KAMPALA, Uganda- Human Rights Watch released a report a couple weeks ago that allege unlawful killing and torture of civilians during a governmental operation in the Karamoja region. The pastoral region, which borders Kenya and trafficks much of the weapons from Somalia, was the scene of a disarmament program which left several children dead. For several years, President Yoweri Musenevi’s government has attempted to disarm ordinary citizens; however his aggressive tactics has only led to increased tension. According to the report, which recounts the testimony of 50 witnesses, the soldiers of the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) opened fire on mothers and children. One boy and his mother were shot during a cordon-and-search operation. The army has denied any human rights abuse.
According to the Ugandan army spokesman Major Felix Kulayigye, his soldiers have been trained on issues of human rights and the reports of witness accounts have been fabricated.
In spite of this denial, the army has demanded the names of soldiers implicated in the allege abuses. Margaret Sekaggya, the chairperson of the Uganda Human Right Commission, did not comment as to whether the names would be submitted. Instead Sekaggya is urging the Parliament to set up an independent committee to investigate allegation of human rights violations.
In the meantime, Uganda is in a state of emergency. Severe rainfall has caused the worst flooding in three decades. Eighteen different countries in Africa and more that 1.8 million people have been affected. Uganda has been hit the hardest. 500,000 people have been displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance and local leaders place the number of dead at 45. To make matter worst fresh rain has complicated efforts to reach those in need. Without air transport to delivery food and drugs, many villages are cut form society; the people are left to the mercy of disease and starvation.
For more information, please see:
AllAfrica.com- Uganda: Army Demands Names of Soldiers in Rights Abuse – 21 September 2007
Human Rights News- Uganda: Army Abuses Civilian in Plan to Secure Karamoja – 11 September 2007
Yahoo News (AP)- NGO Says Ugandan Army Abuses Civilians – 11 September 2007
Yahoo News- Fresh Rain Hampers Aid Delivery in Flood-hit Uganda – 23 September 2007
Yahoo News- Floods Plunge Uganda Displaced in Further Misery – 22 September 2007
