Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uganda and the Uganda National Rescue Front II

• Country/entity

  Uganda
  
• Region

  Africa (excl MENA)
  
• Agreement name

  Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uganda and the Uganda National Rescue Front II
• Date

  15 Jun 2002
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Ugandan Conflicts (1970 - ) )
• Stage

  Ceasefire/related
• Conflict nature

  Government
• Peace process

  Uganda peace process
• Parties

  Signed [Signature]
  Rt. Hon. Eriya Kategaya
  1st Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Internal Affairs
  FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
  In the presence of: Name [illegible], [signature]
  
  Signed [Signature]
  Major General Ali Ramnze
  Chairman, UNRF II
  FOR THE UGANDA NATIONAL RESCUE FRONT II
  In the presence of: Name Yasim Doula [Signature]
• Third parties

  -
• Description

  Agreement provides for a ceasefire between the UNRF and Ugandan Government, it then goes on to outline the formation of the Implementation committee consisting of three members from the two parties. Agreement then outlines the DDR of the UNRF II, including the resettlement of UNRF II fighters to the former-UN Refugee Camp in Bidi Bidi, handover of weapons, screening of UNRF fighters, the integration of suitable UNRF fighters in to the Ugandan Army, the repatriation of UNRF leadership to Uganda for peace talks, peace talks, and the arrangement of a stake-holders conference.

• Agreement document

  UG_920615_Ceasefire_agreement_between_GOU_and_UNRF_II.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uganda and the Uganda National Rescue Front II

Preamble

The Government of the Republic of Uganda (hereinafter to as "Government") and the Uganda National Rescue Front II (hereinafter referred to by its acronym "UNRF II") hereinafter jointly referred to as "the Parties" and in singular as "Party".

WISHING to achieve the shared goal of total peace and tranquility in Uganda.

HAVING UNEQUIVOCALLY RESOLVED to bring to a complete end all forms of mistrust fighting and armed confrontation.

MINDFUL that there cannot be any reconstruction and economic development in the region in the absence of peace;

CONVINCED that there is an urgent need for a formal and comprehensive ceasefire agreement in order to pave way for political discussions for the entire West Nile region.

RECOGNISING the significance of this agreement in the quest for national unity and development,

NOW IT IS HEREBY MUTUALLY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

CLAUSE I

CEASEFIRE

The parties hereby mutually and unequivocally undertake to stop all forms of hostility, confrontation and any other acts that may be described as belligerent with effect from the hour and date of the signing of this agreement.

CLAUSE II

ESTABLISHMENT OF A JOINT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE

1) The parties hereby agree to form a joint task force (hereinafter referred to as "the Joint Committee") composed of three representatives from Uganda People's Defence Forces and three representatives from UNRF II who shall oversee the implementation of this ceasefire agreement.

2) The Joint Committee herein above created shall be constituted within five days after the signing of this agreement.

3) The Joint Committee shall ensure that there are no hostile acts and/or omissions between the Parties.

4) The tasks of the Joint Committee shall, in addition to that prescribed in 3) above, be to monitor and oversee the smooth implementation of the ceasefire, and any other tasks that may be deemed incidental and conducive to the attainment of the purpose and spirit of this agreement.

CLAUSE III

ENCAMPMENT AND DOCUMENTATION

1) It is hereby agreed that all the ex-combatants of UNRF II shall immediately encamp at the old United Nations High Commission for Refugees camp at Bidi Bidi in Yumbe District and this exercise shall be completed within five days after the signing of this agreement.

2) Immediately after the completion of the encampment at Bidi Bidi in accordance with this agreement, the Joint Committee shall carry out comprehensive documentation of all the personnel, arms and ammunition in the possession of UNRF II and immediately thereafter all weapons or arms so documented shall be deposited in a designated armoury within Bidi Bidi Camp.

3) The Joint Committee is hereby given the mandate to oversee and coordinate the return of Seventy (70) UNRF II ex-combatants currently based in Juba and Khartoum.

4) The custody and security of the armoury herein above referred to shall be the responsibility of UNRF II personnel who shall be accountable to the Joint Committee.

5) It is hereby expressly agreed that all arms and ammunitions deposited in the armoury shall be beyond use by either party and any attempt by either party to gain access to the arms and ammunitions without the consent of the other shall be deemed as a violation of this agreement.

6) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-clause 4) above, UNRF II shall be able to make use of the arms and ammunitions in its armoury for self-defence in the event of an attack by a hostile force.

A report detailing out the circumstances under which the arms and ammunition were used shall then be made to the Joint Committee within two days.

CLAUSE IV

SCREENING OF UNRF II EX-COMBATANTS

Immediately following the signing of this agreement the Joint Committee shall carry out of a screening exercise of all UNRF II ex-combatants and their families for purposes of determining their suitability for integration in either the UPDF of civilian life after the conclusion of the entire peace process.

CLAUSE V

PREPARATION FOR PEACE TALKS

1) The UNRF II hereby undertakes to convene a meeting of its political leadership in preparation for the peace talks.

2) The UNRF II also undertakes to immediately meet political, civic and opinion leaders in Yumbe District from time to time and brief them on the progress of the peace talks.

3) The UNRF II shall also immediately embark on preparing an agenda for the peace talks and forward it to Government for its input.

CLAUSE VI

RETURN OF FOREIGN-BASED UNRF II LEADERS

1) It is hereby agreed that Government shall within 14 (fourteen) days after the signing of this agreement facilitate the return of some of all of the following five UNRF II leaders:

- John Yebuga based in Canada;

- Ismail Sebbi based in Saudi Arabia;

- John Aluma based in the United Kingdom;

- Betty Andima based in the United Kingdom;

- Uyemi Asedri based in Kenya.

2) It is hereby understood and agreed that the Government's undertaking in 1) above is subject to UNRF II furnishing clear and known addresses where the said ex-combatants shall be located.

3) Failure by Government to locate the said UNRF II leaders after due diligence shall in no way be interpreted to mean breach of this agreement on the part of the Government.

CLAUSE VII

PEACE TALKS

1) The Parties hereby agree to embark on arrangement for the convening of the peace talks conference.

2) The peace talks referred to in 1) above shall, in addition to ten representatives from each side, be attended by two elders, two AROPIC members and the UNRF II legal counsel.

3) The delegates shall determine their rules of procedure.

4) At the opening and at the conclusion of the talks, the leaders of the major three religious denominations vide;

Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church and Islamic Faith plus members of the donor community and other stake holders shall be invited to witness the ceremonies.

CLAUSE VIII

STAKE HOLDERS CONFERENCE

After the signing of the peace agreement, both parties shall jointly convene a conference of all stake holders vide Government, UNRF II, Amnesty Commission, International Donor Community, Non Governmental Organisations and the Private Sector to prepare and facilitate the re-settlement and rehabilitation of those UNRF II ex-combatants who will not have been integrated into the UNDF.

CLAUSE IX

DISARMAMENT, INTEGRATION, DEMOBILISATION AND RESETTLEMENT

1) Thirty days after the conclusion of the peace settlement, the UPDF shall take into its ranks those UNRF II ex-combatants who wish to joint and meet the UPDF recruitment requirements.

2) Those UNRF II ex-combatants who either do not qualify to joint the UPDF or do not wish to join shall be demobilised and re-settled by the Government and other interested parties.

3) Immediately after the signing of the peace agreement, UNRF II shall hand over all the arms and ammunitions in their possession to the UPDF.

CLAUSE X

GOOD FAITH CLAUSE

It is hereby agreed between the parties that the negotiations shall be held in utmost good faith.

IN WITNESS WHEREFORE the undersigned being duly by the respective Parties, have signed this agreement in five originals in the English language this 15th day of June 2002.

Signed [Signature]

Rt. Hon.

Eriya Kategaya

1st Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Internal Affairs

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

In the presence of:

Name [illegible], [signature]

Signed [Signature]

Major General Ali Ramnze

Chairman, UNRF II

FOR THE UGANDA NATIONAL RESCUE FRONT II

In the presence of:

Name Yamis Doila [Signature]

Drawn by:

Attorney General's Chambers

Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs

P.O. Box 7183

KAMPALA