The situation for the over 1.6 million people that were displaced because of the conflict with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) that ravaged Northern Uganda for over 22 years, has improved since the beginning of peace talks with the Ugandan Government in July 2006. Appx. 1.3 million people have now returned to or near to their places of origin. The peace talks, mediated by the Government of South Sudan, lasted for almost two years and were concluded in April 2008. The Chairman of the LRA, Joseph Kony, has however failed to sign the Final Peace Agreement (FPA). On 14 December 2008, a military campaign against the LRA was therefore launced in a joint operation by Uganda, South Sudan and DRC. The campaign is still ongoing and has not yet led to the capture of the LRA high command, currently hiding in the dense forest in DRC’s Garamba National Park, with some units having fled to South Sudan and others reputedly heading towards the Central African Republic (CAR). Since the beginning of the campaign, the LRA has retaliated brutally against the civilian population in Eastern DRC, South Sudan and CAR, and according to humanitarian actors on the ground their attacks have led to over 600 deaths, over 500 abductions and over 150.000 internally displaced in DRC and South Sudan. The humanitarian situation for civilians in the LRA affected areas hence remain of great concern.
The Government of Uganda has promised to keep the door open for a peaceful solution to the conflict, should Kony surrender and sign the FPA. In December 2009, the mandate of the UN Special Envoy to the LRA affected areas, Joachim Chissano, was extended for a further year. President Chissano’s task will continue to include pushing for a final signature to the peace agreement by the parties as well as providing political support to the Government of Uganda in implementing those aspects of the peace agreement that can already be implemented without Kony’s signature, particularly in terms of relief and reconstruction. The Government’s Plan for Reconstruction and Development of Northern Uganda has been launched by President Museveni, but delays in implementing the PRDP means that it will only become fully operational starting financial year 2009/2010 to 2011/2012.
Norway has supported humanitarian efforts in Northern Uganda for many years, through assistance to the Ugandan Government and through NGOs and UN agencies. Norway was also a sponsor of the Juba Initiative Fund that supported the Juba peace process, as well as other interventions for peace and reconciliation in Northern Uganda. As Northern Uganda moves into a recovery situation Norway will continue to provide humanitarian support in areas where it is needed, as well as support to early recovery and recovery interventions. Together with Sweden, Norway provides on-budget support to Northern Ugandan districts within the framework of the PRDP. In 2009, the Norwegian Embassy also launced a cash programme aimed at boosting the local economy and providing support to IDPs having recently returned to or near to their places of origin. Most IDPs lack cash to purchase agricultural inputs and essential household items. In many areas of return there is little infrastructure and access to input and output markets is limited. Cash transfers are expected to re-capitalise the economy and if (partly) implemented as cash for work, this will also contribute to reconstruction or development of community level infrastructure.