Casualties

Casualties in 2009

 

In 2009, Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor identified nine casualties of explosive devices in four separate incidents, three of which occurred in northern and one in central Uganda. Seven of the casualties were children, all of whom were killed. The remaining two were adult men. Three incidents were caused by explosive remnants of war (ERW); in one incident, the type of explosive device was unknown.[1]

This represented a decrease from the 16 casualties reported in 2008.[2] However, given the lack of a central data collection mechanism, it is likely that some casualties were not identified.[3]

The total number of casualties in Uganda is not known but there have been at least 1,419 recorded between 1986 and the end of 2009 (542 killed, 865 injured, and 12 unknown). Based on available casualty data, most casualties occurred between 1995 and 1997 with a steep decline in annual figures starting in 2002.[4] The last confirmed casualties from landmines occurred in 2005.[5]

A 2006 survey of landmine and UXO casualties in Gulu district determined that 3% of recorded casualties (1,387 at the time) were caused by cluster munition remnants.  Five other suspected unexploded submunition casualties were reported in 2006.[6]

Victim Assistance

There are at least 865 mine/ERW survivors in Uganda.[7]

Survivor needs

In 2009, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) carried out a “baseline survey” in four districts of northern Uganda to identify mine/ERW survivors, their needs, and gaps in services. Two hundred survivors were interviewed and data collected was used to develop a victim assistance project for the region.[8] Survivors interviewed were referred for medical attention and physical rehabilitation services as needed.[9] There remained a need for a comprehensive survey at the national level. A casualty surveillance system was designed by the Ministry of Health (MoH) but had not been put into operation due to lack of funds.[10]

Rwenzori Empowerment Centre (RECKAS), together with other local organizations, carried out an assessment of survivors in Kasese district to determine their satisfaction with available physical rehabilitation services.[11]

Victim assistance coordination[12]

 

In 2009, the MoGLSD established a coordination mechanism, the Forum on Victim Assistance, to bring together relevant ministries and NGOs.[13] However, this forum held just one meeting during the year, in May.[14] The MoGLSD collaborated with the Uganda Landmine Survivors’ Association (ULSA) in launching some economic reintegration programs.[15]

The formal establishment of ULSA in July 2009, which had been stalled since 2007, allowed ULSA to increase its coordination with 13 local survivors’ associations, including support for the establishment of new associations.[16]

In 2009, Uganda made some progress in the implementation of its Comprehensive Plan of Action on Victim Assistance, particularly in the areas of data collection, psychosocial support, and community-based rehabilitation.[17] No progress was reported on objectives related to integrating physiotherapy services, developing physical rehabilitation outreach services or in decreasing stigma related to disability.

Survivor inclusion

The Forum on Victim Assistance included representatives of NGOs that implement programs for survivors and other persons with disabilities, some of whom were persons with disabilities.[18] Survivors’ associations in western Uganda, in Gulu and Kasese districts, stated that they were not involved in coordinating victim assistance or in implementing the victim assistance plan.[19] ULSA included survivors in the implementation of initiatives for survivors.[20]

Service accessibility and effectiveness

Victim assistance activities in 2009[21]

 

In 2009, there was considerable flux among service providers for victim assistance as the MoGLSD and the MoH increased their level of activity in northern Uganda, two international organizations ceased operations, a third conducted an assessment mission to launch a new program in western Uganda at the start of 2010, and the ICRC expanded its support for physical rehabilitation.[22] Three new local survivors’ associations were formed, all in northern Uganda, bringing the total throughout the country to 13.[23] Overall, it seems that there was an increase in beneficiaries of victim assistance services in northern Uganda in 2009, though precise figures were not available, making yearly comparisons difficult.  However, most programs were only accessible for survivors living in towns, while many survivors with great need were based in rural areas.[24]

In 2009, the MoGLSD published a training manual for psychosocial support on landmine survivors and other persons with disabilities, and the MoH provided referrals for mine/ERW survivors needing psychological attention in four northern districts. The training manual was designed to be used by community development officers since there remained a lack of trained psychologists or professional counselors.[25]

The increased number of local survivors’ associations under the ULSA umbrella improved opportunities for social inclusion, peer-to-peer counseling and advocacy by survivors.[26]

Working in collaboration, the MoGLSD and ULSA trained 40 leaders of survivors’ associations on livelihood activities; other planned vocational training activities were postponed until 2010 due to a delay in the availability of funds.[27] The government of Uganda increased its national financial contribution to economic reintegration activities for mine/ERW survivors and other persons with disabilities, allocating US$746,000 in its 2009/2010 national budget.[28]

While the law prohibited discrimination against persons with disabilities, it was not enforced and discrimination was common. There was no law requiring buildings to be accessible for persons with disabilities.[29]

On 28 September 2008, Uganda ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.