About This Report
“Get the Gun!”
September 11, 2007

"Get the Gun!"

Human Rights Violations by Uganda's National Army in Law Enforcement Operationsin Karamoja Region

Map
I. Summary
Key Recommendations
To the Government of Uganda..
To Donor Countries and International Development Partners
To the United Nations Country Team...
II. Methodology
III. Background
A. Livelihoods and Insecurity in Karamoja..
B. Government Approach to Law and Order in Karamoja..
Civilians tried by courts martial
C. Government Disarmament Policies in Karamoja..
D. Return to Cordon and Search Disarmament, May 2006-Present
Cordon and search operations
Scale of alleged human rights violations connected with UPDF operations
IV. Legal Standards Governing UPDF Law Enforcement Operations
A. International Law...
B. National Law...
V. Human Rights Violations in UPDF Operations in Karamoja
A. Unlawful Killings and Excessive Use of Force..
B. Torture and Ill-treatment
During cordon and search operations
During post-cordon and search detention..
C. Looting and Destruction of Property
D. Arbitrary Searches, Arrests, and Detentions
Arbitrary searches
Arbitrary arrests and detentions
Lack of procedural safeguards leads to multiple detentions
E. Increasing Tension between the UPDF and Karamojong Communities
VI. Government Response to Alleged Human Rights Violations
A. Cordon and Search Guidelines
B. Accountability for Human Rights Violations by UPDF Personnel
C. Government Investigations
VII. Detailed Recommendations
To the Government of Uganda..
To the Uganda Human Rights Commission..
To Donor Countries and International Development Partners
To the Member States and the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth..
To the United Nations Country Team...
To Ugandan, Regional, and International Nongovernmental Human Rights Organizations and International Foundations
Acknowledgments
Annex I
Annex II
Annex III