VZCZCXRO0956
RR RUEHGI RUEHRN RUEHROV
DE RUEHKM #1360/01 2391445
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271445Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9269
INFO RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0640
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0142
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUEHTO/AMEMBASSY MAPUTO 0428
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 3331
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KAMPALA 001360 
 
SIPDIS 
 
UNCLASSIFIED 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USAID AND OFDA 
 
TAGS: UG
SUBJECT:  AFRICA BUREAU SENIOR ADVISOR ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION 
TRAVELS TO NORTHERN UGANDA. 
 
 
¶1.  Summary:  August 15 to 17 Senior Advisor on Conflict Resolution, 
Timothy Shortley, traveled to northern Uganda to meet with local 
leaders and affected populations.  The primary objectives of the 
trip were to discuss the peace process in Juba, including community 
consultations on agenda item three; how the US can help ensure a 
successful conclusion to the peace process, and a dignified return 
of the displaced population (IDPs); and support reconciliation and 
recovery.  The Senior Advisor met with IDPs and returnees in 
Omiyanima sub-county, Kitgum District, district officials in Gulu 
and Kitgum, NGOs, UN agencies, members of the Acholi Religious 
Leaders Peace Initiative, and  the European Commission Humanitarian 
Office (ECHO).  The visit was well received.  There is positive 
momentum around the peace process and IDP returns; however, gaps 
remain in recovery assistance that if unaddressed could hamper IDP 
returns and reconciliation.  End Summary. 
 
Local leaders say "help us keep our eye on the ball" and "no 
impunity" 
 
¶2.  The Senior Advisor met with local district chairmen (the group 
consists of mostly elected opposition party) and Resident District 
Commissioners (RDC) (central Government appointees) in Kitgum and 
Gulu districts to discuss the Peace process in Juba, community 
consultations, and how the US could help.  Local officials 
consistently requested US support in keeping both the Lord's 
Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GOU) to the 
agenda and moving forward, as well as a close eye on Khartoum. 
There is fear that the longer the Juba talks go on the greater the 
risk of support of the LRA by Khartoum.  Further, there was wide 
concern that the northern Ugandan diaspora representing the LRA at 
the Juba talks is not representative of the Acholi people (nor other 
northern ethnic groups), and that they are pursuing their own 
political agenda potentially jeopardizing the peace process. 
 
¶3.  On the issue of justice District officials said that traditional 
justice "Mato Oput" is inappropriate for senior leaders who 
committed atrocities.  The RDCs also felt the senior leaders to 
stand trial should include the four International Criminal Court 
(ICC) Indictees and commanders that led massacres at Lamore in 
January 1997, Muchwini in June 2002, Atiak in 2005, Namokora 2003, 
Pader pots 2003, Balene in 2004 bringing the total to ten.  They 
also said it is unlikely any of the senior to mid-level LRA will be 
comfortable returning to Acholiland, and will likely relocate in 
other parts of Uganda.  The Gulu RDC indicated that the ten most 
wanted have already decided that they will not return to Uganda, and 
that they would agree to: 
 
--  Exile in a non-Western country, (e.g. Central African Republic 
(CAR)), with a judicial process in Uganda that provides reasonable 
sentences in abstentia. 
 
--  A jury could be formed made up of traditional Chiefs and other 
northern representation to ensure an appropriate sentence, including 
¶1. Compensation (i.e. implementation of the Peace, Recovery and 
Development Plan (PRDP)), 2. Never assume a leadership position, and 
¶3. Banned from Acholiland. 
 
The Vice Chairman of Gulu District identified "guarantor" of the 
implementation of the Juba Peace agreement and the Government PRDP 
as a helpful role for the US to play.  Other priorities emphasized 
by the District Chairmen included: security sector reform and 
support for local governance, empowerment and capacity building, 
provision of vital services and repair of infrastructure in return 
areas; and, support to economic growth (including funds to expand 
trade with South Sudan). 
 
Acholi Religious Leaders say "Give Reconciliation a Chance" 
 
¶4.  Representatives of the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative 
(ARLPI) stressed the need to diffuse or mitigate future conflict by 
appropriately addressing grievances of the Acholi and other northern 
populations.  "We must seek justice that will give reconciliation a 
chance," they told the Senior Advisor.  To reach this goal the Juba 
peace process must incorporate use of local traditional justice 
systems as well as the legal system to achieve accountability and 
reconciliation.  Further, to prevent future conflict it is necessary 
to add truth telling--including GOU and UPDF--commemorative 
memorials and national reconciliation events.  ARLPI representatives 
feel strongly that some LRA commanders should be invited to 
participate in the community consultations on accountability and 
reconciliation, agenda item three. [Note: This point was also made 
by other local leaders. End note.]  And they hold similar views to 
other local leaders in Gulu and Kitgum that the Diaspora 
 
KAMPALA 00001360  002 OF 002 
 
 
representation at the Juba talks is not representational of northern 
views. 
 
With or Without a Final Resolution Significant Population Movement 
is Expected 
 
¶5.  The Senior Advisor heard from NGOs and UN Agencies in Kitgum and 
Gulu Districts and ECHO that people are monitoring the peace process 
and waiting to hear new developments before fully abandoning the 
camps.  In addition to a final resolution in Juba, the most critical 
needs now are water, health, education and roads in return areas; 
need for life saving humanitarian relief is narrowing.  All night 
commuter facilities are closed in Kitgum.  [Note: A few remain open 
in Gulu to provide social services to youth.  The facilities no 
longer host children fearing abduction by the LRA.  End note.]  Lack 
of grass for thatching roofs is an immediate impediment to return. 
However, grass will be widely available in November and December and 
significant movement is expected.  Some IDPs will move to transit 
sites closer to home, while others will move all the way home.  In 
both scenarios, the lack of basic services in return areas requires 
IDPs to split families or choose interim locations that allow access 
to goods and services that continue to be available in camps/trading 
centers.  Services must move with the population, but this is a 
daunting task with over 380 new sites across Acholiland. 
 
¶6.  Beyond the provision of goods and services UN OCHA emphasized 
that significant efforts must be focused on building government 
capacity and local government ownership of the impending challenges. 
 Creating economic opportunities and ensuring availability of basic 
infrastructure is critical to long term conflict resolution.  To 
work, relief and recovery assistance must be coupled with a viable 
political solution to the conflict. 
 
The People Welcome the Return of LRA but Request Assistance 
 
¶7.  August 17 the Senior Advisor traveled to Omiyanima sub-county in 
Kitgum District to meet with war affected populations beginning the 
process of returning home.  Two sites were visited, Kalele village, 
a site where IDPs have returned directly to their place of origin, 
and Labowomor, a spontaneous transit site.  Discussions with the 
IDPs and returnees confirmed points made by NGOs and UN Agencies 
both in regards to increasingly significant population movement in 
November and need for services in return areas.  The population 
spoke positively about reintegrating LRA combatants in the name of 
Peace.  However, they requested significant psychosocial 
interventions prior to the return of ex-combatants and abductees, 
including transit through reception centers, counseling, and 
vocational training.  [Comment: Well over half of the returnees 
spoken to in Kalele said they had a child abducted into the LRA. 
Some have still not returned.  Almost all had lost a family member 
in the conflict.] 
 
Conclusion and Recommendations: 
 
¶8.  The US Mission has extended development programs into the north 
and leveraged emergency funds to start addressing immediate 
recovery, especially in water infrastructure in return areas, and to 
jump start agriculture.  Three hundred eighty new sites and 
escalating population returns offer the beginning of a long 
reconciliation process.  However, this positive momentum created by 
returns could be quickly negated by the overwhelming need for 
services in return areas.  Gaps remain uncovered in water, health, 
education, and economic growth.  District officials pleaded for US 
help in achieving local government capacity to deliver services. 
Similarly, US support for security sector reform--from policing to 
re-starting judicial systems--was requested.  The Senior Advisor's 
visit was well received and helped meet the local thirst for 
information on US policy and engagement. 
 
BROWNING