Legislators have put government to task over failure to compensate persons affected by conflict and war in Uganda.

Hon. Jonathan Ebwalu (Ind., Soroti West Division) alluded to an order by the Soroti High Court that government must pay compensation to over 3,000 Teso war claimants who lost lives, animals and property between 1986 and 1994 and the 2003 LRA incursion.

“In the October 2023 ruling, court gave government six months within which to pay the people of Teso but nothing has been paid up to now. Government should tell us what plans they have to compensate the people of Teso, Acholi, Lango and West Nile,” said Ebwalu, during the plenary sitting chaired by Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa on Tuesday, 02 April 2024.

Hon. Linda Agnes Auma (Ind., Lira district) alluded to a record presented by the Attorney General of a total of 42,000 claimants to be compensated in Lango sub-region, noting that only 18,000 had been approved.

“We asked the Attorney General why the other 23,000 claimants were not approved but we did not get a clear answer,” Auma said.

Hon. Martin Muzaale (NRM, Buzaaya County) observed that many people affected by the Lakwena incursion in Busoga lost lives and property but have not been compensated to date.

The Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, committed to meet legislators from the affected regions to address their concerns, noting that government has paid out a total of Shs496 billion so far, in compensation claims.

“We are also in the budgeting process and we hope some money will be made available for this purpose and if it is, we will continue to remit money to the persons entitled to it,” said Kiryowa Kiwanuka.

Hon. Jesca Ababiku (NRM, Adjumani district) proposed that the meetings with MPs be held on a regional basis so as to critically analyse issues and take concrete positions.

The Third Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Rukia Nakadama promised to present the concerns to Cabinet, to consider inclusion of other regions in the quest for compensation.

In September 2022, while appearing before the Government Assurances Committee of Parliament, the Deputy Attorney General, Hon. Jackson Kafuuzi said that government at the time required Shs2 trillion to compensate victims of wars and insurgencies in Northern and Eastern Uganda, West Nile and the Elgon sub-region.

He told MPs at the time, that by the end of the 2021/2022 financial year, 30,339 out of 38,225 submissions from the districts had been reviewed, and 20,727 of them paid a total sum of Shs50 billion.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

The ECOWAS Commission organized Hybrid preparatory Meetings with Liberia and The Gambia from the 25th to the 28th of March 2024, towards Operationalization of the ECOWAS Protection and Human Security Integrated Coordination Mechanisms (ECO-PHSICM).

Following the successful implementation of the In-Country High Level Advocacy, Coordination and Capacity Building of Multi-Stakeholders and Establishment of the ECOWAS Protection and Human Security Integrated Coordination Mechanisms (ECO-PHSICM) in Nine (9) countries between 2021 and 2023 with country specific roadmaps adopted by national stakeholders, the ECOWAS Commission earmarked funding support to the tune of 25,000 USD for each country.

The planning meeting which is in furtherance of operationalizing the ECOWAS Protection and Human Security Integrated Coordination Mechanisms is aimed at facilitating the development of coordination plans and sharing of information on accessing and the utilization of the funding support to enhance strategies that drive the protection and human security agenda.

Welcoming the stakeholders, the ECOWAS Director for Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Dr Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe, represented by Mr. Olatunde Olayemi, Programme Officer, Trafficking in Persons, appreciated the enthusiasm and commitment of stakeholders in the 2 countries in ensuring that all requirements for funds disbursements are met by their countries, making them a part of the 4 countries of the initial phase. He said the funds are to be administered through the offices of the ECOWAS Resident Representatives in the countries. He further emphasized that the funding support for the operationalisation of ECOPHISM in the Member States is to contribute to improved human security in the region by enhancing coordination and building capacities of relevant stakeholders in Member States towards creating a protection web and promoting a whole of country/society approach.

Remarks were received from the ECOWAS Resident Representatives to Liberia and The Gambia, Ms Josephine Nkruma during the opening session of the 2 day meeting with Liberia on the 25th; and Ms Miatta French at the opening of the 2 day meeting with The Gambia. The Representatives variously, emphasized the commitment of the President of the ECOWAS Commission to the strengthening of institutions in the Member States focused on building the resilience of systems and the citizenry and thus enhancing peace and security and the improved welfare.

Remarks were also delivered by the Directors of the National Centres for the Coordination of Response Mechanisms (NCCRM) which serve as a sercetariat for ECO-PHISM, Dr Roland Clarke – Liberia and Dr Abraham Thomas – The Gambia; both emphasizing the timeliness of the initiative and the commitment of the Member States in working with ECOWAS to enhance protection and human security in thier countries.

The meetings featured discussions on key coordination actions and further assessment of the current state of the  2 countries. The stakeholders were also briefed on guidelines for utilisation of the funding support and the planned in-Country facilitation workshops to take place in 2024.

The meetings were well attended and participants included ECOWAS Commission Staff, ECOWAS Resident Representatives in Liberia and The Gambia, Directors of NCCRMS in Liberia and Gambia and other personnel from the national Integrated Protection and Human Security Coordination Mechanisms in the respective countries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

In early February 2022 violent clashes erupted in and around Agok, in the Abyei special administrative area of South Sudan, and an estimated 70,000 people were displaced.

While the majority fled to the town of Abyei, others sought refuge in areas further south, with more than 20,400 people registered in Twic County in Warrap state as of March 2022.

In a region that was already vulnerable and prone to recurrent disease outbreaks, the influx of displaced people placed an additional burden on fragile communities. The situation has further worsened by heavy floods, and the area recently experienced another wave of violence.

“In January 2024 alone, we received more than 100 casualties, mainly gunshot wounded patients in need of surgery, and we have activated our mass casualty response plan multiple times,” said Zélie Antier, a project coordinator with MSF in Abyei, South Sudan. “As a consequence, we’ve upgraded our surgical capacity to be able to respond to the medical needs of the population.”

Today, in Abyei and Twic, MSF is providing comprehensive care in four facilities and supports integrated community case management sites in the camps for displaced people. There remains, however, a critical lack of hospital care available in the area; there is no operating theater in the whole of Twic County, leaving patients in need of surgical care at risk.

Decreased funding and overstretched services

“The main threat in 2024 is the decrease in funding for South Sudan, which has led to a significant decrease in the presence and response of [humanitarian] actors, with major concerns about lack of food and poor water and sanitation conditions—in the camps as well as in most host communities—and poor shelter conditions to [accommodate] the coming rainy season, with limited access to quality health care services,” said Nicolas Guiral, MSF project coordinator in Twic.

This renewed violence has led to deaths, serious injuries, destruction of property and livelihoods, and further displacement. These conditions have stretched our teams and equipment and, during the clashes, MSF lost two team members who, although off-duty and not targeted as staff, became victims of the violence.

“In Twic the recent violence has mainly affected our activities [in] receiving [people who are] wounded or killed,” explained Guiral. “It’s also affecting an important part of our team since most have family members who are from other communities and have been separated until now from the conflict.”

The magnitude of the crisis exceeds the capacity of any single entity, and a collaborative approach is essential for creating a more substantial and effective humanitarian response.

Challenges faced by refugees and returnees from Sudan

Amidst the already dire situation in Abyei, a new challenge has arisen: an influx of returnees and refugees fleeing the horrors of Sudan’s ongoing war that began in April 2023. There has been a significant influx of internally displaced people and refugees into South Sudan since the fighting started. Families who had been displaced from their homes sought refuge in Abyei, hoping for safety and a chance to rebuild their shattered lives.

“Most people fled from Agok, north of here,” said a community leader. “Some have come recently from Sudan, and they are still coming every day. More than 6,000 people are living in the camp. When there is peace and MSF goes back to Agok then we will go too. But if there is peace and MSF doesn’t go back, then we won’t go back either. We need MSF. Some [of the people arriving from Sudan] come by official routes and have vouchers and a pass to get food and shelter, but many come on unofficial routes from different directions and they don’t have the necessary papers,  so they get no help at all. This is a big problem, and it is growing.”

As of November 2023, more than 400,000 people, predominantly South Sudanese returnees, as well as refugees have crossed the border. The large number of arrivals, particularly women and children, presents challenges for transit sites. Rising market prices have contributed to worsening food insecurity. These add to the challenges South Sudan already faces, such as regular disease outbreaks, flooding, displacement, and high rates of malnutrition.

While MSF continues to provide health care and hospital services, there is an urgent need for additional support from other humanitarian actors in terms of food, water, sanitation, and shelter, especially with the impending seasons of floods as well as violent events that could cause the situation to deteriorate further. In the past year alone, our teams supported 50,000 people and conducted 23,000 emergency consultations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).

The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, has asked the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the Attorney General to investigate claims of land grabbing and fraudulent issuance of land titles in Agago district.

Tayebwa gave the directive during following a petition by aggrieved community members of Lapono sub-county, presented by area MP, Hon. John Amos Okot (NRM, Agago North County),  during the plenary sitting on Tuesday, 02 April 2024. 

The petitioners faulted the Ministry of Lands for issuing title certificates without involving the community in the surveying process, adding that the Resident District Commissioner alleged in a 17 October 2023 meeting, that the community had willfully given their land to investors.

“The RDC is now using Police and the National Forestry Authority officials to intimidate some leaders who have been standing with the community to protect their right to this customary land,” said Okot.

He noted that NFA officials and some game rangers under Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have menaced the community, citing the destruction of over 10,000 acres of crops by animals.

He added that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development recently discovered mineral presence on the said land, and has since deployed soldiers who continue to intimidate the community.

“The prayer of these people is that this House should investigate the fraudulent issuance of land titles on this land and also investigate the actions of the RDC and other persons mentioned,” Okot added.

The Attorney General observed that all land owned by NFA and UWA is by gazette and all customary ownership of land can be determined by records under the Ministry of Lands.

“If titles have been issued, they should explain how they were given out. Ministry of Lands is within its right to cancel wrongly issued titles. I will work with the Ministry to get to the bottom of this within the 30 days,” Kiryowa Kiwanuka said. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.