ugnet_: Kony attacks as US official visits

[Matekopoko]

Kony attacks as US official visits

By Carolyne Nakazibwe & John Muto-Ono p’Lajur

Eighteen people were on Monday night abducted from Awere camp in Gulu district, hours before the US Agency for International Development Assistant Administrator Roger Winter visited the area.

Mr. Winter heard from LC-III Chairman Walter Ogwoya on Tuesday that the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels raided the camp and took away children.
Eight were later rescued by the UPDF.

Mr. Winter, who is in charge of democracy, conflict and humanitarian assistance at USAID, was in Gulu to assess the food and security crisis in the region.
He met residents of the crowded camp, who asked for more security and food.
“We know that the situation in northern Uganda is not good," he said. "I know personally because I have come here several times and I stayed here four years ago. This war has gone on too long.”

Mr. Winter pledged 25,000 additional metric tonnes of food for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), bringing the US food assistance this year to 45,000 metric tonnes valued at Shs 42.5bn.

This followed an alert from World Food Programme that malnutrition levels among children below 5 has reached 31 percent in some camps.
The WFP can meet only 60 percent of the demand for food for the 800,000 people estimated to live in the IDP camps.

The convoy, heavily guarded by armoured military vehicles, also included Minister of State for Higher Education Ms. Betty Akech, American Ambassador Mr. Jimmy Kolker and USAID Country Director Ms. Vicki Moore.

Later at the Gulu Support Children Organisation (GUSCO), the delegation heard formerly abducted children tell their harrowing stories.

The Americans heard that Lord's Resistance Army rebel leader Joseph Kony is now interested in talks, but only if an international body mediates the talks and not the local leaders as President Yoweri Museveni has suggested.

A blind Mr. James Okot, 18, abducted in 1994 and shot in the eyes during crossfire with the army in 2000, said some rebels tracked him to his home and asked that the Resident District Commissioner Max Omeda be included on the team of government negotiators.

Mr. Winter had this to say to about 100 former (rebel) child soldiers: “Committing of violence against innocent people, killing your own people, is very hard for many of us to understand. By hearing your stories, we understand that you are victims too.”
He also visited St. Mary’s Hospital, Lacor, where he praised the doctors for their commitment.

The hospital’s deputy director Dr. Bruno Corrado said the hospital is recording less HIV cases among pregnant women, but escalating cases of malnutrition among children.

Mr. Winter will also meet with government and NGO officials, before continuing to Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan.