Appendix: Government Response
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
The role of the International Criminal Court
[Paragraph 10] We agree that the International
Criminal Court warrants have helped to bring the parties to the
negotiating table, and have engendered a greater level of international
awareness to the conflict. We believe that this is a positive
step. The way in which the warrants are dealt with, at the end
of the peace process, will have implications for the future credibility
of the ICC. We see the capacity of the Court to defer to national
processes which meet international justice standards as part of
its strength and not as something which should be seen as damaging
the credibility of the Court. However the ICC is on a sharp learning
curve and must be given the necessary support by the international
community to carry out its mandate according to international
law. In this way the ICC, and its potential contribution to the
Responsibility to Protect, will be strengthened.
We agree that the International Criminal
Court (ICC) is playing an important role in efforts to bring sustainable
peace to northern Uganda. The UK Government strongly supports
the ICC. Justice is an essential part of a sustainable peace,
and it is vital that those responsible for the terrible crimes
committed during the conflict in northern Uganda are held to account.
The UK Government continues to work towards a resolution
of the conflict which is compatible with the Rome Statute of the
ICC, national laws and the wishes of those affected by the conflict.
THE JUBA PEACE TALKS
[Paragraph 13] We are pleased that the Juba peace
process is continuing and has made progress, despite setbacks.
The international community must continue to support this fragile
process through the Juba Initiative Fund, and by encouraging all
parties to remain committed to a non-military solution.
We agree. The UN recently submitted a request for
further support to the Juba Initiative Fund. Details of this
are currently being discussed by donor representatives in Kampala.
DFID, in consultation with the FCO and MoD, will take a decision
on the scope of further UK support in the near future.
[Paragraph 17] Justice and accountability are
crucial elements for any lasting peace. The victims of the conflict,
and especially women and children, must be included in discussions
about accountability and in any traditional justice mechanisms
adopted. The UK Government, along with other donors, can help
to ensure that a wide consultation takes place on these matters
so that grievances are fully dealt with at an early stage. The
Ugandan legal system must demonstrate the capacity to process
and fairly adjudicate on allegations of gross human rights violations
arising from the conflict. We recommend that the UK Government
raise concerns about the independence and accessibility of the
Ugandan judiciary with the Government of Uganda.
We agree it is important that the victims of the
conflict must be included in discussions about accountability.
A series of extensive consultations on justice and accountability
are currently taking place across Uganda with an emphasis on discussions
at community level in the North. The process is being led by the
Government of Uganda with support from donors. The UN has attended
some of the meetings as observers. Consultations are scheduled
to conclude on 27 September.
Members of the Ugandan judiciary have held a number
of meetings to consider their role with respect to any process
that might be developed to deal with issues arising from the conflict.
The Ugandan judiciary has demonstrated a strong commitment to
upholding its independence. We continue to emphasise the importance
of respecting the rule of law in our discussions with the Government
of Uganda.
THE AMNESTY COMMISSION
[Paragraph 18] DFID told us it was willing to
look at further financial support for the Amnesty Commission.
We would support a decision by DFID to assist in the reintegration
of more combatants into their communities through additional funding
for the Amnesty Commission.
The Amnesty Commission has recently submitted a final
proposal to donors for further support to its reintegration work.
We are currently discussing with other donors how best to provide
the funds requested.
TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE PEACE
Meeting humanitarian needs
[Paragraph 21] Despite the cessation of hostilities
brought about by the Juba peace process, northern Uganda still
faces a humanitarian crisis. Donors must undertake to continue
to provide humanitarian assistance, at the level outlined by the
UN Consolidated Humanitarian Appeal, as long as is necessary to
ensure that conditions in the IDP camps do not deteriorate again.
We agree that while people remain in camps adequate
levels of humanitarian assistance need to be provided. We have
recently released a further £3.8 million to support both
ongoing relief programmes in the IDP camps and recovery activities
in areas where people are returning to their homes, bringing the
UK's humanitarian support this financial year to £10.8 million.
Security in northern Uganda
[Paragraph 23] Fears about the security situation
outside the camps must be taken seriously. Measures to increase
and improve the police presence in the camps and rural areas are
a step in the right direction. We believe that funding for police
training should become a priority for donors in northern Uganda
and that an appropriate exit strategy for the Uganda People's
Defence Force should be developed as the civilian police presence
increases.
We agree that addressing fears about the security
situation is extremely important. Efforts to improve the police
presence in both camps and rural areas are continuing and are
beginning to yield positive results. Over the last 12 months an
additional 2,000 police personnel have been deployed in northern
districts. As part of a donor funded programme of support to the
police in the North DFID has recently provided 17 fully equipped
vehicles to increase the police force's mobility. We are in the
process of installing communications equipment for 50 police stations
that are being re-established in northern districts. Other donors
are providing support for training, equipment and staff housing.
We have emphasised the importance of the Uganda People's Defence
Force withdrawing itself from civilian policing functions as the
police force's capacity to fulfil its role improves.
[Paragraph 24] We note that the UN Consolidated
Humanitarian Appeal includes the Karamoja region and share the
concerns raised by NGOs about security there. We urge donors
to adopt a comprehensive approach to peace building in the region
and not to exclude security in the Karamoja region from their
discussions with the Government of Uganda.
We agree that the security situation in Karamoja
is a major concern. Recent reports by the UN Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights and Human Rights Watch note that
over the last few months there have been improvements in the Government's
approach to disarmament although further progress on respect for
human rights is required. The UK, along with other members of
the international community, regularly raises security and human
rights issues with the Government of Uganda and the situation
in Karamoja is included in these discussions. We and our international
partners have also repeatedly stated our belief that a comprehensive,
regional approach is required to the complex development and security
problems in Karamoja.
Protecting children
[Paragraph 25] The protection of conflict affected
children is an area of great concern and we consider that the
welfare of children, including psycho-social needs, should be
treated as a priority. We recommend that the needs of children
affected by the conflict become a focus of DFID's post conflict
programmes. We expect to be kept informed about the progress
on the social protection and cash transfer schemes which DFID
is considering.
We agree that the welfare of children in conflict
affected areas should be an important priority for DFID. We are
supporting child protection programmes through the UN and NGO's
and we plan additional assistance in this area in the future.
It is also important that the wider needs of children, and their
communities, are addressed through support to health, water and
sanitation and livelihoods recovery programmes. We are planning
further major investments in these areas. We will keep the International
Development Committee informed about progress on social protection
and cash transfer schemes.
Resettlement and development
[Paragraph 26] The international donor community
must work alongside the Government of Uganda to ensure that sufficient
resources continue to be directed at the North and that priorities
for re-development are those identified by people in the North,
including women and civil society groups. We recommend that a
greater level of consultation should be a condition of DFID's
and other donors' contributions to the Peace, Recovery and Development
Plan.
The final version of the Government of Uganda's Peace
Recovery and Development Programme (PRDP) is due to be released
at the end of September. Detailed consultations did take place
at District level on the last draft of the programme document.
We agree that the priorities for redevelopment should be those
identified by people in the North. We will be examining the final
document closely and holding further discussions with the Government,
to ensure that consultations with local communities continue as
the PRDP is implemented.
Donor coordination
[Paragraph 27] The UN Development Programme and
the Government of Uganda should work together to ensure that an
Early Recovery Cluster is established as soon as possible. All
too frequently when conflicts end there is a time lag before development
projects get underway with severe consequences for sustaining
the peace. We recommend that DFID takes all possible steps to
ensure that this does not happen in Uganda.
An Early Recovery Cluster was established in Uganda
in early 2006. However it has not been sufficiently active. DFID
has been involved in discussions within the local Inter Agency
Standing Committee on this issue recently. UNDP has agreed to
take urgent steps to strengthen the clusters work and improve
co-ordination on recovery and transition issues.
Department of International Development
24 September 2007
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