ACT News Update

Uganda 01/05

Attacks escalate already tense situation in northern Uganda

Geneva, March 10, 2005—Suspected Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels attacked Adjumani District in northern Uganda last night, according to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), a member of Action by Churches Together (ACT) International that is assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and Sudanese refugees in the area. The head of the LWF program in Uganda, Craig Kippels, says initial reports are that six people were killed, 16 injured and an unknown number abducted.

Kippels reports that the attack has created significant fear among the population in the district. “Already we are seeing an increasing movement of both refugees and the local population into safer areas. Many are moving into Adjumani town,” he says.

Kippels also reports that the situation in northern Uganda has become increasingly tense over the last couple of weeks. LRA rebels allegedly cut off the lips of eight women, while another ten women were reported killed in another district in northern Uganda. The breakdown of peace talks between the Government of Uganda and the LRA raises the possibility of more attacks from the LRA, Kippels says.

An increase of attacks will worsen the existing emergency situation in Adjumani District. An increased number of displaced people will create greater stress on communities that are already without proper access to clean water and in need of food, Kippels says.

However, Kippels added that the full impact of last night’s attack and the number of people it will displace is not known yet. If there is another attack, there could be movement of people on a large scale in Adjumani District. “This is a situation that has the potential to get much worse,” Kippels says.

In early January, ACT issued the latest appeal (AFUG51) for its members in Uganda – LWF and the Church of Uganda – to assist people displaced by the violence and insecurity of the past 18 years. Rebel groups have been responsible for killings and abductions and have forced approximately 1.4 million people from their homes. The current LWF appeal continues its ACT-funded programs from 2001 and 2003. LWF is assisting many of the estimated 20,000 IDPs in Adjumani District by providing access to clean water, access to farming tools and animals, food and food-preparation items, household supplies, educational supplies, and access to safe areas for sleeping.

In addition, the LWF program in Uganda is part of another ACT appeal (AFSD45) with ACT members in Sudan that is assisting refugees from south Sudan who are also living in Adjumani District. This appeal, issued in September 2004, assists these refugees in returning to their home country.

LWF will consider stepping up its response from its program in Adjumani District if the situation continues to escalate.