DEATH

UGANDA WAS OFFICIALLY DECLARED FREE OF LANDMINES AT A CEREMONY
IN THE CAPITAL, KAMPALA, ON 10 DECEMBER 2012 266
The achievement is the result of dedicated work by the National Mine Action Programme in Uganda in collaboration with
NGOs including the Danish Demining Group. Following years of conflict between the Uganda People’s Defence Force and the Lord’s
Resistance Army in northern and western parts of Uganda, large swathes of land were left heavily contaminated by landmines and
other explosive remnants of war. Now all identified minefields in the country have been cleared.
PROGRAMMING AND RESPONSE
• n 1997: Uganda signed the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention n
• n 2007: Provision of technical assistance to the Office of the Prime Minister in order to accelerate Uganda’s n
National Mine Action Programme (in standstill at the time). n
• n Training and equipment for 130 police and military personnel, deployment to clear minefields near the n
northern and western borders. Assistance provided in information management, mapping, logistics, technical n
advice and material support.n
• n 2010 and 2012: Norwegian People’s Aid sent mechanical clearance machines from South Sudan to assist n
the operation. During mine clearance operations, the Danish Demining Group provided mine risk education for 111,000
residents, 80% of whom were children, across 600 villages and 670 schools in contaminated areas.n
• n Other actors involved in the effort included World Vision International.
PROGRAMMING OUTCOMES AND IMPACT
• n Police and military teams cleared 46 former battlefields. This resulted in the disposal of thousands of landmines n
and tens of thousands of other explosive remnants of war. n
• n In 2006 there were some 300 civilian victims of explosions from mines and other explosive remnants of war. n
In 2011, five people were maimed or killed, while 2012 saw three victims.
“Over the years landmines has resulted in many fatal or crippling incidents and in addition to the loss
of lives and limbs the fear of using otherwise productive land for agriculture or pasture for livestock has
impeded development – the conclusion of the demining efforts marks a new beginning for the people
of Uganda.”
Rasmus Stuhr Jakobsen, Head of the Danish Demining Group.
62 A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH: CHILD PROTECTION IN EMERGENCIES