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Between l986 and l996, LRA attacks on villages, with massive abductions, killings, rapes and mutilations, led to the displacement of thousands of mostly Acholi people. In l996, the government built and ordered large numbers of people from the north into the IDP camps, stated by the government as a means of protecting northern district communities from LRA raids and also, to weaken civilian support of LRA. By 1997, there were approximately 500,000 Acholi people living in IDP camps. In 2002, the UPDF launched “Operation Iron Fist” which permitted government forces to enter Southern Sudan to attack LRA where they have been based for years. However, by all accounts, this pushed more LRA units into Northern Uganda, resulting in tripling the numbers of Acholi people forced into IDP camps. Most estimates indicate more than 1.6 million people – 80% of the Acholi population – are confined to IDP camps in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts in Northern Uganda. The conditions under which the vast majority of Acholi people live in Uganda, and all who live in IDP camps and resettlement communities, is a gross violation of human rights. Furthermore, these conditions are destroying Acholi culture and limiting the options for Acholi people to restore their pastoral and agricultural-based economy and culture.
Peace Builders, human rights activists, development and relief organizations, religious organizations, regional and international organizations and others concerned may wish to consider learning about and supporting initiatives in the following three areas:
1. Negotiations between the Government of Uganda (GoU) and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
2. Reconciling Uganda society among its various political, ethnic, religious, regional and other sectors that historically have been used to divide society. Reconciliation could include various tools of learning and discussion, conflict resolution, traditional reconciliation, traditional healing, and other peace building tools and practices.
3. Addressing the immediate human rights needs of almost two million, mostly Acholi people suffering in IDP camps, resettlement communities and in urban areas.
The following events will be helpful to consider in supporting the peace building and negotiations process:
1. The Government of Uganda has enacted and extended an Amnesty Act, in which LRA soldiers, including abducted children, long serving rebel soldiers and commanders may surrender and participate in rehabilitation, restoration and reintegration into society without fear of prosecution or government persecution. This is also part of a “Come Back Home” campaign led by the Acholi community with government support. On July 13, 2004, LRA senior commander Kenneth Banya, age 70, was captured in Gulu by the UPDF. This is a significant event because Banya has stated publicly that other LRA commanders should surrender and that President Yoweri Museveni was an honorable man. Banya, in fact, is a former army major and body guard of Museveni when he was a minister in the second Obote government and is one of a number of former army commanders who joined LRA in the l980’s. His apparent dignified treatment by the Government of Uganda has spurred optimism that other commanders will surrender, weakening Kony’s ability to lead. While other commanders have surrendered, and some rebel forces have taken advantage of Amnesty, the numbers are lower than previously anticipated.
2. The Government of Uganda continues to support and fund a formal negotiations process, led by the Honorable Betty Bigombe, a former minister and now in charge of coordinating and leading the negotiation process.
3. In addition to the government’s negotiation team, the Lord’s Resistance Army apparently has a seven-man peace team assigned by Joseph Kony to negotiate with the Government of Uganda. On January 24, 2005, the UPDF captured LRA senior commander Odong Michael Acelam who was part of the LRA peace team. See: http://allafrica.com/stories/200501240156.html
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