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UGANDA PEOPLES CONGRESS
NATIONAL
SECRETARIAT
Plot
8-10 Kampala Road, Uganda House, P.O. Box 9206 Kampala, Phone/Fax: +256-41-236748
19 April
2006.
Press
Statement
1.
In principle, the
Uganda Peoples Congress welcomes the decision to close the IDP camps and
resettle the hundreds of thousands of affected Ugandans to their former homes.
As UPC has pointed out on diverse occasions over the last two decades, these
camps were not necessary. The tragedy of the camps was the result of the NRM
government’s undemocratic and militaristic policies.
2.
However, the
implementation of the decision to close or decongest the camps gives rise to
very serious concerns which, if not urgently addressed will undermine the whole
process and lead to other forms of disasters.
3.
In the first
instance, the UPC is not convinced by the reasons given by the Government or
more specifically the UPDF for the non-closure of the IDP camps in the Acholi
sub-region. Time and again we have been told that the war is over and that there
are only a few rebel remnants remaining. Why can’t the UPDF offer adequate
security to the people of Acholi in the villages?
4.
UPC suspects that
there are ulterior motives by the government not to close the Acholi camps. It
appears that the NRM wants to continue punishing the Acholi people for leading
the opposition against the NRM undemocratic rule. The discrimination against the
people of Acholi and apparent policy to isolate and destroy them must
stop.
5.
The other issue
that is cause for concern is the role of the UPDF in this entire resettlement
exercise. Although there exists on paper a Joint Country and Monitoring
Committee to oversee the resettlement, actual implementation has been left to
the UPDF. That is why all public discourse on the matter on behalf of government
has been by Major Kulayigye, the UPDF spokesman.
6.
Even the least
concered person knows the record of UPDF in managing public resources. The UPDF
is not renowned for prudent management of resources. Rather it is famous for
dubious purchases and payments like of junk helicopters, rotten food, undersized
uniforms, theft of soldiers’ salaries and allowances and gross human rights
abuses. To entrust the management of resettlement funds and materials to this
discredited UPDF is the surest way of creating another Global Fund circus.
Already, there are reports that most of the iron sheets distributed in Teso and
Lango are back on the market in
7.
According to press
reports, the people being resettled will be given seeds for planting, iron
sheets, utensils and food for six months. Even assuming that these items are
distributed they cannot of themselves enable people to resettle in their former
villages that are now overgrown bushes. The timing is terribly
wrong.
8.
For orderly and
meaningful resettlement to take place the economic and social infrastructure of
the region must be replanned and worked on. In particular the following must be
urgently attended to: -
a)
Security must be
guaranteed by requesting the African Union to deploy a peace keeping force in
the affected areas.
c)
Health facilities
in all sub-counties must be re-opened, built and
facilitated.
d)
Schools in all
villages that were vandalized must be rebuilt.
e)
Urban centres must
be rebuilt.
f)
Farming tools
including bush clearing equipment must be distributed.
g)
Mechanisms to
amicably settle land disputes must be put in place.
h)
Counselling
services must be put in place.
9.
These entire
economic and social infrastructures cannot be put in place and managed y the
inept UPDF. There is need for more superior organization and
management.
10.
The UPC demands
that: -
a)
The government
should urgently introduce in Parliament a Bill to create an autonomous
Resettlement and Rehabilitation Commission to manage and oversee the
implementation of the resettlement exercise. Members of this commission should
be drawn from all stakeholders including government, the opposition political
Parties, civil society, religious organizations, and leaders from the affected
areas. The actual management of the resettlement and rehabilitation exercise
under the oversight of the Commission should be left in the hands of
professional cadre of interdisciplinary experts. There should be no political
interference in the work of the experts.
b) The camps in the Acholi sub-region that are
most dehumanizing should be closed as a matter of priority. The affected people
have suffered far too long.
11.
The UPC appeals to
all Ugandans, the East African Community, the African Union, the United Nations
and all peace loving persons to support its demands for ending one of the worst
humanitarian tragedies in the world.
FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY
PRESIDENTPP |
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