Security a major threat to IDPs’ return home

By Patrick Jaramogi

EIGHTY per cent of people in Katakwi and Kapelabyong are still in the internally displaced people’s camps.

Out of the 63,000 people in Kapelabyong, 58,000 are still in camps. In Katakwi, 80,000 out of 123,000 people and 36,000 out of 122,000 people in Amuria, still live in camps.

This was revealed by Okoth Nyalu, the RDC Katakwi district. He said: “This is due to the Karimojong issue. The population is enthusiastic to return to their homes, but lack of confidence is affecting their return. They want guidance as they return. The state has not provided the 100% security needed by the locals.”

Local leaders in the districts of Soroti, Amuria, Katakwi, Lira, Pader, Kitgum and Gulu want the Government to ensure that adequate security prevails to quicken the return and re-settlement of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The district chairpersons, resident district commissioners and area members of parliament made the appeal while meeting the disaster preparedness state minister Musa Ecweru, who was carrying out on-the-spot assessment of the state of returnees in the districts.

In Amuru camp in Wera sub-county, the residents said lack of schools, health centres and water was affecting the IDP’s return. The area councillor, Paul Ejelu said: “First LRA struck, forcing people to flee, then drought came and finally floods hit causing a lot of damage. We need food as people return.”

Ecweru said all residents of Asamuk, Wera, Abarilela, Kuju, Acowa and Orungo would get relief food and blankets from the Office of the Prime Minister.

Handing over blankets to beneficiaries at Amuru camp, Ecweru, who is also the Arrow boys commander said: “Use these blankets to keep warm. Don’t sell them. You will also soon get seeds to plant as the rains begin.”

James Odong, the camp leader Komolo camp in Amuria, said out of the 5000 IDPs in 2003, during the climax of the LRA insurgency in Teso, 4,950 people had returned to their villages.

“People are back home but we need bulls to plough. We need seeds to plant, mosquito nets to prevent malaria and improvement on sanitation, but above all assurance that security will be provided to the returnees,” Odong said.

The Usuk MP, Charles Oleny Ojok said: “If we guarantee the safety of our people, that will be the biggest incentive to have them return to their villages. The people in charge of security should know that security weighs a lot.”

Oleny said the resettlement would definitely succeed if the security aspect is implemented and enforced.

Ecweru said the UPDF, local police and the Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) would be deployed along the borders with Karamoja to contain the raids.

The resident district commissioner of Pader, Lt. Okot Lapolo, said most of the IDPs in Puranga, Arum and Alyak camps had returned but had expressed fears regarding the Karimojong raids.

The district chairperson, Peter Odok W'ocieng said: “People have suffered in the camps for many years. They are tired of living on donated food and want to return to their homes. They need seeds, agricultural implements and security.”

“Since the peace talks began, we haven’t registered any LRA attacks apart from the raids by the warriors. Last year they killed 22 people and stole 150 heads of cattle. Government should provide security to the returnees,” said Odok.

He also appealed to the Government to expeditiously carry out the mine explosion in the areas.

“Apart from the security, we also need improved seeds and resettlement food for our people and once harvesting starts we request for an oil mill, rice mill as well as a maize mill since most of these people are now too old to grind millet,” said Odok.

The Kitgum RDC, Nahman Ojwe, said apart from a few LRA rebels who remained behind, no security threat had been sighted.

Ojwe told The New Vision that three LRA rebels were captured in November 2006 with one gun and 50 rounds of ammunition in Omiyo Nyima sub-county, 24 kilometres east of Kitgum town.

“We have now identified 72 camps to be used as de-congesting camps in the district and 38 out of these have already been occupied,” he said. “But we still can’t take any chances. Sudan is not very far from here and Kitgum has been the frontline of the war. All the people are praying for is success in the on-going Juba peace talks.”

Ojwe said that 195,000 people are still confined in camps of which 45,000 are within Kitgum town.

“Our focus now is to guarantee adequate security, provide clean drinking water, improve on hygiene, health centres, good access roads for delivery of relief. We also need to ensure that our children go to school,” he said.

The new satellite camps created will accommodate 4000 people instead of 15,000.

He named three main factors as an impediment to resettlement: Karimojong warriors, proximity to Sudan and trauma.

“Trauma is delaying the resettlement. People are saying until the peace talks agreement is fully signed and Kony is disarmed, they will never leave the camps. ASTU should be deployed along the border with Karamoja to prevent raids. Also an exploded ordinance should be removed.”

Kitgum district chairman, John Odwok Komakech said the deployment of ASTU would curb the Karimojong raids.

Gulu district chairperson Norbert Mao said the LRA defectors’ talk on radio shows was affecting the resettlement of the IDPS.

“Most people had returned to their villages but when they hear reports aired by defectors on local radios of an impending LRA attack, they get scared and it’s affecting our resettlement programmes,” he said.