OCHA Situation Report
Uganda
Report for 1 - 31 Jul 2007
10 August 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

JULY HIGHLIGHTS

- UXO and ERW explosions in Lira and Gulu highlight danger posed by UXO 
in conflict-affected areas; five killed and one injured in two separate 
incidents.

- Marburg Fever outbreak: one fatal confirmed case and one suspected 
case since recovered.

I. GENERAL HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT

SECURITY

In northern Uganda, the situation remained generally calm with no 
aggressive Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) incidents reported during the 
month. However, a number of incidents of criminal activities, including 
rape and robbery, have been reported. While these incidents have not 
interrupted humanitarian activities, the United Nations Department of 
Safety and Security (UNDSS) has cautioned all humanitarian workers, 
especially women, to take personal security seriously.

The continuing threat posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO) in 
conflict-affected areas was underscored during the reporting period by 
two separate incidents. Five people were killed at Ayami IDP camp in 
Lira on 22 July, when an UXO exploded while the deceased were crushing 
scrap metal into smaller pieces for transportation. The UXO is believed 
to have been accidentally loaded onto the truck at Awere, in Pader 
district. In a separate incident in Gulu, an Explosive Remnant of War 
(ERW) exploded in a garden near Unyama camp, seriously injuring the 
victim's legs.

In Katakwi and Amuria, demobilization exercises involving Arrow Militia 
were concluded on 1 July, while the withdrawal of the militia from 
locations in sub-counties bordering Karamoja, including Magoro, Ngarian, 
Usuk, and Ongongoja in Katakwi, and Kapelebyong, Obalanga and Acowa in 
Amuria, led to fresh tension in those areas. Elements of the Anti Stock 
Theft Unit (ASTU) are being re-organized to fill the gaps created by the 
demobilization of Arrow Militia. 1,300 ASTU were cleared for deployment 
on 6 July, bringing the total ASTU strength to 4,410 trained individuals 
deployed across 11 districts. The target is to recruit and train 7,000 
ASTU personnel.

The Karamoja region reported several security incidents including 
aggressive Karimojong activities, cattle raids, road ambushes and 
confrontation with the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) during the 
ongoing forceful disarmament. In total, UNDSS recorded 36 aggressive 
Karimojong activities in July, as well as seven road ambushes 
perpetrated by illegally armed Karimojong. The latter type of incident 
is of particular concern as due to their unpredictability and lack of 
established pattern.

ACCESS

Most IDP camps and settlement sites remain accessible without 
restrictions. Increased access to farmland has been reported, as IDPs 
prepare for second season planting. However, many access roads are 
reportedly impassable due to heavy rainfall.

In Katakwi and Amuria, local government and humanitarian agencies have 
had only limited access to nearly 44,000 people living in 41 camps due 
to factors including erosion of roads, bridges and culverts by heavy 
rainfall. Additionally, access to communities in very remote locations 
and hard-to-reach areas has been made increasingly difficult by high 
bush and thinly-spread security presence. Access to fields also remains 
limited for most communities in areas bordering Karamoja. However, all 
camps and settlement sites are accessible without military escorts.

POPULATION MOVEMENT

Movement out of camps continued in Acholi during the reporting period. 
While in Kitgum, Gulu and Amuru districts, the majority of the 
population remains in the IDP camps, in Pader district, the majority of 
the displaced population is now residing in return sites. In Lango, the 
IDPs remaining in 11 camps constitute only 5 per cent of the original 
displaced population.

Contacts: Kristen Knutson or Lydia Mirembe Ssenyonjo at knutson@un.org / 
mirembessenyonjo@un.org Attachments: Full_Report.pdf: 
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=90248D462080D63085257333004FE9A8&file=Full_Report.pdf

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