wr2014_web_0

WORLD REPORT 2014The Lord’s Resistance ArmyThe Ugandan rebel group the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) was active acrossthe Central African Republic, southern Sudan, and northern DemocraticRepublic of Congo (DRC), with allegations of killings and abductions, though ona much lesser scale than previous years.Warrants issued in 2005 by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for LRA leadersremain outstanding. Former LRA fighter Thomas Kwoyelo, charged with willfulkilling, taking hostages, and extensive destruction of property, has beenimprisoned in Uganda since March 2009 but his trial has not begun. TheSupreme Court has not yet heard the state’s 2012 appeal of the High Court rulingordering Kwoyelo to be granted amnesty and released.In May, Uganda’s parliament reinstated legislation for another two years grantingamnesty to members of armed groups who surrender, though those wantedon ICC warrants were explicitly not eligible. Sections of the Amnesty Act hadbeen allowed to lapse in May 2012, and through the new extension of the powersof the Amnesty Commission, those who were not eligible during the interimperiod now will now in theory qualify for amnesty.Bills Violating Human Rights LawThe Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which proposes the death penalty for some consensualsame-sex activities, and the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Act,which criminalizes intentional or attempted transmission of HIV, are before parliamentarycommittees and could still be tabled for debate and vote at anytime. Both have been pending since 2009.Key International ActorsFollowing the October 2012 US$12.7 million corruption scandal in the Office ofthe Prime Minister, the governments of Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, andthe United Kingdom suspended budget support. Donors reported that the governmentneeded to take action to restore confidence before financial supportwould resume. The World Bank suspended the ninth Poverty Reduction SupportCredit in December 2012 but eventually released it in June 2013. While the bankwill not proceed with the tenth, it indicated it is open to using budget support192