Update on the implementation of the recommendations made by the United Nations Secretary-General's Representative on Internally Displaced Persons following his visit to Uganda. Report commissioned by Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2nd Edition, October 2006

• IDMC Report - Only Peace Can Restore the Confidence of the Displaced
• IDMC original press release
• NRC - Report of original launch (March 2006)
• IDMC - Second Edition press release
• IDMC - Commentary on the Second Edition (October 2006)

The RLP conducted over 200 in-depth interviews in Arua District in late July and early August 2006, some with self-settled refugees living in Arua town and the majority with refugees living in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement. Government officials and UN and NGO staff working in the settlement and in Arua and Rhino Camp towns were also interviewed. This brief represents preliminary findings related to three of the most salient issues that emerged from the visit to Arua, and will be followed by a more in-depth analysis once all the field studies have been completed. An earlier draft of this document has been circulated to a number of key stakeholders for preliminary comment. However, the RLP welcomes any further comment which can inform our final research output.

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In a context where nearly all residents of Gulu and Kitgum are displaced, government and humanitarian actors have increasingly sought to target those with the greatest need through the identification of ‘vulnerable groups.’ This amorphous population has typically included women, children, the sick, disabled, and elderly. Taken together, these groups in fact form the majority of the internally displaced population of northern Uganda, making the term ‘vulnerable’ almost meaningless. One of the principal findings of this research was that the ‘vulnerable groups’ approach serves to oversimplify the complex socio-economic dynamics that impact upon IDPs’ full enjoyment of human rights. It ignores the ways in which members  of particular  groups take steps to mitigate against their so-called vulnerabilities.

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Refugees and Internally Displaced People often see education of their children as the principal way of ensuring a better future for their family. However, education in exile is often less than adequate at promoting either present or future stability. Children, parents, and teachers face numerous educational challenges in situations of displacement. More important, though, is how to address these challenges.  Advocacy workshops held in three refugee-hosting areas in Uganda involved stakeholders in planning the way forward.  Participants included parents, pupils, teachers, community leaders, UNHCR staff, implementing  partner staff, Office of the Prime Minister staff, and Ministry of Education representatives.

1. Education and displacement in Uganda: Report on workshop in Nakivale refugee settlement (Sep 2005)
2. Education and displacement in Uganda: Report on workshop in Kampala (Aug 2005)
3. Education and displacement in Uganda: Report on workshop in Kyaka II refugee settlement (Aug 2005)
4. Education and displacement in Uganda: Challenges and Way Forward (2005)

Our analysis examines the violence in a failed, peripheral rebellion in western Uganda and finds that the brutality was premeditated; however the gains to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels were not military. Instead, we argue that anti-civilian violence in western Uganda stems from the financier-insurgentrelationship that promoted a high level of violence in response to divergent interests, unequal access to information, and contracting limitations. In other words, civilians were victimized in order that the ADFcould keep their outside funding.
Rationality and Society Vol. 17 No. 1, February 2005
Lucy Hovil & Eric Werker      Download this publication