OCHA Situation Report
Uganda
Report for 16 - 31 August 2006
21 September 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

I. GENERAL HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT

Security

The security situation has remained largely calm, with few incidents of 
LRA raids, civilian killings, abductions, UPDF-LRA confrontations, road 
ambushes and other criminal activities. The most significant development 
was the signing of the cessation of hostilities agreement between the 
Government of Uganda and LRA as one of the items on five-point peace 
negotiations. In a bid to cease hostilities, the LRA vice chairman, 
Vincent Otti had by August 28th instructed all LRA fighters to desist 
from hostile activities and move to Owiny Kibul, one of the proposed 
assembly points.

Another notable incident was the August 22nd ambush of a Kalongo-bound 
Ministry of Health ambulance, which has temporarily sparked off fears 
among humanitarian workers. The ambulance was set ablaze, but the six 
occupants - four staff and two patients - were not hurt. In Kitgum, 
there was a reported increase in LRA activities over the last two weeks 
of August. Two abductions and two deaths were reported, although they 
could not be readily attributed to either the LRA or UPDF. In Gulu and 
Amuru, recorded two LRA sightings, one confrontation with the UPDF, and 
one death of a child who was killed by an unexploded bomb he mistook for 
a toy. Six children were wounded in the same incident.

In Katakwi and Amuria, there are continued reports of Karimojong 
warriors in small groups of less than ten. The District Police Commander 
Katakwi on August 22 acknowledged that the security situation in the 
district is volatile and needs urgent attention. He called for increased 
presence of the police and Anti Stock Theft Units (ASTU) in the area. In 
some cases, the warriors also move into parts of neighbouring Lira and 
Kitgum.

Access

Following the ambush of a Ministry of Health ambulance on Kalongo Road, 
the number of humanitarian agencies requesting for escorts to access IDP 
camps has sharply increased. OCHA continues to coordinate the provision 
of military escorts. The challenge is the reduction in the number of 
personnel provided by the UPDF, sometimes two per vehicle instead of the 
six usually required by most agencies.

Access roads that were affected by heavy rains in Pader and Katakwi are 
still impassable, posing a challenge to humanitarian agencies that would 
like to access the affected areas. The affected areas include Obalanga, 
Kapelabyong, Morugantuny and Acowa sub counties in Amuria district; 
parts of Ngariam and Magora Sub counties in Katakwi district; Kalongo, 
Wol, and Paimol camps on the north eastern side of Pader.

Cholera upsurge in Kitgum and West Nile districts

There was an upsurge in cholera cases in: Labuje and Oryang in Kitgum 
Town Council and Mucwini Sub County. Other sub counties that reported 
new cases were Potika, Paloga, and Madi opei. To date, the cumulative 
number of cases stands at 1,700. In Pader and Gulu the outbreak is 
steadily dying out, with no new cases reported since end of July.

The biggest challenge now is that the cholera-prone communities are not 
observing proper hygiene practices. As a response, the cholera task 
force has resolved to resume sensitization messages through radio 
broadcasts. The Cholera Treatment Centre at Kitgum Matidi will be 
re-opened to avoid transferring victims to the town council. In 
addition, IRC has commenced intensive hygiene promotion at Labuje camp 
which reported the highest number of new cases.

Torrential rains in Katakwi/Amuria

The heavy rains which started in the last week of July to mid-August 
caused water-logging in low lying areas, especially in parts of 
Obalanga, Kapelebyong, Morungatuny in Amuria and Magoro, Ngariam in 
Katakwi. Over 300 gardens were flooded in Obalanga, 600 in Kapelebyong 
and 100 in Magoro.

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