OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Uganda
16 - 28 February 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

I. GENERAL HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT

Security

Though there were fewer incidents in the reporting period in the 
districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Pader and Lira, there are still splinter 
groups of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) roaming in the region, with 
the ability to cause havoc. Gulu municipality, Pabbo-Atiak in Kilak 
County and the Bobi-Awor area in Gulu district reported the most 
frequent rebel presence between 14 and 21 February. In Pader district, 
rebel presence was reported in the areas north, west and northwest of 
Goma hills, river Lanyadyang and near Pungole, Barayom and Wipolo. In 
Kitgum district, rebel groups were reported in Lipan hunting grounds. No 
LRA incidents or sightings were reported in Teso region - Soroti, 
Kaberamaido, Katakwi and Amuria. Humanitarian workers and some camp 
leaders reported that a number of Uganda People Defence Force (UPDF) 
personnel were withdrawn from northern Uganda and parts of Lira to 
ensure security at polling stations throughout the country during the 
election period.

Karimojong warriors reportedly carried out a number of cattle raids and 
killed a Local Defence Unit (LDU) soldier in eastern Kitgum district. On 
17 February, following Karimojong cattle raids in Omiya Anyima, the 
Kitgum Resident District Commissioner (RDC) ordered the UPDF to clamp 
down on the Karimojong's illegal activities, but the impact of this 
directive is yet to be seen. In Lira, Karimojong were reported in Omoro, 
Olilim and Apala, but no security incidents have occurred. The presence 
of heavily armed Karimojong warriors in the sub-counties of Katawi and 
Amuria that border with Karamoja maintains a tense security situation. 
There have been increased clashes between the UPDF and the Karimojong, 
with the later reportedly threatening to retaliate on the IDPs in the 
affected sub-counties. Amidst the impending threats, Katakwi district 
has started recruiting volunteer guards - five to eight per village - 
within the affected sub counties.

Access

Access in northern Uganda, Lira district and Teso region remains largely 
unchanged. The Lira Assistant District Internal Security Officer (DISO) 
reported that the road from Alito in Apac to Apala, Ogur and Aloi is now 
considered safe. To ensure better convoy management in Kitgum district, 
a security meeting attended by the RDC, the DISO, UPDF Intelligence 
Officer (IO) and various aid organisations that use military escorts 
agreed that all humanitarian agencies are required to submit details of 
their contracts with transporters for escort purposes to the DISO's 
office in order to make sure that vehicles are road-worthy. In Pader, 
the UPDF advised humanitarian agencies to limit travel to camps within 
Pader town Council on Sundays, to allow the UPDF soldiers to rest.

Most humanitarian organisations scaled down or in some cases, 
temporarily suspended their field activities for varying periods during 
the election period, as a precautionary measure and to allow national 
staff to vote. Measures were in place to ensure humanitarian services to 
IDPs continue. For example, WFP food distribution was concluded on 17 
February to cover the election period. In Kitgum, MSF ensured its 
clinics in the sub counties remained open. In Gulu, CARE maintained 
three staff members for any emergency and ICRC continued to travel to 
camps near Gulu municipality.

Meningitis outbreak

On going surveillance in Nakapiripirit district has detected 30 new 
cases during the reporting period resulting in 3 deaths. According to 
MSF, it also appears that a strain not previously found in the area, 
Meningitis X, was detected with at least one case reported. In Gulu 
district, a total of 27 suspected cases have been reported since 13 
January, with 10 confirmed. Nine cases were reported in Unyama IDP camp 
alone with 4 cases confirmed during the last week of February.

Cholera outbreak

Following the current outbreak in Yei and Juba in southern Sudan, 34 
suspected cases of Cholera have been reported in Koboko district 
(formerly part of Arua district). WHO has informed that 20 of these 
cases were Sudanese persons who had crossed the border to seek medical 
assistance. In Adjumani district, all 4 cases reported have now been 
discharged from health facilities. The response to the outbreak has led 
so far to:

- Social mobilisation in both districts through local radio station 
messages.

- Public Health measures to encourage hand washing and improving hygiene 
in public eating places.

- Creation of district and affected sub-counties cholera task forces. 
Other sub-counties task forces are being reactivated.

- Discussion with Sudanese health authorities on how best to control the 
outbreak and address potential shortfalls.

OCHA has expressed concern with regard to the potential spread of the 
outbreak along the main road through Gulu district where many IDP camps, 
some of which are stopping points for travellers as in the case of Pabbo 
camp, suffer from poor water and sanitation. The motorised water pump in 
Pabbo camp remains out of order.

Camp fires

There was a considerable decrease in camp fires in northern Uganda as 
compared to January and the first half of February, partly due to the 
first rains. No camp fires were reported in Lira and Pader districts. 
OCHA, UNICEF, ICRC, NRC and partners in Gulu district will carry out, on 
week of 6 March, an exhaustive review of the causes of the fires and the 
response provided. The exercise is designed to gauge if the prospect of 
assistance through NFI distribution is acting as a deterrent for 
displaced families to do more to prevent fires from spreading. The 
findings of the review will be used for a training-of-trainers workshop 
for awareness rising to be held at the end of the harvest in July, the 
next dry season.

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