UGANDA

THEMATIC ISSUES
UPDF soldiers were blamed for luring or even forcing girls and women into sex. As a
result HIV/AIDS became widespread. In Adjumani, it was said that the UPDF knowingly
spread HIV. Finally, it was argued that displacement led to environmental degradation.
In Dzaipi sub-county in Adjumani, for example, displaced people cut down trees to make
charcoal.
Participants in Gulu argued that if there is still displacement, it indicates that there is no
peace. The elderly and people with disabilities especially face difficulties in returning
from the camps. Indeed, as of 2012, 30,000 people were still confined to camps in
northern Uganda because of obstacles relating to the return process. 34 Those who were
able to return faced numerous difficulties. Many, especially the younger generations,
found it hard to readapt to village life. Land conflicts were rife. Across northern Uganda,
people described land conflicts between people who returned to their land clashing with
others over ownership and demarcations. 35 Robberies were also said to have increased
as a result of displacement, because people had grown accustomed in the camps to not
working for their livelihood.
Although most prevalent and publicized in northern Uganda, displacement and its
negative consequences has by no means been limited to a single region of the country.
During the Bush War, for example, people from the Luwero Triangle were displaced
into IDP camps in a number of places, such as Mukono District. In Nakasongola, people
complained that the Bush War displaced people, leading to illegal occupation of the
land of the displaced. As a consequence, land conflicts and evictions continue in these
regions today. Participants in Tororo explained that the Bush War displaced people from
Tororo who had settled in the region around Luwero. Suddenly, they were perceived to
be unwanted ‘foreigners’ and forced to leave. Today, they demand compensation for
their lost land.
In Bundibugyo, conflict related displacement also affected people widely. People decried
impacts of displacement similar to those seen in northern Uganda, notably moral
degeneration and people having sex at an earlier age, resulting in an increase in HIV/
AIDS. On a positive note, people argued that displacement led to the development of
infrastructure, such as an increased number of health centres in IDP camp locations.
In Kasese, which was also affected by ADF-related displacement , people demanded
reparations in the form of resettlement for the formerly displaced. In Bulambuli,
participants described displacement caused by land conflicts between the Sabiny and
Bagisu ethnic groups. In Nakapiripirit in Karamoja, participants described displacement
caused by the generally hostile ecological environment and the forced disarmament
process. Men often fled to nearby urban centres. Women fled with their children to
urban centres as far away as Kampala, where they were often rounded up and forced to
return to Karamoja. Female participants who were resettled to Karamoja in this manner
lamented the fact that Government had not provided them with sufficient support for
effective resettlement.
34 Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre and Norwegian Refugee Council, Uganda ‘Need to focus on
returnees and remaining IDPs in transition to development’ (24 May, 2012)
35 See the section on ‘Land Conflicts’ for further discussion
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