OCHA Situation Report
Uganda Humanitarian Update
Report for February 2005
18 March 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

I. SECURITY

Security Overview

February started on a hopeful note when on February 4, the President 
declared another extension to the ceasefire. Despite the 18-day limited 
ceasefire, there was an increase in frequency and brutality of LRA 
attacks, particularly in the districts of Kitgum, Gulu and Pader. The 
rebel groups also increased in size and in Gulu and Kitgum, there were 
reports of the LRA groups ranging from 10-50 as opposed to 4-8 rebels 
previously.  Lira district and Teso region (Soroti, Katakwi and 
Kaberamaido) reported no LRA related incidents in February. Katakwi 
continued to suffer Karimojong attacks. Two prominent LRA commanders, 
Onen Kamdulu and Brigadier Sam Kolo defected from Atiak, Gulu district. 
Sam Kolo was the chief spokesman for the LRA in the current peace 
consultation process. His renunciation of the LRA, though appreciated, 
was seen by many as a set back for the peace negotiation process. 
However the process continues, alongside a military pursuit by the army.

DISTRICT SECURITY UPDATE

Gulu - The beginning of February saw a significant increase in security 
incidents in the district, with a high number of abductions and 
killings. Many abductees were still unaccounted for/not released by the 
end of the month. The last week of the month had even more security 
incidents than the first week, though there were no attacks on IDP 
camps. Towards the end of the month, the LRA attempted to abduct the 
mothers of LRA returnees Onen Kamdulu in Alokolum, and Sam Kolo in 
Amuru. The whole district reported heavy rebel movements, brutal 
killings, and abductions, with a concentration of rebel activities 
around Amuru, Alero, Opit, Lalogi, Acet, Awere, Koch Ongako/Goma, Awach, 
Palaro, Atiak, Pabbo, and Bibya. There were reports of promotion among 
the LRA ranks, with Odyambo becoming the new senior LRA Commander.

An MSF-Swiss vehicle was ambushed and the occupants (MSF staff) 
intimidated and robbed by unidentified gunmen, (suspected to be LRA) 
between Omee and Amuru camps, some 55kms west of Gulu. Drugs, mobile 
phones and radio handsets were looted.

Kitgum - The security situation in Kitgum remained as unpredictable as 
ever with an increasing number of incidents reported. The relative 
stability of the past months seems to have halted with LRA's renewed 
vicious attacks on and abduction of civilians, like the abduction of two 
civilians at Akilok during an ambush and one herdsman in Padibe; late in 
the month at Ngomoromo in Lukung sub-county, eight women had gone to 
fetch water and were rounded up by five rebels and had their lips 
cut-off. LRA also attempted to attack the suburbs of Kitgum town, i.e. 
the areas of Amida, Lulonjo and Kitgum High School but were successfully 
repulsed by the UPDF.

In Pader, the security situation remained relatively calm for a greater 
part of the month until 24 February, when the LRA rebels ambushed a UPDF 
truck that had delivered supplies to the army detachment at Latanya 
hills. Seven died on the spot and over 20 were injured. The injured 
persons (both UPDF soldiers and civilians) were evacuated to Kitgum and 
Lira hospitals. Overall, the situation remains unpredictable due to the 
continued presence of the LRA rebels in the district.

The Teso sub-region (Soroti, Katakwi and Kaberamaido), continues to 
enjoy relative calm. Katakwi still suffers from occasional Karimojong 
raids. The Karamojong attacked residents of Magoro sub-county; a car 
with Italian NGO workers was ambushed early in the month, 5Km from the 
border with Moroto district. Nobody was hurt, but their property, 
including money was stolen by the armed men, who were in military 
fatigue. In addition, incidents of indiscipline and robberies, 
reportedly involving the Arrow Militia, who have salary arrears, have 
been on the increase.

Lira: There were no reports of insecurity incidents as a result of LRA 
rebel activities and neither was there any major threat or presence of 
the LRA in the district. However, the rebels were cited in Aromo 
sub-county, which is a usual rebel crossing point from the neighbouring 
districts of Apac and Pader into Lira. Sub-counties bordering Kotido 
district continued to experience attempted cattle raids from the 
Karimojong.  There was an unsuccessful attempt on 3 February in Aromo 
sub- county, while on 5 February, a cattle rustler was killed in Olilim 
sub-county. On 16 February, the raiders tried to enter Olilim camp but 
were repulsed by the UPDF.

Apac: The areas in Apac district which border Gulu still experience 
considerable threats and rebel presence, especially in Otwal and Ngai 
sub-counties. On 22 February, it was reported that rebels killed 10 
people in the two sub-counties. The rebels entered the district through 
Odek in Gulu.

II. IDP, MOVEMENT AND CAMP ISSUES

Gulu: The number of night commuters increased slightly in February to 
about 13,000, from 10,000 in January 2005, according to the District 
Community Service Department. The increase was mainly registered at 
Lacor, most probably following the numerous rebel presence and attacks 
in the Alokolum and Keyo areas.

Kitgum: In February, a headcount of night commuters showed a reduction 
to 12,515 from 15,491 in January 2005. The reduction may be attributed 
to the confidence in UPDF deployment and relatively less attacks around 
Kitgum town over the last one month.

In the last District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) meeting, it 
was recommended that Padide and Ogili are de-congested. A committee was 
instituted to draw up a plan on how people will move. Reports from 
Palabek kal indicate that some IDPs have already begun moving to Ogili 
sub-county headquarters and that some structures are being set-up. The 
exact figure of those who have moved is yet to be ascertained.

In Teso sub-region movement of IDPs back or close to their area of 
origin has scaled down, though it is expected that the commencement of 
the rainy season will trigger some return of IDPs for cultivation of 
their land. OCHA is supporting Soroti district to assess the number of 
IDPs still in Soroti camps. It has been realised that majority of IDPs 
in Soroti camps come from Katakwi LRA and/or Karimojong disturbed 
sub-counties. Majority of IDPs from Soroti LRA affected sub-counties of 
Tubur, Arapai and Katine have returned to their areas of origin. While 
in Kaberamaido District, there are still some IDPs in Otuboi and Anyara 
camps. The figures are being assessed.

Lira: The number of established camps in the district has been stable 
because of relative stability and security in many parts of the 
district. Rural camps such as Aloi and Aler have expanded as a result of 
the continuous movement of IDPs. Dokolo, Abenyo and to a smaller extent 
Bata camps in Dokolo sub-county registered significant IDP movement. 
Although the camps have not been officially closed, the IDPs have left 
Dokolo and Abenyo camps and returned to the parishes of origin. The two 
camps had a total population of about 20,000 IDPs.  WFP is planning to 
phase out the IDPs from monthly general food ration and distribute a 
resettlement package of three months food ration for Dokolo and Abenyo 
in March. The congestion in the rural camps is worsening as IDPs move 
out of urban areas without any control mechanism for proper space 
planning and allocation for new households. The district cites lack of 
resources for this vital exercise. One of the consequences of the 
congestion in camps was that seven fires broke out in Aromo, Agweng, 
Aler, Ogur, Aloi and Bar camps over the last two months.

On the other hand, some of the IDPs in neighbouring Bata camp returned 
to the camp after the rebel attack in Barr in January in which two 
people were killed.

III.  ACCESS ISSUES

Gulu - Most parts of the district remained accessible throughout the 
month. Humanitarian agencies were however cautious in moving to the 
Awach-Palaro areas, northeast of Gulu, where the rebel presence was 
reported several times. The Amuru-Omee areas to the west, were also 
reported unsafe, especially after the attack on the MSF/Swiss vehicle. 
With the surrender of LRA peace spokesman Brigadier Sam Kolo, agencies 
are very cautious about their movement to the field, since LRA 
activities unpredictable and they may revenge Kolo's surrender. Where 
security has been better in the District, IDPs have been able to freely 
access their farmland.

Despite promises by the acting RDC, the UN awaits a formal approval by 
Gulu district security officials to its request to access eight camps 
near to Gulu Municipality without UPDF escort

Kitgum - Despite the slight improvement in security, humanitarian actors 
have continued to use military escorts in accessing the camps. Many 
actors are concerned about the small number of soldiers on the escort 
detail.  In most cases, the numbers of soldiers have varied from ten to 
twenty per convoy which is viewed as insufficient, in light of the 
ambushes that have occurred on both the military and civilians during 
February. The UPDF argue that the numbers of soldiers that accompany 
humanitarian actors is done according to their own security assessment 
of the areas humanitarian actors intend to visit. OCHA linked up with 
the office of District Internal Security Officer (DISO) to ensure proper 
coordination.

IDPs' access to land for farming is still limited and the production 
sector working group wrote to the RDC requesting the district security 
team to increase "safe farming radius" for IDPs before the next rainy 
season (March to May). If the above is done, it will allow each IDP 
household in the district to have access to at least two acres of 
farming land.  The RDC's response is awaited.

Pader - Humanitarian agencies continue to use military escorts to access 
camps and deliver humanitarian assistance apart from agencies like the 
Red Cross and MSF who are constrained by their mandate. The main 
Kitgum-Lira, and Kitgum-Gulu roads were more secure with no road 
ambushes reported during February.

Lira - Access to beneficiaries in Lira has improved, increasing the 
delivery of services to rural areas. This has also encouraged the 
movement of IDPs back to rural areas, where they are certain of 
continuation of services in the camps. During the month, various 
humanitarian actors working in the district were able to spend more time 
in the rural camps with their programmes. For example, ACF-USA 
successfully implemented food security activities such as land 
verification, and establishment of nursery beds in all the six camps in 
Otuke County, which is still considered insecure.

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