DONOR GROUP ON NORTHERN UGANDA, AMNESTY & RECOVERY FROM CONFLICT.
STATEMENT ON NORTHERN UGANDA
The members of the Donor Group on Northern Uganda, Amnesty and Recovery from Conflict endorse Parliament�s resolution of 25th February on recent events in northern Uganda. We wish to utterly condemn the appalling atrocities that have been carried out by the Lord�s Resistance Army and in particular the vicious attack on Barlonyo camp in which so many helpless men, women and children lost their lives.
We reject the assertion that Donors� restrictions on Defence expenditure have impeded the UPDF�s capacity to defend citizens from such attacks. Donors agreed exceptional increases in Defence spending last year that were related to combating the LRA. Uganda�s development partners agree that security for all Ugandans is necessary in eliminating poverty, which is the purpose of our assistance. It is the obligation of Government, as Parliament repeated this week, to protect the lives and property of its people.
We also call on the Governments of Uganda and Sudan to cooperate in providing security on both sides of their shared border. It is important that the opportunity afforded by the current Sudan peace process is used to ensure an end to the movement of rebel groups and their supplies across that border.
We acknowledge Parliament�s request for humanitarian assistance to be provided in the North. We note that the vast majority of humanitarian aid to the North, both in the past and today, is being provided by the international community. We will continue to provide such assistance as needed subject to security concerns. We call on the Government to extend the provision of security for humanitarian deliveries, which it already provides in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader, to all affected areas.
But humanitarian assistance is not enough � the conflict which causes such great suffering must be resolved. While acknowledging the difficulties faced, we wish to once again urge the Government to explore all avenues to resolve this conflict, including helping to create a climate in which a negotiated solution might be found. We also reiterate our willingness to assist such a solution in any meaningful way.
It is with great sadness and concern that we note the recent inter-ethnic clashes between some groups of Langi and Acholi people. There are no winners in ethnic conflict just as all of the communities of Uganda are losers in this war. We call on the Government, civil society, local and religious leaders to do everything in their power to restore calm and promote dialogue between communities.
Finally we wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to all victims of the war in the North and in particular the families and friends of all those so tragically lost during the attack on Barlonyo camp and those killed on 25th February in Lira.
The Donor Group on the North, Amnesty and Recovery from Conflict comprises :
H.E. Mr. Sigurd Illing, Head of Delegation European Commission, Chair
Mr. Hans Schattauer, Acting Head of Bureau Austria
H.E. Mr. Koenraad Adam, Ambassador Belgium
H.E.Mr. Stig Barlyng, Ambassador Denmark
H.E. Mr. Jean-Bernard Thiant, Ambassador France
H.E. Mr. Alexander Muhlen, Ambassador Germany
Mr. Mairtin O�Fainin, Charg� d�Affaires Ireland
H.E. Mr. Maurizio Teucci, Ambassador Italy
H.E. Mr. Matthew A. Peters, Ambassador The Netherlands
H.E. Mr. Erik Aberg, Ambassador Sweden
H.E. Mr. Adam Wood, High Commissioner United Kingdom
H.E. Mr. Tore Gjos, Ambassador Norway
H.E. Mr. Jimmy Kolker, Ambassador United States of America
H.E. Mr. Nobuaki Ito, Ambassador Japan
Mr. Daouda Toure, Resident Represtative UNDP. Humanitarian Co-ordination
Ms. Grace Yabrudy, Programme Manager World Bank
Mr. Randy Harris, Chairman, DTG/NARC US AID
NB: I hope you will find time to read and sign a petition to stop the Northern Uganda carnage at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/savacoli/petition.html
