{UAH} IDDI AMIN NEVER TARGETED LANGIs/ACHOLIs, THEY TARGETED HIM {---Series two-Hundred and seven}

Friends

"Violence has thus had profound effects on the demographic structure of the Acholi population. A major implication of this is probably a high proportion of vulnerable, female -led households."

 

I did not invent the term Acholi violence, but on studying and so many reports from so many sources, one can wonder the times the term violence has been used in that region. It is very immature for anyone to stand up anywhere and dismiss the existence of Acholi violence. And as a man that has studied very many war reports, the case of Acholi is very different for even Rwanda where we got an internationally recognized genocide, still the term violence is not labeled at Rwandese as it is to Acholi. A case in point, yes we have women raped in any war zone, so Acholi raping  women is not a concern to me today, what is of concern to me is their raping the girls and come to the parents of the raped girls and they take off their pants to show their dicks to the parents, with words like I want you to look at the dick that has just raped your daughter. Who in this world does that? When you look at all rapes,  men go after women and girls yes, but Acholi raped 8 year olds in front of their mothers. Again what man does that? What is the intent? World Health Organization made a study on Northern Uganda districts, entitled Health and mortality survey among internally displaced persons in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts, northern Uganda and it was presented to The Republic Of Uganda, Ministry of health. We are posting page 20 32 33 and 38. Again watch how many times the term violence is used in this report.

 

Ugandans we need to discuss Acholi violence candidly.

3.3.5 Violent deaths and abductions

Of the 77 deaths due to violence recorded throughout Acholi region, 70.1% (54/77) occurred among older

(15 years or above) males, 13.0% (10/77) among older females, and 16.9% (13/77) among children below

15 years. Most of these deaths occurred outside of the camps (53/77 or 68.8%) and outside of a health

facility (72/77 or 93.5%), and a small peak was observed in February (22 killings compared to 6 in

January). The violence-specific mortality rate was 0.17 persons per 10 000 per day (95% CI 0.12 to 0.21),

corresponding to 3971 persons (95% CI 2803 to 4905) estimated killed between January and mid-

July 2005. Estimates specific to each survey population were 1218 (95% CI 522 to 1913) in Gulu

District, 78 (95% CI 1 to 176) in Gulu Municipality, 1216 (95% CI 486 to 1945) in Kitgum District, and

1349 (95% CI 771 to 1927) in Pader District.

In total, 28 persons were reported as abducted during the recall period and had not returned to their

household by the survey date. Abductions were most common in Pader District (n=16) and most (20 or

71.4%) occurred outside the camps. All abductees were below 35 years old, 46.4% (13/28) were aged

under 15, and the male to female ratio was 2.11 (19/9). The overall abduction rate for Acholi region

combined was 0.05 per 10 000 per day (95% CI 0.03 to 0.08), corresponding to an estimate of 1168

persons (95% CI 701 to 1869) abducted between January and mid-July 2005, and who had not

returned to their households during this period. We estimate that 174 (95% CI 17 to 435) persons were

abducted in Gulu District, 39 (95% CI 4 to 98) in Gulu Municipality, 304 (95% CI 61 to 486) in Kitgum

District, and 771 (95% CI 321 to 1220) in Pader District.

 

4.3.3 Violence

Our estimates of killings and abductions in 2005 suggest that the conflict in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader

Districts is more active than is commonly reported. For example, the organisation Kacoke Madit,

compiling media sources, counts 1450 killed since the start of the year.21 Our estimate is three times

higher – about 4000, or roughly 20 killings (plus 6 'successful' abductions) every day throughout the

three Districts. Our experience during camp visits was that a significant proportion of small, localised

attacks and fire-fights are apparently not reported to the media and central authorities. Furthermore, we

found that two thirds or more of deaths and abductions occur outside of camps. In this sense, our high-end

estimates of the extent of violence appear realistic. It should be noted, however, that in our survey we

were unable to distinguish whether adult males reported killed were civilians or combatants (fighting with

the UPDF, LRA or a local defence unit).

The age/sex structures of IDP populations in the three Districts, apart from Gulu Municipality, are very

abnormal. Specifically, the deficit in young males 20 to 30 years old is apparently not a result of recent

migration away from the study area (equal proportions of males and females left the households during

the recall period), but is consistent with the observed doubling of mortality in this age/sex group with

respect to 20 to 30 year old females (mostly due to violence, which caused 48% of deaths in young males

and 0% in young females): this mortality differential has probably been sustained for many years, and

may have been worse in 2003 and 2004 when conflict was even more intense. Violence has thus had

profound effects on the demographic structure of the Acholi population. A major implication of this is

probably a high proportion of vulnerable, female -led households.

 

4.5 Causes of excess mortality

4.5.1 Underlying causes

What is responsible for the observed excess mortality among the Acholi region IDPs? We believe there

are at least four major underlying contributors.

 

Violence and the threat of violence. Our study shows that insecurity is very significant in this area

(particularly in Kitgum and Pader Districts): on average about 20 people were killed every day in the

region between January and July 2005. Consequently, movement between camps is severely impaired,

probably resulting in decreased health access. Travel outside the camps, undertaken daily by many IDPs

to cultivate remote fields, also entails an immediate danger to life (about two of thirds of violent deaths

and abductions occur outside camps). Violence, and the threat thereof, is clearly at the origin at most of

the excess mortality observed in the present crisis in Acholi region.

Overcrowding and poor camp conditions. The IDP population of Acholi region mostly lives in

extremely overcrowded camps where shelters, especially in the larger, older camps, are often constructed

roof against roof. Overcrowding directly affects human health by increasing the transmission potential of

most infectious diseases both endemic and epidemic,22 including but not limited to measles, meningit is,

tuberculosis, and diarrhoeal diseases. In the case of measles, it also means that the threshold immunisation

coverage required to ensure herd immunity, i.e. interrupt transmission in camps, is higher than in open

(ex. village and countryside) settings.

 

4.6.5 Protection, respect for humanitarian law and improved humanitarian access

1. Use these findings to create awareness about the direct and indirect impact of the conflict on the Acholi

population, and to provide an immediate justification for renewed efforts towards cessation of hostilities,

peaceful resolution of the conflict, peace and reconciliation in Northern Uganda.

2. To all combatants: respect existing humanitarian law and cease attacking, killing and abducting Acholi

and other civilians in the region.

3. To all combatants: refrain from attacking humanitarian agencies, and make a special effort to

systematically instruct all forces within the military chain of command not to do so.

4. In consultation with community members, study and implement ways to further reduce the level of risk

of violent attacks currently experienced by civilian IDPs, without jeopardising livelihoods and coping

mechanisms. A UN agency with expertise in this field, such as UNHCR, could be involved more directly

in this activity.

5. Improve humanitarian access to all camps and IDPs through improved safety and security.

6. Support efforts to strengthen a professional, civilian police force for camp security.

 

 

Stay in the forum for Series two hundred and eight on the way   ------>

EM

On the 49^th Parallel          

                 Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in anarchy"
                    Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni katika machafuko"