Key U.S. Senators Express Concern Over Inadequate Progress on Reconstruction Efforts in Northern Uganda
October 1st, 2008 by alison in: Media Releases
WASHINGTON, D.C. (1 OCTOBER 2008) --- This week, key U.S. lawmakers have written to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni regarding the lack of progress toward reconstruction and recovery in northern Uganda.
Citing a lack of basic services in areas of IDP return, as well as weak police and judicial structures and high levels of trauma amongst war survivors, several Senators from the Senate’s Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa, as well as other influential leaders in the U.S. legislature, expressed their concern over the Ugandan government’s delays in implementing its Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP). In the letter dated September 26, 2008, the Senators request that President Museveni respond with details regarding how the Ugandan government intends to fund and implement the plan.
In addition to the PRDP, the U.S. lawmakers also outline concerns over the Government of Uganda’s progress in implementing the Final Peace Agreement negotiated in the Juba Peace Process. While praising the government’s commitment to the negotiations, the Senators caution that this commitment must be matched with specific programs and policies.
“Tangible measures to address underlying political grievances and remedy historic inequalities must be coordinated with reconstruction to achieve lasting stability,” states the letter. “Ensuring a durable peace requires ongoing leadership from your government so the cessation of hostilities can translate into concrete benefits for those that have been affected by this war.
The letter was signed by Senators Russ Feingold, Democratic Chair of the Senate’s Africa Subcommittee, Johnny Isakson, Ranking Republican on the Subcommittee, as well as Senators Chris Dodd, Sam Brownback, Norm Coleman, Olympia Snowe, and Barbara Boxer.
Resolve Uganda, a D.C. based coalition of humanitarian, faith-based and advocacy organizations working to change U.S. policy toward the crisis and end the war, praised the move.
“These Senators are showing leadership at a critical time. Clearly, U.S. policymakers consider the development of the North a major priority in the region. They see the recovery process as crucial not only in helping people rebuild their lives after this war, but also in advancing reconciliation within Uganda,” said Resolve Uganda Executive Director Michael Poffenberger.
Resolve Uganda recently released a “Memo to U.S. Policymakers” in which they called upon the U.S. government to hold the Government of Uganda accountable to ensure that this window of opportunity is used to establish lasting security in the war-torn region.
“It is crucial that the U.S. government and Government of Uganda work together to consolidate the gains that have been made through the peace process and achieve an end to this war for the millions of people who have been neglected for so long,” said Resolve Uganda Executive Director Michael Poffenberger. “It’s going to require serious investment from everyone involved.”
Citing a lack of basic services in areas of IDP return, as well as weak police and judicial structures and high levels of trauma amongst war survivors, several Senators from the Senate’s Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa, as well as other influential leaders in the U.S. legislature, expressed their concern over the Ugandan government’s delays in implementing its Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP). In the letter dated September 26, 2008, the Senators request that President Museveni respond with details regarding how the Ugandan government intends to fund and implement the plan.
In addition to the PRDP, the U.S. lawmakers also outline concerns over the Government of Uganda’s progress in implementing the Final Peace Agreement negotiated in the Juba Peace Process. While praising the government’s commitment to the negotiations, the Senators caution that this commitment must be matched with specific programs and policies.
“Tangible measures to address underlying political grievances and remedy historic inequalities must be coordinated with reconstruction to achieve lasting stability,” states the letter. “Ensuring a durable peace requires ongoing leadership from your government so the cessation of hostilities can translate into concrete benefits for those that have been affected by this war.
The letter was signed by Senators Russ Feingold, Democratic Chair of the Senate’s Africa Subcommittee, Johnny Isakson, Ranking Republican on the Subcommittee, as well as Senators Chris Dodd, Sam Brownback, Norm Coleman, Olympia Snowe, and Barbara Boxer.
Resolve Uganda, a D.C. based coalition of humanitarian, faith-based and advocacy organizations working to change U.S. policy toward the crisis and end the war, praised the move.
“These Senators are showing leadership at a critical time. Clearly, U.S. policymakers consider the development of the North a major priority in the region. They see the recovery process as crucial not only in helping people rebuild their lives after this war, but also in advancing reconciliation within Uganda,” said Resolve Uganda Executive Director Michael Poffenberger.
Resolve Uganda recently released a “Memo to U.S. Policymakers” in which they called upon the U.S. government to hold the Government of Uganda accountable to ensure that this window of opportunity is used to establish lasting security in the war-torn region.
“It is crucial that the U.S. government and Government of Uganda work together to consolidate the gains that have been made through the peace process and achieve an end to this war for the millions of people who have been neglected for so long,” said Resolve Uganda Executive Director Michael Poffenberger. “It’s going to require serious investment from everyone involved.”