YouSaid · the spoken record

Lukwiya

lines on the record: 45
first: 2008-02-12
most recent: 2011-04-21
sittings or episodes: 7
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to avoid further escalation and to fully implement resolution 1860 (2009). In conclusion, while the primary responsibility for negotiating and reaching a comprehensive agreement lies with the Israeli and Palestinian parties, the efforts and support of all international and regional partners must be stepped up for that goal to be attained sooner than later.”
2011-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6520Resumption1 (2011) · source
“We remain deeply concerned about the continued construction of settlements by Israel and call for a complete freeze on all settlement activity, which not only hinders progress in the negotiations, but also undermines Israel's security. We salute the Palestinians for their continued efforts to fulfil their obligations under the Road Map, particularly in the security and economic development sectors. We also commend President Abbas on his initiative to resolve the current divisions among Palestinians, and encourage him to intensify efforts on that important component. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, and we reiterate our call for a complete lifting of the blockade on Gaza. We deplore the continued firing of rockets into Israel by Hamas and the airstrikes on Gaza by Israel during the reporting period.”
2011-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6520Resumption1 (2011) · source
“It is now more urgent than ever for both parties to redouble their efforts towards the achievement of a comprehensive peace based on the vision of the two- State solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security. We encourage Israeli and Palestinian leaders alike to resume negotiations without further delay. We call upon both parties to summon the necessary courage to take bold decisions in a spirit of give and take. In that regard, it is essential to refrain from unilateral actions that prejudge final status issues and undermine progress. It is also important to bear in mind that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians to statehood cannot be delayed much longer and that the legitimate security concerns of Israel must be addressed.”
2011-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6520Resumption1 (2011) · source
“I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of my Permanent Representative, Ambassador Ruhakana Rugunda. I thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this open debate. I also thank Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe for his briefing this morning. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has remained unresolved for far too long, despite protracted international and regional efforts. The situation is not sustainable. We recall the international community's optimism following the resumption of direct talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas, and are deeply concerned about the loss of momentum in the peace process in the wake of the breakdown of the talks.”
2011-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6520Resumption1 (2011) · source
“More emphasis should be placed on delivering tangible dividends, including the provision of basic services, employment opportunities, and the improvement of the people's standard of living. Finally, fundamental reform of the current international architecture for peace, security and development is urgent and necessary to ensure greater representation and participation, especially on the part of developing countries.”
2011-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6479Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Evidence abounds that fragile countries and those in conflict or in post-conflict situations lag behind in almost all development indicators, including the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. Durable peace, security and development can be achieved only through a comprehensive approach that integrates the security, economic, social and humanitarian dimensions. It is essential to take into account a people-centred view of security, which is necessary for national, regional and global stability. The United Nations and the wider international community should intensify their efforts towards a more effective and coherent approach to peacekeeping, peacemaking and peacebuilding. In this regard, the Peacebuilding Commission is already playing a very important role in supporting countries emerging from conflict.”
2011-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6479Resumption1 (2011) · source
“This has, of course, been a gradual process, beginning with the United Nations agendas for peace and development in the 1990s, which recognized the need to address peace, security and development through integrated approaches. As has already been emphasized by many speakers before me, there is no doubt that security is a prerequisite for development; without peace development is not possible. Without development, peace and security are not sustainable; the two are therefore mutually reinforcing. The World Development Report 201]: Conflict, Security and Development highlights the fact that conflict and insecurity are major challenges and impediments to economic development. The World Bank's focus on this theme is pertinent.”
2011-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6479Resumption1 (2011) · source
“I thank you, Madame, for organizing this debate on a theme that is very important to us. I also thank the Secretary-General, the Chairman of the Peacebuilding Commission and Permanent Representative of Rwanda, and the Special Representative of the World Bank for their statements this morning. We also welcome the participation of several Ministers of Foreign Affairs in this debate. Uganda welcomes the increasing attention that the Security Council and the United Nations as a whole, as well as regional organizations and the wider international community, are paying to the interdependence between security and development.”
2011-02-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6479Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Uganda reiterates the importance of women's full participation in post-conflict peacebuilding and involvement in institution-building.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“The best and most sustainable approach is to build on existing national human resources and capacities. Where technical expertise and assistance are provided, emphasis should also be placed on building national capacities to undertake those responsibilities. Finally, we look forward to the imminent completion of the Senior Advisory Group's review of international civilian capacities and its recommendations for improving the international response by strengthening the availability and appropriateness of civilian capacities for post-conflict peacebuilding. Of particular interest will be proposals on how best to mobilize and organize specific civilian capacities from the global South and among women, and on how to ensure that their deployment enhances the building of national capacities.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“There is also a need to focus on delivering tangible dividends, including the provision of basic services and the improvement of the standard of living of the population. In cases where gross violations of human rights have been committed, justice must be done so that those responsible are held accountable. 3 The major challenge post-conflict countries face in building national institutions is mainly the lack of financial resources and technical expertise in various fields. We welcome the increasing engagement of the United Nations, through the Peacebuilding Commission, regional and international partners, and international financial institutions in support of national capacity development and improving mobilization of resources for peacebuilding.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Given the competing demands on scarce resources, it is important to sequence implementation beginning with the most urgent priorities. These include guaranteeing security of life and property, national reconciliation, adherence to the rule of law, and promoting democratic governance. It is also important to develop and implement a national economic recovery programme. In order to build effective national institutions in post-conflict situations, these must enjoy popular support and legitimacy to overcome the distrust and suspicion that follow conflict. One way to achieve public trust and legitimacy is by ensuring that institutions are responsive to the needs of the populations and that decision-making is consultative and participatory.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“It is therefore essential that peacebuilding efforts be underpinned by recognition of the need to address the root causes of conflict and to build effective national institutions for sustainable peace and development. In this regard, the primary responsibility for re-establishing and building the institutions of governance lies with national authorities, supported by international partners, including regional organizations and the United Nations. In Uganda's experience, the building of national institutions requires identifying key priorities based on a country's specific needs. This should be followed by developing and agreeing on a national strategy to address them, and by mobilizing the requisite political, financial and technical support and resources.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“I thank the presidency of the Council for organizing this important debate on post-conflict peacebuilding. I also thank the Secretary- 11-21335 General, the Deputy Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, and the Chairman of the Peacebuilding Commission for their insightful statements this morning. Uganda welcomes the increasing emphasis on the need to ensure that post-conflict peacebuilding activities are carried out in a more coordinated, coherent and effective way. Post-conflict countries face a number of challenges, including insecurity, weak or non-existent State institutions, the resettlement of internally displaced persons and refugees, reconstruction and economic recovery, which are often compounded by lack of resources.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“We welcome the OSCE ministerial declaration on non-proliferation, adopted in Athens in December 2009, which marks a positive step towards increasing the OSCE's contribution to achieving the goals of resolution 1540 (2004). Finally, we thank once again the Chairman-in- Office of the OSCE for his briefing on the priorities and plans for 2010.”
2010-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6268 (2010) · source
“However, coordination and the harmonization of OSCE activities with other bodies will remain crucial to avoid the duplication of efforts. We therefore welcome the OSCE's intention to undertake an initiative in full coordination with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and other United Nations entities. We call on the OSCE to strengthen cooperation with other international organizations, and in particular to work closely with the United Nations and other regional organizations to tackle this new threat to regional and global security. We also encourage the OSCE to build linkages and share experiences with the African Union, which is already working on a comprehensive peace and security architecture for the continent.”
2010-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6268 (2010) · source
“In addition, new threats such as energy security, illegal migration and rising instability in regions adjacent to the OSCE area, such as Afghanistan, have become potential security concerns, not only for OSCE States but for the international community as well. We welcome the regional approach that the OSCE intends to focus on, particularly with regard to enhancing the capacity of Afghanistan to manage its borders with its Central Asian neighbours, including through the training of Afghan personnel. We are convinced that by promoting regional cooperation, opportunities for Afghanistan and the countries of the region will be greatly enhanced to deal with common security challenges, while also facilitating economic growth and development.”
2010-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6268 (2010) · source
“While there is an obvious need to deal with the traditional security challenges and problems that remain unresolved, attention also needs to be paid to new threats and emerging challenges. In the light of the cross-dimensional nature of security in the world, it is necessary to devise new strategies to tackle transnational threats such as terrorism, human trafficking, drugs and cybercrime. Furthermore, as pointed out at the OSCE Foreign Ministers' meeting in Athens, protracted conflicts, ethnic tensions and unresolved border disputes continue to plague parts of the OSCE area, with the potential to turn into serious crises.”
2010-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6268 (2010) · source
“That is why Uganda has continued to urge the United Nations to strengthen cooperation with regional and subregional organizations in order to take advantage of their respective strengths and contributions in that collective endeavour. We welcome the progress that OSCE member States have made over the past two decades in the area of security. We also welcome the intention of the Chairman-in-Office to strengthen the role of the OSCE in the European security architecture, including the continuation of the renewed dialogue format on security in the framework of the Corfu process. We commend the Minister for his efforts, which we trust will help to strengthen partnership and cooperation in the OSCE area.”
2010-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6268 (2010) · source
“My delegation also welcomes to the Council His Excellency Mr. Kanat Saudabayev, Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. We congratulate him on his assumption of the chairmanship of the OSCE and thank him for his insightful briefing on the priorities and plans for 2010. It is becoming increasingly clear that maintaining international peace and security is a shared responsibility in which the United Nations and other regional organizations such as the OSCE have critical roles to play. We share the view of the Minister that the productive utilization of the potential of the OSCE can complement the efforts of the United Nations, and of the Security Council in particular, in dealing with threats to international peace and security.”
2010-02-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6268 (2010) · source
“We are encouraged by the peaceful political situation in Lebanon during the reporting period. My delegation is concerned, however, about the incidents that continue to occur, which are likely to heighten tensions in the region. We call on all parties to fully implement resolution 1701 (2006). Finally, the heightened tensions in the Middle East and the lack of progress in the peace process are reminders that the Security Council should remain fully seized of and engaged in support of these processes. Uganda, for its part, will continue to support the efforts of all parties to achieve a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, as envisioned in relevant Security Council resolutions.”
2010-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6265 (2010) · source
“This is yet another reminder of the need for a permanent ceasefire, as envisioned in resolution 1860 (2009). We commend Egypt and others for the role they have continued to play in promoting intra-Palestinian dialogue. We call on all Palestinians to resolve their differences within the framework of the intra- Palestinian dialogue in order to achieve unity. We remain concerned by the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza. However, we welcome the recent opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza by Israel to allow some exports to leave, humanitarian goods to be transferred and some building materials to enter. However, we think that this is not enough. We call for the complete lifting of the blockade on Gaza in accordance with resolution 1860 (2009).”
2010-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6265 (2010) · source
“We are encouraged by the continued efforts of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank to fulfil its obligations under the Road Map, particularly in the sectors of security and economic development. We remain deeply concerned about the continued construction of settlements and settler violence in the occupied territory. We note the announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in November 2009 of a 10-month freeze on new housing projects in the West Bank. This is a positive step. However, we call for a complete freeze on all settlement activity, including natural growth. We are concerned about the recent firing of rockets by Hamas into Israel and the air strikes by Israel into Gaza during the reporting period. We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to avoid further escalation.”
2010-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6265 (2010) · source
“I thank Mr. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, for his briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. I also thank the Permanent Representative of Israel and the Permanent Observer of Palestine for their statements. The peace process in the Middle East is at a delicate and critical juncture. The situation remains tense. It is therefore critical that the parties resume negotiations without delay. We commend the international and regional efforts that have been undertaken to restart the negotiations. We call on the parties to embark on negotiations with a view to achieving comprehensive peace based on the vision of two democratic States - Israel and Palestine - living side by side in peace and security.”
2010-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6265 (2010) · source
“That has been the policy of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and continues to be implemented by UPDF troops serving in the African Union Mission in Somalia. In conclusion, we thank the delegation of Austria for spearheading the drafting of the resolution that we have just adopted.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“International law does not provide for making amends to individuals who lose property or livelihood as a result of armed conflict. Today's resolution calls for national reparation programmes for victims as well as institutional reforms. However, my delegation would like to go a step further and also recognize the need for all parties to armed conflict to emphasize the dignity of civilians by recognizing losses that result from lawful combat operations, as well as providing meaningful amends to affected individuals and communities, such as financial assistance or funding for humanitarian aid programmes. My delegation encourages all Member States to embrace the concept of making amends, not because there is any legal obligation to do so, but simply in the interests of mitigating suffering and promoting humanity.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“My delegation also welcomes the Council's recognition of the need to address the issue of HIV and AIDS as an important component of national predeployment training information for peacekeeping troops, as well as for personnel involved in peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities. It is imperative to point out that HIV and AIDS present a constant risk for populations, not just during times of peace but even more so during times of conflict. Soldiers are a high-risk group for HIV infection during their deployments and can unknowingly spread it as they are transferred from one location to another. Long after the guns have gone silent, affected populations, many of whom end up losing everything, are left to pick up the pieces with no assistance, even from friendly forces.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“Of the 26 million documented internally displaced persons worldwide, 11.6 million are in Africa. Today's resolution notes the recent adoption of the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa at a summit held in Kampala on 23 October. Now known as the Kampala Convention, it is an important milestone in addressing the root causes of conflict in Africa. The Convention provides a legal framework for promoting and strengthening regional and national measures to prevent, mitigate, prohibit and eliminate the root causes of internal displacement.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“In addition, the resolution addresses the important component of refugees and internally displaced persons. Uganda is encouraged by the attention this resolution gives to the proliferation and destabilizing effects of small arms and light weapons, as well as to the devastating impact of landmines and explosives left after war. Even more significant for us is the recognition of the needs of persons with disabilities as a vulnerable group arising out of the indiscriminate use of these weapons. Uganda calls upon all subregional and regional organizations, civil society organizations and Member States to come to the aid of these people and to take initiatives aimed at the clearance and removal of unexploded ordnance and at educating civilian populations about the dangers it poses.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“Resolution 1894 (2009) reaffirms those obligations and calls upon States emerging from armed conflict to prioritize security sector reform and independent national judicial systems, and to take all feasible steps to empower their populations through the dissemination of information, education and training on the rights and responsibilities of civilians in situations of armed conflict. However, experience has shown that such States cannot rebuild national institutions on their own, and therefore require support from the international community. The new resolution (1894 (2009)) covers important areas that are often taken for granted. It recognizes the need for safeguards for vulnerable people, especially women, the elderly, the disabled, and children, the civilians envisaged in such terminology.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“Such groups do not subscribe to or even realize their obligations under international law to protect civilians, but instead view them as human shields to fortify their numbers and gratify their social needs. Of even greater concern is that most civilians caught between warring parties for the most part remain ignorant of their rights under international law, being more concerned with simply trying to stay out of the crossfire and to distinguish between friend and foe.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“Civilians continue to be targeted by parties to conflicts and subjected to indiscriminate attacks and other forms of violations, such as forced displacement, sexual violence, forced conscription, indiscriminate killings, mutilation, maiming, hunger, disease and loss of livelihood. The impact of those violations lingers on long after active combat has ended. Sixty years of attempts at understanding the concept of the protection of civilians in armed conflict is a long period of time, especially for the innocent civilians who wake up every day confronted by those threats. The proliferation and fragmentation of non-State armed groups contribute to the complex nature of most conflicts.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“We thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this important debate on the protection of civilians in situations of armed conflict. We also thank the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon; the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. John Holmes; and the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Kyung-wha Kang, for their succinct and very informative briefings this morning. The year 2009, apart from being the sixtieth anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, together with their Additional Protocols, also marks 10 years since the Security Council's adoption of its resolution 1265 (1999) on the protection of civilians. Uganda remains concerned that civilians still account for the vast majority of casualties during situations of armed conflict.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“We find it a little irritating for Uganda to be called upon year after year to explain a situation that is no longer the case, as if we were a guilty party. If this unjustified trend continues, we know that it will only harm our cooperation with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. We would not like that to happen.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“What happens in that case is the careful extraction by the UPDF of any actionable intelligence information that the children have at the time of reporting or rescue. They are not used to gather intelligence, as reported in the report of the Secretary- General. It is also our view that Uganda should be de- linked from the LRA, as the LRA is no longer operating in Uganda. The international community, and the Security Council in particular, should exert maximum pressure on the LRA to release all women and children within its ranks and in captivity. Allow me to conclude by stating the view of the Government of Uganda that the UPDF entry should be removed from annex II of the report, given the circumstances under which it was put there and the measures we have taken to ensure that underage people are not recruited into our armed forces.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“Uganda wishes to state that whenever children are rescued from the LRA, the Government forces undertake a normal debriefing exercise. The exercise is meant first and foremost to help establish the children's areas of origin, education levels and age. That assists the army officers in referring the children to the relevant locations and organizations for psycho-social rehabilitation. In some cases, however, those children have information of military value, including the location of LRA arms caches. In such situations, they can help the army recover hidden arms, thus reducing the capacity of the LRA to wage war. They are immediately released upon the completion of any arms recovery exercise. It is not the policy of the Government or the UPDF to use children to gather intelligence.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“In some cases, no conclusive action has been taken for the following reasons: first, problems regarding investigative institutional capacity as a result of the 20 years of insurgency, which has disrupted institutions, including the police and the judiciary; secondly, unwillingness of witnesses to speak out due to cultural inhibitions and fear of retribution from fellow internally displaced persons, given the severity of the punishment for the offender; thirdly, failure of victims to cooperate with police investigators due to fear of social stigma. It is also alleged in the report that "children who had escaped from [the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)] were used for gathering intelligence before being released in February 2007" (S/2007/757, para. 133).”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“It no longer exists. Furthermore, as a non-existent entity, it should no longer be listed under annex II. Rape is a capital offence under both military and civil Ugandan law. It is punishable by death if guilt is proven. Moreover, reported cases of rape are always investigated and tried accordingly. The UPDF Act prescribes the death sentence for rape if the accused is found guilty by an appropriate military tribunal. Individual soldiers who have raped and been tried and found guilty have had to face the death penalty. Regarding rape and sexual offences committed by people in internally displaced persons camps, we wish to state that those are civilian cases, which should be tried by civilian courts.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“We are therefore disappointed as a Government to learn that our dedication to the implementation of the same action plan is being put into question. The report alleges that there are children within the ranks of the local defence units. Uganda wishes to state that those units have been disbanded. Some of the personnel have been integrated into the national army and the police. Recruits were diligently vetted for qualifications, which included, among other things, successful completion of four years of secondary school education, a minimum age of 18 years, and medical fitness. That is not a claim, as the Secretary- General's report states in paragraph 133; it is a statement of fact. It therefore follows that all cases reported about the presence of children in local defence units are non-existent, since the institution has been dissolved.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“With regard to the agreed action plan for the prevention of the recruitment and use of child soldiers, which was finalized in August 2007, I would like to inform the Council that, on 2 November 2007, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Children and Armed Conflict, as well as the Chairman of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, were furnished with a matrix from my Government showing its achievements as of August 2007, together with the agreed terms of reference for the Uganda task force for monitoring and reporting, which is headed by UNICEF. In doing so, we believed that we, as a Government, were exercising maximum cooperation with the office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, as well as with all partners in the cause.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“There is a population that needs to have the school. Due to the serious damage that they underwent, it is no longer possible to use the same structures. New structures have been constructed and others are under construction. Those form the new school. The community is therefore not deprived of educational services, as the report seems to suggest.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“The Government has built a large boarding primary school in Gulu to facilitate the process. It affords demobilized children an orderly return to normal civilian life. It has never been the official policy of the military to occupy schools or any other educational or social institutions. However, in a few isolated cases, the conflict situation has led the army to occupy some school structures abandoned by the general population and students. Schools were constructed near camps for the internally displaced to service children in the vicinity. Structures of the former Baralegi primary school in Okwang sub-county are currently occupied by the army, as stated in the report. However, at the time of initial occupation, it had been abandoned and was in a state of disrepair; now, with the return of peace to the area, many people are moving back.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“Uganda is, however, determined to ensure that the system works and does not allow children to join the armed forces, contrary to the law and constitution of the land. It has been stated that, during the reporting period, 16 cases of recruitment and use of children aged between 14 and 17 were detected. As a percentage of the total force throughout the country, that is a very small fraction, considering that some cases do slip through the system. However, all efforts are made to avoid that happening at all. Uganda handles such cases appropriately through immediate demobilization and sanctions against those individuals that assisted in the violation. Demobilization and reintegration in such circumstances are immediate. In that endeavour, we work with UNICEF and civil society organizations.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“It has been reported that, due to the lack of effective monitoring at the local level, children have continued to join the armed forces. We would like to state that Uganda has evolved a very effective mechanism to monitor recruitment into the armed forces. The mechanism starts at the village level, with the village chairman or head testifying to the character, education and age of the potential recruit. A medical examination is undertaken by a fully qualified medical officer at the recruitment centre to verify both the age and the medical condition of the applicant. Any recruit found to be below the age of 18 years and medically unfit is discharged. He or she is not allowed into the forces. We are, however, cognizant of the fact that no mechanism or system can be perfect.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source
“I would like to thank the Security Council for allowing my delegation to participate in this debate on the important issue of children and armed conflict. My delegation has carefully studied and noted the seventh report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, contained in document S/2007/757. My delegation wishes to address itself specifically to paragraphs 133, 134 and 135 of the report, as well as to annex II of the report, in which, once again, references are made to the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), as well as to the now-defunct local defence units, as parties that have also been responsible for committing rape and other grave sexual violence against children in the reporting period.”
2008-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5834Resumption1 (2008) · source