OCHA Situation Report
Uganda
Report for September 2007
15 October 2007


HIGHLIGHTS

- NEW CASE OF MARBURG FEVER CONFIRMED IN KAMWENGE DISTRICT

- KITGUM EMERGENCY FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT RESULTS RELEASED

- NUMBER OF NORTHERN UGANDANS ON ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY UP 500% OVER 
PAST THREE YEARSI. GENERAL HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT

I. GENERAL HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT

SECURITY

The security situation in most areas of the Lango and Acholi sub-regions 
remained calm during the reporting period, with no reports of incidents 
related to the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), although unorganized 
criminal activity occurred. A reduction in the number of petty thefts 
was recorded in Lira district. In Pader district, the Uganda People's 
Defence Forces (UPDF) mine action team recovered 22 pieces of unexploded 
ordnance (UXO) from two sites in Omit sub-county.

In Kitgum meanwhile, there have been reports of a group of some fifteen 
unidentified gunmen engaging in food raids, looting and temporary 
abductions in Lagoro sub-county. While the UPDF is pursuing the group 
and have stepped up security patrols, there has been some localized 
return from transit sites to IDP camps, with approximately 20 individual 
returning to Amida IDP camp.

An incident of cattle rustling was also reported in Mucwini on the 17 
September, with eight herds of cattle stolen but later recovered at 
Akara village by a combined force of UPDF and Local Defence Units 
(LDUs).

Following several complaints of harassment of civilians by Sudanese 
nationals in areas bordering Sudan, the Kitgum Resident District 
Commissioner (RDC) has addressed the issue with the Ministry of Internal 
Affairs. The Ministry will deploy immigration and police officers at 
strategic points along the border by year's end.

The UPDF has begun disarmament of civilian provided with small arms at 
the height of the conflict with the LRA, including local council and 
district administration staff. Disarmament and integration of the Local 
Defense Unit (LDU) into the UPDF also continues.

In Katakwi and Amuria, suspected illegally-armed Karimojong made 
attempts to raid animals in parts of Ngariam, Magoro and Usuk 
sub-counties of Katakwi district, despite the floods (high water levels 
in the swampy areas on the border between the Teso and Karamoja 
sub-regions had led to decreased Karimojong activity in previous 
months). One group of suspected Karimojong were engaged by the Anti 
Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) in an incident in Usuk sub-county following an 
aborted raid, leaving two dead, including one herdsman.

In Karamoja, there were a number of security incidents between 
illegally-armed Karimojong and the UPDF throughout the month; however, 
the security situation deteriorated sharply at the end of the month, 
particularly in Kaabong district, with three consecutive days of clashes 
between illegally-armed Karimojong and UPDF forces engaged in 
disarmament operations. There are unconfirmed reports of casualties on 
both sides. District officials and the UPDF believe that the Karimojong 
in question possibly comprise a group of 500 to 1,000 armed men and have 
over 40,000 cattle under their control.

In mid-September, the Minister of Water, State Minister for Karamoja, 
Army Chief of Staff, Police Inspector-General and Presidential Advisory 
for Karamoja met with regional political leaders and senior UPDF 
officers in Moroto to review security and disarmament progress in 
Karamoja.

Contact

Kristen Knutson or Lydia Mirembe Ssenyonjo at knutson@un.org / 
mirembessenyonjo@un.org

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=EC31D205287A57D38525737500687688&file=Full_Report.pdf

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