Refresher training for about 200 CHWs; public health education with a
strong bias on sanitation; training/re-training camp sanitation committees
on recommended practices; provision of tool banks (660 hoes, 660 pangas,
660 spades, 660 cutlasses, and 660 pick axes); training selected
participants in the production of san-plats; production of 4,548
san-plats; availing san-plats to groups of households at a subsidized cost
of US$ 1.6; distribution of 6,822 metres of a thin plastic sheeting for
latrine roofing.

Project inputs at the 8 displaced school centres include:-

Contracting out the construction of 149 school pit latrine stances at 8
schools centres; provision of 796 litres of jeyz latrine disinfectant to 8
displaced schools centres; providing a total of thirteen 10,000-litre
water tanks to the 8 target schools centers (to reinforce the hand washing
practice); training target schools on proper school sanitation management;
training school management teams in the monitoring and reporting aspects
of the project.


Short Notes

Stakeholders meet on draft IDP policy

The Stakeholder's conference to review the draft IDP policy was held 31st
March. It was opened by the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Disaster Preparedness Lt. Gen. Moses Ali. Also present during the opening
was the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator. Participants numbered
110 and included 39 IDPs from the 13 affected districts in northern Uganda
as well as Bundibugyo; district and central government officials,
representatives of NGOs and UN agencies. The discussions were very useful,
and will be incorporated into the final draft that will be sent to the
Ministries of Justice and Finance before being forwarded to Cabinet for
approval. Despite the previous unavoidable several postponements the
conference was billed a success. The conference, which was closed by Hon
Christine Aporu, the Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness and
Refugees , , unveiled a new road map to the final international IDP
awareness Conference, to which the Special Representative of the Secretary
General (SRSG) for IDPs, Dr. Francis Deng, will be invited. It is hoped
the conference will be held in late May.


March-May weather forecast

In February, weather experts held a meeting in Entebbe, Uganda, to derive
a probabilistic forecast for the March to May period. Following the
meeting, the Uganda Department of Meteorology updated its preliminary
forecast issued in February, indicating increased likelihood of near
normal to above normal rainfall for northwestern, eastern and southeastern
Uganda and areas of the Lake Kyoga Basin. Northeastern, central, Lake
Victoria Basin, northern and western Uganda are likely to receive normal
to below normal rainfall. (FEWS NET March Newsletter). Like February,
March was predominantly dry. February is normally dry, however, high
atmospheric temperatures and low humidity exacerbated the dry conditions,
leading to observable moisture stress in vegetation. The Water Requirement
Satisfaction Index (WRSI) indicates conditions aren't conducive to sowing
crops.


Relocation of refugees from Masindi to West Nile:

In February, UNHCR and Government (OPM) undertook a mission to assess the
new proposed refugee settlement sites identified by the Government in Madi
Okollo (Arua) and Ikafi (Yumbe), for re-location of refugees displaced
from the Achol-pii settlement in July last year. The refugees are
currently in Kiryandongo, Masindi District. The main task was to assess
the physical location of the proposed sites, availability of basic
amenities, protection and security aspects. The team forwarded its
recommendations to Kampala. Consequently, the Second Deputy Prime
Minister, and Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Hon. Moses
Ali, called a meeting, 3rd March 2003, to discuss the relocation of these
Sudanese refugees. The following are the main issues for consideration:

   Kiryandongo Refugee settlement still has 16,168 Sudanese that were
   displaced from Acholi Pii last August. Facilities in the settlement are
   inadequate with the current caseload (13,883 and 16,168 from Achol-pii)
   and sanitary conditions in particular are deteriorating.

   Masindi District has run out of hospitality for the refugees, putting
   pressure on Government to relocate them.

   Government maintains the refugees should be moved to the two identified
   locations in West Nile region. UNHCR (Geneva) thinks the decision to
   move the refugees should be differed to some time in future. The UN
   High Commissioner for refugees will visit Uganda in the 2nd week of
   April.

   UNHCR has availed $200,000 for improving conditions in Kiryandongo.
   Government feels the money should be used in the relocation exercise.

   UNHCR stated that 5000 refugees could be moved to Madi Okollo if
   Government assured them of security along the road.

   General feeling from agencies and organizations is that UNHCR and
   Government should meet and harmonize their positions. A UNHCR
   delegation from Geneva is expected in the country and a meeting with
   Government is on the agenda.



Displaced schools in Kalongo

In Kalongo Trading Centre, Pader District, there are currently two sites
hosting students from 30 schools, all of them displaced due to insecurity.
An AVSI assessment carried out in March found that 5,787 students are
registered in the displaced sites, though fewer than 2,600 students are
attending classes. This means that around 55 percent of children in
Kalongo are currently not attending school. AVSI believes that Kalongo's
displaced student population could be the tip of the iceberg in Pader
District, where there are another 12 camps for internally displaced. Data
estimates collected from the community show that learning centres in
Patongo, Lira Palwo and Adilang are facing similar situations.

The interrupted education of many thousands of children is of great
concern and demands immediate intervention. AVSI plans to use currently
existing funds from OFDA and USAID to help in some areas, but further
support will be needed to meet the most critical needs.

AVSI's intervention aims at improving the sanitation of learning centres
and to improve the educational capacity in Kalongo Trading Centre schools,
which are currently catering to thousands of displaced students. The hope
is that by improving access to water, sanitation, classroom space and
scholastic materials, the intervention will improve the quality of
education offered. Ultimately, this could give thousands of students who
are registered but not attending school an incentive to return to regular
classes. (For a detailed report of this assessment, please contact Gina
Bramucci on gina.bramucci@avsi.org or Jane.Namulindwa in OCHA on
jane.namulindwa@wfp.org)


|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           | Affected  |
|               |                    |           |populations|
|               |                    |           | (1)       |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| District      | Beneficiary Type   |  28/02/03 |   Trend   |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Adjumani      | Refugees (Su)      |    60,893 |    UP     |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Apac          | Abducted children  |       193 |   SAME    |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Arua          | Refugees           |    14,917 |    UP     |
|               | - Imvepi (Su)      |    25,455 |    UP     |
|               | - Rhino Camp       |           |           |
|               | (Su,DRC,Br)        |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |        ** |    **     |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Bundibugyo    | IDPs               |       205 |   SAME    |
|               | Abducted children  |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Gulu          | IDPs               |   395,000 |    **     |
|               | Abducted children  |     5,029 |   SAME    |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Hoima         | Refugees (DRC, Su, |    16,546 |    UP     |
|               | Ky,Br)             |           |           |
|               | - Kyangwali        |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Kabarole      | Refugees           |     3,159 |   DOWN    |
| Kyenjojo      | - Kyaka II (DRC)   |       302 |   SAME    |
|               | Abducted children  |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Kasese        | Abducted children  |       785 |   SAME    |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Katakwi       | IDPs               |    45,774 |    --     |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Kitgum        | IDPs - Kitgum      |    99,228 |    **     |
|               | Pader              |   241,000 |    **     |
|               | Abducted children  |     4,166 |   SAME    |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Kotido        | Drought Affected   |   100,000 |    UP     |
|               | IDPs               |      2650 |    **     |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Lira          | Abducted children  |       430 |   SAME    |
|               | IDPs               |    47,333 |    **     |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Mbarara       | Refugees           |     4,185 |   DOWN    |
|               | - Oruchinga (Rw)   |    14,736 |   DOWN    |
|               | - Nakivale         |           |           |
|               | (Rw,DRC,other)     |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Masindi       | Refugees           |    30,051 |    UP     |
|               | Kiryandongo (Su)   |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Moroto        | Drought Affected   |    60,000 |    UP     |
| Nakapiripirit | Drought affected   |    30,000 |    UP     |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               |                    |    30,681 |    UP     |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Moyo          | Refugees (Su)      |           |           |
|               | - Palorinya        |           |           |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
| Urban areas   | Refugees (mix)     |       149 |   DOWN    |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               | Refugees           |   200,772 |    UP     |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               | IDPs               |   830,985 |    UP     |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               | Abducted children  |    11,110 |   SAME    |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               | Drought Affected   |   190,000 |    UP     |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|
|               | Total              | 1,232,867 |    UP     |
|---------------+--------------------+-----------+-----------|


(1) Affected population figures are of variable accuracy due to rapidly
changing situation as well as the varying quality of information sources.
Inclusion in this list does not necessarily indicate the population is
receiving humanitarian assistance.. Note too that IDP camp populations
reflect the population assisted by WFP (does not include unassisted
population figures). Abbrev. are Sudanese (Su), Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC), Rwanda, (Rw), Burundi (Br), Kenyan (Ky).


Note. The population figures are as of end of February 2003. Please note
that the IDP figures are WFP working figures. Those figures for Gulu,
Kitgum and Pader do not reflect the displaced people or nightstayers in
the towns. Due to the fluid insecurity, there is constant movement of
people and the above are figures and may thus fluctuate from month to
month because no comprehensive registration of current displacement
figures has been undertaken in the north since the LRA resurgence in June
2002. For the northern districts in particular the sign ** has been used
to indicate that figures are constantly changing. Katakwi figures however
are as of 31 December 2002.


The contents of this Update do not necessarily represent the views of the
United Nations. Sources for the Update include Government, UN, NGOs,
donors, IOs and news agencies.

For more information or to contribute to the Humanitarian Update - Uganda,
please contact:



UN OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (OCHA)
15 A CLEMENT HILL ROAD
RUTH TOWERS B6
Kampala, Uganda
TEL: +256 (41) 031 242 804/9
FAX: +256 (41) 031 242 801
EMAIL: jane.namulindwa@wfp.org



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