The Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS), Eastern Africa advocacy officer has indicated that the recent US legislation on disarmament and reconstruction of Northern Uganda after years of Lords Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency is a huge step forward to help the internally displaced people and the returnees rebuild their lives.
Jesuit Refugee Services
The 2009 Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act was signed into law by US President Barrack Obama on 24 May 2010. If operationalised, the act will help protect and assist civilians affected by the LRA insurgency, assist surrendering combatants and help bring the rebel leadership to justice.
In a press statement seen by Ultimate Media, Ngumuta appealed for more financial support from the US government to help in skills training, literacy education, psychosocial support, community outreach and building houses for extremely vulnerable people affected by the over 20 years LRA insurgency.
People in Northern Uganda are slowly returning to their homes after the LRA shifted their bases to Northern DR Congo and Central Africa Republic (CAR). Government of Uganda and donor efforts to rebuild the region has helped improve people’s livelihoods.
The insurgency has led to millions of displacements, thousands of abductions and deaths of people of Northern Uganda, South Sudan, DR Congo and CAR.