Blog

  • A view from the ground

    We came upon this short story today by Monica Arak de Nyeko, a young woman originally from the Kitgum district of northern Uganda. The story, entitled Strange Fruit , depicts the conflict in the north in a unique and provocative manner and offers a very human voice to some of what has taken place in the region.

    Posted June 15, 2008 by in Voices from the Ground

  • Coverage of U.S. efforts to get diplomat to peace talks in today’s Sudan Tribune!

    The Sudan Tribune ran a story today highlighting last month's efforts to get President Bush to appoint a high level diplomat to represent the U.S. at the peace talks. The article particularly mentions recent activity by the American public to pressure leaders to more actively engage and support the talks.

    An excerpt of the article is below, your can click here for the full text .

    Posted June 14, 2008 by in News & Analysis

  • HRW report details failures and challenges faced by civilian police in N. Uganda

    In a letter to the Inspector General of the Ugandan Police Force (UPF), Human Rights Watch has called on the UPF to improve civilian policing in northern Uganda. The letter, sent in May of this year, details corruption and inadequate training within the UPF, including instances of police officers demanding payment for services. The report also acknowledges the resource restraints police officers in the north face and efforts by the UPF to improve policing there. Posted June 13, 2008 by in News & Analysis

  • LRA to remain “in bush” even with peace agreement unless ICC warrants withdrawn

    The LRA has said its fighters will remain in hiding even if a peace deal with the government is reached, unless ICC indictments against four of its leaders are lifted. "The ICC remains a big stumbling block to peace in Uganda," LRA spokesman Godfrey Ayoo said. "Unless and only when the matter of the ICC is settled, none of our soldiers will get out of the bush and government should forget about any signature," he said. Posted June 12, 2008 by in News & Analysis

  • LRA leaders pleased with peace talks’ progress; drop 3 members of negotiating team

    The LRA leadership has dropped three members of its negotiation team, accusing them of promoting tribalism. "I want to inform the public, on behalf of the LRA, that we have dropped three members of the LRA delegation because they were causing misunderstanding and confusion in the team," LRA deputy commander Vincent Otti announced on Friday. The three, named as Quinto Kidega (Kony Posted June 11, 2008 by in News & Analysis

  • Acholi MPs documenting LRA and UPDF crimes; urge compensation for victims

    Acholi Members of Parliament are compiling a list of crimes and atrocities committed by the LRA rebels and the Ugandan army from 1986 to 2006. Reagan Okumu, the vice-chairperson of the Acholi parliamentary group, said the reports would be submitted to Dr. Riek Marchar, the chief negotiator at the Juba talks. "We are demanding compensation from the Government for the mass killings, destruction and abductions by either the LRA or UPDF from 1986 to last year when the peace talks started," Okumu said. Posted June 10, 2008 by in News & Analysis

  • LRA agrees to open discussions at Juba talks over fate of abducted children

    The LRA has reportedly agreed to open discussions at the Juba peace talks over the fate of thousands of children kidnapped over the last 20 years. Captain Bahoku Barigye, spokesman for the government's negotiating team, said that the government would argue for the children's release. The LRA team affirmed this report. "The issue of abducted children will be thoroughly discussed soon. We will get a solution," LRA spokesman Godfrey Ayo said. Posted June 9, 2008 by in News & Analysis

  • Chief government negotiator explains breakthrough agreement on accountability

    The chief government negotiator, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, explained today that the agreement signed last Friday at the Juba peace talks provided for a fusion of the formal and traditional justice systems. "The parties noted the strengths of the existing formal justice mechanism (which ensures no impunity) and the traditional cultural mechanisms (which are restorative and promote reconciliation)," Rugunda said. Rugunda warned that LRA rebels who were known to have committed crimes but refuse to admit to them would not benefit from the arrangement. Posted June 8, 2008 by in News & Analysis

  • “If illegal guns not withdrawn, crime and shootings will replace war in North”

    The Ugandan government should seize illegal guns owned by auxiliary forces in internally displaced people's (IDP) camps, the Uganda Human Rights Commission has suggested. The commission noted that many illegal guns were being misused to create lawlessness and hamper efforts of resettle displaced people. "Assurance of security will be the pre-condition for people to leave the camps," said Margaret Sekaggya, the head of the commission. Posted June 7, 2008 by in News & Analysis

  • More details and dilemmas emerge around 3rd agreement of Juba peace talks

    More today on the GoU-LRA agreement on "accountability and reconciliation": The agreement says that "traditional justice mechanisms, such as Culo Kwor, Mato Oput, Kayo Cuk, Ailuc and Tonu ci Koka and others as practiced in the communities affected by the conflict" shall be a main part of the alternative justice framework. Posted June 6, 2008 by in News & Analysis

  • May displacement #’s show 988,000 in original camps; 395,000 in new camps

    Reports from non-governmental organizations and the UN working in north Uganda show further changes in displacement through May. Of the 1,840,000 people displaced at the end of 2005, 988,000 (55%) remain in the original camps. Another 395,000 are in new "decongestion" camps or in transit, while 461,000 have returned home. Over 75% of those who have retured home are in the Lango region. Posted June 5, 2008 by in News & Analysis

  • Govt.-LRA agreement to establish “adapted legal framework” for war crimes

    Today there is more information about the agreement on 'accountability and reconciliation' signed Friday night by the Ugandan government and LRA. The agreement reads, "Accountability mechanisms shall be implemented through the adapted legal framework in Uganda." This likely means a hybrid of revitalized traditional practices (Mato Oput) and national legal mechanisms. Posted June 4, 2008 by in News & Analysis
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