Forcible disarmament campaign in Karamoja continues, but deep doubts persist
The Ugandan military released a report today claiming that 54 civilians had been killed and 970 guns recovered during Karamoja disarmament operations in the first four months of the year. While reducing the rampant circulation and use of illegal small arms in the region should be an imperative for the Ugandan government, a wide variety of studies and sources (including those within the Ugandan government) indicate that the UPDF's forcible disarmament strategy is not the most appropriate way to do so.
Despite the apparent gains made in the past several months reducing arms flows, an April UN humanitarian brief indicates that security in Karamoja has deteriorated in 2008, often directly linked to the disarmament campaigns. Last year Human Rights Watch and the UN human rights chief released reports detailing massive human rights abuses committed during "cordon and search" disarmament operations. A 2007 report by Tufts University exposed massive failures in the current UPDF approach and highlighted the need for voluntary disarmament supported by efforts to protect livelihoods and strengthen police and judicial systems. Two weeks ago the Ugandan government itself highlighted the need for a "non-violent" disarmament strategy in statement released jointly with the UN. The question is clear: What more will it take for the UPDF to rethink its disarmament strategy in Karamoja?
Despite the apparent gains made in the past several months reducing arms flows, an April UN humanitarian brief indicates that security in Karamoja has deteriorated in 2008, often directly linked to the disarmament campaigns. Last year Human Rights Watch and the UN human rights chief released reports detailing massive human rights abuses committed during "cordon and search" disarmament operations. A 2007 report by Tufts University exposed massive failures in the current UPDF approach and highlighted the need for voluntary disarmament supported by efforts to protect livelihoods and strengthen police and judicial systems. Two weeks ago the Ugandan government itself highlighted the need for a "non-violent" disarmament strategy in statement released jointly with the UN. The question is clear: What more will it take for the UPDF to rethink its disarmament strategy in Karamoja?