by: Paul
Kenny Ferenchak, Resolve Uganda's field researcher in northern Uganda, reflects on the struggle to respect the humanity and dignity of people displaced by the conflict that partially rely on the international community for survival.
“They’re looking at me like I’m an animal.”
As mere observers to the ongoing food distribution at Pabbo internal displacement camp, my colleague and I were at a loss as to how to respond to the desperately pleading eyes of this elderly man. From what we could see, the staff of international NGO volunteers, consisting of nearly 100 highly-trained and experienced Ugandans, were performing a remarkable feat in orderly dispensing one-month rations to the 40,000 inhabitants of the camp.
“They’re looking at me like I’m an animal.”
As mere observers to the ongoing food distribution at Pabbo internal displacement camp, my colleague and I were at a loss as to how to respond to the desperately pleading eyes of this elderly man. From what we could see, the staff of international NGO volunteers, consisting of nearly 100 highly-trained and experienced Ugandans, were performing a remarkable feat in orderly dispensing one-month rations to the 40,000 inhabitants of the camp.
by: Paul
Kenny Ferenchak, Resolve Uganda's field researcher in northern Uganda, reports from Uganda that despite recent progress at the Juba talks serious obstacles remain ahead.
As the Juba peace talks enter into their final critical stages the parties now more than ever need to show unwavering commitment to silencing their guns. And there is no doubt that recent weeks have witnessed a significant surge of momentum build towards a final agreement. Since the end of January the parties extended the cessation of hostilities and resumed active negotiations, the US and EU became official observers to the negotiations and the (newly reconstituted) LRA peace delegation finally has the backing of LRA chief Joseph Kony. Unfortunately, the outlook is not all so rosy. Actions by both the LRA and Ugandan government, and the international community, continue to jeopardize the negotiations – and the hopes for a lasting peace held by millions of people in the three countries affected by the conflict.
As the Juba peace talks enter into their final critical stages the parties now more than ever need to show unwavering commitment to silencing their guns. And there is no doubt that recent weeks have witnessed a significant surge of momentum build towards a final agreement. Since the end of January the parties extended the cessation of hostilities and resumed active negotiations, the US and EU became official observers to the negotiations and the (newly reconstituted) LRA peace delegation finally has the backing of LRA chief Joseph Kony. Unfortunately, the outlook is not all so rosy. Actions by both the LRA and Ugandan government, and the international community, continue to jeopardize the negotiations – and the hopes for a lasting peace held by millions of people in the three countries affected by the conflict.
by: Peter
Kenny Ferenchak, Resolve Uganda's field researcher in northern Uganda, reports that one groups' interest in the ongoing Juba peace process, especially its successful conclusion, trumps all others. That group is the survivors of this war whose very lives are on the line.
The ongoing Juba peace process to end two decades of violence between the Government of Uganda and Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) means a lot of different things for a lot of people. For President Museveni, the talks present the chance to usher in a period of relative calm across the country that has been absent since he took power in 1986. For LRA leader Joseph Kony, the negotiations will determine his fate after spending most of his adult life leading the rebellion from the bush. For neighboring countries, the end of the conflict would solidify an area of stability in a region plagued by insecurity. For foreign donors, a peace deal would help to validate the label of 'success' they have long attached to Uganda. For activists the world over, an agreement would signal the end of a terrible period of child abductions and brutal mutilations.
The ongoing Juba peace process to end two decades of violence between the Government of Uganda and Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) means a lot of different things for a lot of people. For President Museveni, the talks present the chance to usher in a period of relative calm across the country that has been absent since he took power in 1986. For LRA leader Joseph Kony, the negotiations will determine his fate after spending most of his adult life leading the rebellion from the bush. For neighboring countries, the end of the conflict would solidify an area of stability in a region plagued by insecurity. For foreign donors, a peace deal would help to validate the label of 'success' they have long attached to Uganda. For activists the world over, an agreement would signal the end of a terrible period of child abductions and brutal mutilations.
October 17, 2007: North Uganda civil society speaks with one voice on 'accountability & reconciliation'
by: Peter
After holding consultative meetings last month, nearly 100 civil society organizations in northern Uganda have released a joint declaration on agenda item #3 of the Juba peace talks. This remarkable consensus document was signed by organizations covering the regions of Acholi, Lango, Teso and West Nile. The organizations call for the establishment of a Special Court for the prosecution of those most responsible for human rights violations in northern Uganda. Meanwhile, they appeal to the Ugandan parliament to "expeditiously domesticate the ICC bill in line with national and traditional justice mechanisms." They urge the Ugandan government to request the UN Security Council to defer the ICC arrest warrants for a period of 12 months. For those prosecuted, they recommend penalties such as "deprivation from heading public offices, deprivation from working with children and deprivation of liberty through serving prison sentences."
The declaration also reads, "Forced encampment and displacement should be recognized and acknowledged as a crime against humanity and the circumstances investigated and the persons responsible for such occurrences brought to book...Furthermore, any return program should be in line with the IDP policy and most importantly, there should be no forced return. Return should be voluntary." The organizations then call for the development of a reparations program for northern Uganda beginning now before the outcome of peace talks. They write that reparations could include schools, hospitals, monuments and memorial centers. "Furthermore, a national day of mourning should be established to commemorate the suffering and lives lost in the conflict." These groups also advocate a National Truth and Reconciliation Commission with a tenure of four years for truth-telling and reconciliation.
This declaration is a unique moment in history with northern Uganda civil society - across its regions - speaking with one voice. Now we must act to make sure that policymakers cannot ignore it.
The declaration also reads, "Forced encampment and displacement should be recognized and acknowledged as a crime against humanity and the circumstances investigated and the persons responsible for such occurrences brought to book...Furthermore, any return program should be in line with the IDP policy and most importantly, there should be no forced return. Return should be voluntary." The organizations then call for the development of a reparations program for northern Uganda beginning now before the outcome of peace talks. They write that reparations could include schools, hospitals, monuments and memorial centers. "Furthermore, a national day of mourning should be established to commemorate the suffering and lives lost in the conflict." These groups also advocate a National Truth and Reconciliation Commission with a tenure of four years for truth-telling and reconciliation.
This declaration is a unique moment in history with northern Uganda civil society - across its regions - speaking with one voice. Now we must act to make sure that policymakers cannot ignore it.
by: Peter
Kenny Ferenchak, Resolve Uganda's lead researcher in Uganda, writes about dynamics on the ground:
The signs are clear: bustling construction sites, radical roadway improvements, massive landscaping projects, and billboards galore. Everyone in Uganda is hurrying to put the final touches on preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to take place in Kampala this 23-25 November. Every two years a member of the British Commonwealth is chosen to host this prestigious international summit at which leaders from the 53 member states gather to focus on issues facing the Commonwealth community. Obviously this is a great opportunity for the host country to show off its grandeur to the entire world, and Uganda is no exception as it plans for the Queen of England’s first visit to the country since its independence in 1962.
The catchphrase on posters and paraphernalia across the country is "Are You Ready for CHOGM?" Immediately upon my arrival at Entebbe Airport, I noticed the progress that has been made since I left last September: flowers lining the airport entrance, sewage lines neatly following the roadways, and traffic signals that truly control the traffic at intersections! The national excitement is reflected in huge billboards all over the capital and along roadsides nationwide depicting local celebrities, from recording artists to international athletes, proudly stating, "I Am Ready for CHOGM."
As has long been the case, however, the story of CHOGM highlights the continuing story of two Uganda’s. For every freshly paved road, blooming flower garden, and new 5-star resort I passed on the road from Entebbe to Kampala, there was a deepening pothole, overgrown field, and crumbling IDP camp on the northern road to Gulu.
No one can deny the successes of the past year brought by the Juba peace talks, millions of dollars poured into the rehabilitation of the north, and (most inspiring) the gradual movement of people back to their land, if even for only a few hours each day to farm. This shows progress, but in no way is the situation across the north any less of an emergency when levels of absolute poverty remain above 60%, HIV infection rates remain among the highest in the country, and access to health and education facilities is simply dreadful in many areas. And beyond all of that, most in the most heavily-affected regions still remain hesitant to move back to their original lands out of fears of insecurity.
Meanwhile, 'Uganda' readies itself for CHOGM. The theme for this year’s meeting is quite inspiring, in fact: "Transforming Commonwealth Societies to Achieve Political, Economic, and Human Development." The Queen and all other dignitaries are certain to see a real transformation of society for development on that road from Entebbe to Kampala—but can this really be the same nation that has been torn apart by violence since its independence, the same country that is still home to tens of thousands of internally displaced persons in its northern regions only a few hours up the road from Kampala?
It is difficult to imagine among all the lavish dinners and pretty gardens this November that those camp-dwellers and victims of human rights violations will have an adequate chance to have their stories heard, but who really knows? Maybe civil society will grab the attention of the Commonwealth’s leaders forcing them to look at the causes and effects of a real lack of development in the north, and maybe the international media will wander beyond Kampala to make its way to the camps and rehabilitation centers in Acholiland.
Or perhaps more likely, the desire to hang onto the last remnants of this fading Commonwealth institution will move host and visitors to expend all energy to ensure a successful meeting, even at the cost of leaving millions of voices unheard. There is one certainty, however, that was promised by LC5 Chairman Norbert Mao this past week: we’re not going to see any of those "I Am Ready for CHOGM" billboards in an IDP camp anytime soon.
The signs are clear: bustling construction sites, radical roadway improvements, massive landscaping projects, and billboards galore. Everyone in Uganda is hurrying to put the final touches on preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to take place in Kampala this 23-25 November. Every two years a member of the British Commonwealth is chosen to host this prestigious international summit at which leaders from the 53 member states gather to focus on issues facing the Commonwealth community. Obviously this is a great opportunity for the host country to show off its grandeur to the entire world, and Uganda is no exception as it plans for the Queen of England’s first visit to the country since its independence in 1962.
The catchphrase on posters and paraphernalia across the country is "Are You Ready for CHOGM?" Immediately upon my arrival at Entebbe Airport, I noticed the progress that has been made since I left last September: flowers lining the airport entrance, sewage lines neatly following the roadways, and traffic signals that truly control the traffic at intersections! The national excitement is reflected in huge billboards all over the capital and along roadsides nationwide depicting local celebrities, from recording artists to international athletes, proudly stating, "I Am Ready for CHOGM."
As has long been the case, however, the story of CHOGM highlights the continuing story of two Uganda’s. For every freshly paved road, blooming flower garden, and new 5-star resort I passed on the road from Entebbe to Kampala, there was a deepening pothole, overgrown field, and crumbling IDP camp on the northern road to Gulu.
No one can deny the successes of the past year brought by the Juba peace talks, millions of dollars poured into the rehabilitation of the north, and (most inspiring) the gradual movement of people back to their land, if even for only a few hours each day to farm. This shows progress, but in no way is the situation across the north any less of an emergency when levels of absolute poverty remain above 60%, HIV infection rates remain among the highest in the country, and access to health and education facilities is simply dreadful in many areas. And beyond all of that, most in the most heavily-affected regions still remain hesitant to move back to their original lands out of fears of insecurity.
Meanwhile, 'Uganda' readies itself for CHOGM. The theme for this year’s meeting is quite inspiring, in fact: "Transforming Commonwealth Societies to Achieve Political, Economic, and Human Development." The Queen and all other dignitaries are certain to see a real transformation of society for development on that road from Entebbe to Kampala—but can this really be the same nation that has been torn apart by violence since its independence, the same country that is still home to tens of thousands of internally displaced persons in its northern regions only a few hours up the road from Kampala?
It is difficult to imagine among all the lavish dinners and pretty gardens this November that those camp-dwellers and victims of human rights violations will have an adequate chance to have their stories heard, but who really knows? Maybe civil society will grab the attention of the Commonwealth’s leaders forcing them to look at the causes and effects of a real lack of development in the north, and maybe the international media will wander beyond Kampala to make its way to the camps and rehabilitation centers in Acholiland.
Or perhaps more likely, the desire to hang onto the last remnants of this fading Commonwealth institution will move host and visitors to expend all energy to ensure a successful meeting, even at the cost of leaving millions of voices unheard. There is one certainty, however, that was promised by LC5 Chairman Norbert Mao this past week: we’re not going to see any of those "I Am Ready for CHOGM" billboards in an IDP camp anytime soon.
August 10, 2006: U.S. Faith Leaders Press Pres. Bush to Support Historic Peace Talks
by: Peter
WASHINGTON D.C. – A coalition of 19 leaders of major religious organizations in America has sent a letter to President Bush today, urging the U.S. Government to support historic peace talks currently underway to end the twenty year war in northern Uganda. In their letter, the religious leaders call on the Bush Administration to give "serious and sustained attention" to the peace process.
"We encourage the U.S. government to use all diplomatic means available to hold accountable the parties engaged in the process,” the leaders state. “These negotiations offer a crucial opportunity to end longstanding violence and massive displacement in the region, and to prompt healing for people long suffering the trauma of conflict."
"We encourage the U.S. government to use all diplomatic means available to hold accountable the parties engaged in the process,” the leaders state. “These negotiations offer a crucial opportunity to end longstanding violence and massive displacement in the region, and to prompt healing for people long suffering the trauma of conflict."
July 19, 2006: Fire Outbreak Leaves Hundreds of Gulu IDPs Homeless
by: Peter
Gladys N Oroma, Uganda-CAN news correspondent in northern Uganda, reports that a fresh fire outbreak has destroyed up to 300 huts in Anaka internally-displaced persons camp in Gulu district. According to eyewitnesses, the fire lasted for two days, leaving 1500 people homeless. Fire outbreaks are quite common in these displacement camps, where huts are packed so closely together. The camp residents are calling on the government to respond to this disaster and provide them with basic items for their survival.