Several sources report that political opponents and suspected rebel collaborators are mistreated by the Uganda authorities (AI 2000; Country Reports 1999 Feb. 2000; New Vision Dec. 1999; The Monitor 29 Jan. 1999).

According to Amnesty International, "more than 6o suspected government opponents were charged with treason, which precludes bail for at least 360 days" (2000, 246). In January 1999 security forces reportedly executed four boys aged 14 and 17 years, and a man, using 25 bullets (The Monitor 29 Jan. 1999). Although they were initially suspected of being members of the Allied Defence Forces (ADF), security forces later described them as "hard core criminals who together with others at large have been terrorising the district" (ibid.).

A Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) fighter, said that he was an innocent before he was abducted and forced to fight and kill by the LRA (New Vision 21 Dec. 1999). He reportedly told the Ugandan press that he was forced to kill his parents and uncle on the orders of the LRA. "The aim is that the fighters would no longer have an attachment to their families" (ibid.).

A mother of an alleged ADF rebel chief, Jamil Mukulu, whom security forced questioned several times regarding her son's whereabouts, was reportedly harassed and tortured by members of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) (The Monitor 16 Aug. 1999).

Country Reports for 1999 reports that

Muslim groups complained of extensive mistreatment by security officials in Kampala and in the west. There were unconfirmed reports that some Muslims suspected of being ADF rebel collaborators or involved in terrorist activities died as a result of torture by DMI officials...a number of Muslims whom the authorities suspected of supporting the ADF insurgency still are missing and it is believed that they were detained by security officials (Feb. 2000, 520-521).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Amnesty International. 2000. Amnesty International Report 2000. New York: Amnesty International USA.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1999. February 2000. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

New Vision [Kampala]. 21 December 1999. "Uganda: Rebel LRA Commander Paraded in Kampala." (NEXIS)

The Monitor [Kampala]. 16 August 1999. Kanina Noah Cains. "Tears of a Rebel Mother." (NEXIS)

_____. 29 January 1999. Mugisha Joseph. "UPDF Executes 5 with 25 Bullets." (NEXIS)