The UPDF has set up more than 30 "decongestion camps" in the north as part of its plans to help nearly 2 million people displaced by war return home. Ugandan army chief General Aronda Nyakairima said it was important for these people to head home to cultivate land. The government hopes these are places where people can stay in safety overnight, but commute to their fields during the day and are based between the original camps and people's homes. Yet, some people at these decongestion camps remain reluctant to begin the cultivation process both because they are fearful of LRA attacks and mistrustful of their government, which has negelcted them for so long. Read more at BBC News.

A workshop attended by Ugandan government officials, international academics, civil society organizations, and leaders of IDP communities this week released a report about how to effectively implement Uganda's National Policy for IDPs. While ongoing peace talks have brought hope for a end to the LRA rebellion, tremendous challenges remain in addressing the humanitarian crisis in northern Uganda, resettling IDPs, and rehabilitating the region. Among the report's key recommendations:
-Increased access for IDPs to humanitarian access in camps and areas of return;
-The deployment of a well-trained police force in camps and areas of return;
-An effective system for IDPs to report human rights abuses;
-Measures to ensure that decongestion of camps is voluntary and moves people closer to their homes
-The establishment of a functioning judicial system with mechanisms to resolve land disputes in areas of return.

Click to read or download the entire report.

Gladys Oroma, Uganda-CAN news correspondent, reports that President Museveni is focusing much of his attention on the resettlement of over 1.6 million displaced people who are living in IDP camps in the region. Museveni and Prime Minister Prof. Apollo Nsibambi are scheduled to consult with local leaders in the Acholi sub-region starting tomorrow. Nsibambi, who heads the Peace, Resettlement and Development Programme, will be in Gulu to launch the multi-million-dollar emergency development programme for the region. After holding meetings, Nsibambi will visit one of the IDP camps to assess the conditions.

The relative peace and security in northern Uganda - stemming from ongoing peace talks between the LRA and Ugandan government in southern Sudan - has allowed over 300,000 IDPs to return to their homes. Jan Egeland, the UN secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, said Sunday, “More than 300,000 people have returned home but I don’t think we are doing enough to help them.” Read more at The New Vision.

Gladys Oroma, Uganda-CAN news correspondent, reports that two Anaka District politicians are facing arrest after they invited three LRA rebels to address a political rally at Anaka IDP camp on Sunday. The northern army spokesman Lt. Chris Magezi said the two leaders violated the cessation of hostilities agreement by inviting the rebels to speak. Magezi said the same rebels had mounted a road block on Saturday, demanding money and food from people in the area. Meanwhile, LRA rebels on Sunday released 13-year old Bosco Ouma, who had been abducted last Thursday. Ouma's abduction was considered the first violation of the cessation of hostilities truce, and his return is a welcome sign of LRA commitment to the truce.

Hundreds of Acholi, who were forced by the LRA conflict to flee to Masindi district, have rushed back to Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts for the validation exercise to be conducted today. The exercise is to be carried out throughout the Acholi sub-region to ascertain the number of people living in camps for internally displaced peoples. The exercise will help in planning for relief food and distribution of other humanitarian assistance to the IDPs. It will further help prepare for the resettlement of IDPs if a final peace agreement is reached. Read more at The New Vision.

The Ugandan government is prepared to deliver to a $340 million recovery plan to leaders of the war-ravaged north as peace talks raised hopes for an end to the 20-year violence. Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi said the first $10 million of the recovery plan would be spent urgently on resettlement kits, including farm tools and seeds, on re-opening remote roads in the north and on hiring more police officers. "The government has taken immediate steps to resettle the internally-displaced people since there is a chance for total peace," he said. Read more at Reuters.