Uganda hosted some 185,000 refugees at the end of 1998, including about 170,000 from Sudan, approximately 7,000 from Rwanda, about 6,000 from Congo-Kinshasa, and nearly 2,000 from Somalia.

An estimated 12,000 Ugandans were refugees, including about 10,000 in Congo-Kinshasa, and 2,000 in Sudan. Approximately 400,000 Ugandans were internally displaced.

Rebel Violence

Armed insurgencies in northern and southwestern Uganda continued to endanger local populations. Ugandan authorities have regularly predicted the rapid defeat of the rebels, but the predictions have proved unfounded. The northern insurgency stretched into its twelfth year, while conflict in the southwest has continued for three years.

At least four insurgent groups remained active during 1998. The two most aggressive groups were the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), operating in the north, and the Alliance for Democratic Forces (ADF), operating in the west. Ugandan authorities have accused the Sudan government of providing military aid to all four insurgencies. ADF forces consisted of extremist Muslims and former Ugandan soldiers from earlier regimes, Ugandan officials charged.

Rebels have killed 5,000 to 10,000 civilians in the north, according to local officials. Rebels in the southwest have killed more than 550 people since 1996, the Ugandan government estimated. Insurgents regularly have abducted children, tortured and mutilated civilian victims, pillaged local villages, and planted landmines along roads and footpaths.

The LRA has abducted 6,000 to 8,000 children during the past five years, according to UNICEF; some aid workers believed UNICEF's estimate was low. A 1998 survey found that 80 percent of the children kidnapped in one area were ages 12 to 18; 10 percent were under age eight. Rebels used abducted children as concubines, cooks, porters, and combatants.

During 1998, LRA rebels in the north mounted significant military offensives in February, May-June, and in the final months of the year. The rebels particularly targeted camps for displaced Ugandans soon after aid workers distributed food. Local leaders in the north urged the government to negotiate with the rebels to end the violence, but Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni remained committed to defeating the insurgents militarily.

ADF guerrillas in the southwest intensified their attacks during 1998, using neighboring Congo-Kinshasa as a rear base and operating in the rugged Rwenzori Mountains inside Uganda. The most deadly ADF attack occurred in June, when rebels burned to death 80 students at a school and abducted 80 others. Smaller attacks occurred regularly throughout the year.

Southern Uganda also endured attacks and pillaging by Rwandan rebels, known as Interahamwe. In one incident in May, hundreds of people temporarily fled their homes when Rwandan rebels attacked and looted their village.

Uprooted Ugandans

An estimated 400,000 Ugandans were internally displaced at the end of 1998, including approximately 300,000 in northern Uganda and some 100,000 in the southwest.

The majority of families displaced in the north were uprooted prior to 1998 and remained unable to return home. Some rural areas remained virtually deserted because of insecurity. Most households in northern Uganda have been displaced at least once during the past 12 years, according to some estimates.

Some 20,000 people in the north fled a series of LRA attacks in May. As many as 40,000 other people became newly displaced in mid-year because of rebel attacks and ongoing efforts by Ugandan authorities to move rural families to so-called "protected villages." Many newly uprooted families slept under trees or makeshift shelters until other lodging became available.

Nearly 50,000 people in the north were "seasonally" uprooted, meaning that they regularly fled their homes the same time each year when rebel raids usually peaked, returning home when rebel activity traditionally subsided. Tens of thousands of people in the north were "partially" uprooted: they lived and worked at home most days, but slept each night in nearby towns or at hidden rural spots for safety. Local officials called the latter families "night commuters."

Government officials continued to urge rural families in the north to move into protected camps, a strategy begun in 1996. Some residents moved into the camps voluntarily, while others resisted and were forced into the sites by government security personnel. More than 30 camps existed at the start of 1998. Government authorities planned to reduce the number to about 20 camps in the future.

The protected camps were often overcrowded and lacked adequate food, shelter, water, and social services. Thousands of people died in the camps during 1997-98 of diseases triggered by the unhealthy conditions, aid workers and local officials reported. Local newspapers reported a wave of suicides during the year among camp residents allegedly distraught over the impoverished camp conditions.

The "protected camps" often failed to protect their residents. Rebels targeted the camps for attack despite patrols by government troops. LRA guerrillas abducted 18 people from a camp in December. Government troops often abused camp occupants, residents charged. Families in the camps remained vulnerable to rapes, landmines, and other dangers.

Uprooted families also congregated in schools and churches in major northern towns. Some 2,000 people, for instance, resided permanently at a hospital in the key town of Gulu. The conflict has left three-quarters of the schools and health clinics closed in the hardest-hit areas of the north.

"I am sorry to find you in such a situation," President Museveni said during a visit to displaced populations in March. "I am sorry not to find you in your homes. Your suffering is the fault of the army and the government who have not done nothing, but must do more to restore peace."

Rebel activities and landmines hampered humanitarian aid programs in northern Uganda. Two WFP aid workers were killed during the year. A rebel ambush killed three NGO aid workers in October. Aid agencies evacuated staff from the Kitgum area for a month after threats by LRA rebels. Some aid organizations permanently curtailed programs in the north because of landmines.

In southwest Uganda, some 15,000 displaced people were in the process of returning home as 1998 began. But attacks by ADF combatants continued during the year, forcing sustained population displacement. By November, uprooted families "urgently required" blankets and tarpaulins, WFP reported.

About 600 Ugandan refugees formally repatriated from Congo-Kinshasa with UNHCR assistance during the year.

Refugees from Sudan

Significant numbers of Sudanese refugees have lived in northern Uganda for years due to civil war in their own country. Large refugee movements back and forth across the border have become common, linked to the level of violence in Sudan and rebel activity inside Uganda.

Approximately 10,000 new Sudanese refugees entered Uganda during 1998.

Uganda's official policies toward refugees were "positive, progressive, and friendly," UNHCR's country director stated during the year. The head of UNHCR, Sadako Ogata, visited Uganda in February and praised Ugandan officials. "You have a good policy, that those people in need of refuge are welcome and cared for," she declared.

The Sudanese refugee population, living in 25 designated settlements, nearly equaled the local Ugandan population in some districts. Nearly 90 percent had access to farm land. About 15,000 grew enough food to become self-sufficient. Others continued to receive at least partial food aid and other support from UNHCR and relief agencies.

Government officials and UNHCR announced a four-year plan to help Sudanese refugees become self-sufficient and better integrated with local communities. The program will attempt to increase refugees' agricultural production and vocational skills, and give refugees the same access as local residents to schools, health clinics, and other routine community services. Food aid to refugees will gradually decline, UNHCR stated.

Security for refugee settlements remained a concern, as in previous years. Ugandan guerrillas killed more than 100 Sudanese refugees during 1996-97. More attacks occurred during 1998. In January, armed men attacked a refugee settlement and killed a child. In June, Ugandan guerrillas abducted ten refugees and forced others to relocate. In July, insurgents abducted 26 refugees. In August, insurgents tortured and killed eight refugees and kidnapped ten others.

Refugees from Congo-Kinshasa

Nearly 15,000 Congolese refugees lived in Uganda as 1998 began. Most fled to Uganda years earlier due to civil strife in their own country, which was called "Zaire" until 1997.

An three-way agreement signed by the governments of Uganda and Congo-Kinshasa, and UNHCR in April 1998 cleared the way for Congolese refugees to repatriate voluntarily with UNHCR assistance. Nearly 11,000 refugees repatriated during the year: about 9,000 with UNHCR assistance, and an estimated 2,000 who returned spontaneously on their own.

UNHCR truck convoys transported returnees to the border along the difficult roads of western Uganda. The journey took up to 15 hours. Upon arrival at the border, returnees received a two-month food ration, farming tools, seeds, water cans, cooking utensils, and soap to ease their integration into Congo.

Several thousand new refugees from Congo-Kinshasa arrived in Uganda during the year, fleeing their country's renewed civil war. UNHCR charged that local authorities in western Uganda forcibly repatriated 800 to 1,000 new arrivals on December 31 as UNHCR prepared to transport them to a camp away from the border. UNHCR and the government were investigating the incident as the year ended.

UNHCR temporarily eliminated food rations to about 1,000 Congolese refugees in early 1998 when the refugees resisted UNHCR's efforts to register them. Two refugees reportedly died of causes linked to the food cutoff. The refugees said they opposed registration for religious reasons.

Other Refugees

An estimated 12,000 Rwandan refugees lived in Uganda as 1998 began. Some 7,000 remained at year's end, primarily at Oruchinga settlement site in southern Uganda.

A local human rights organization charged that Ugandan security agencies abducted up to ten Rwandan refugees during late 1997 and early 1998. Ugandan officials denied the charge.

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