In its reference supplement for the end of 1995, Keesing's lists David Pulkol in the Office of the President: Karamoja (1996). Pulkol is also referred to as the Minister for Karamoja in a foreword he wrote for a 1996 International Development Research Centre publication (IDRC 1996) and a 1995 EcoNews Africa Newsletter referred to Pulkol as Minster for Karamojong and Research Associate at the Makerere Institute of Social Research in Kampala (7 Apr. 1995).

On 29 July 1996, The East African reported that it was unclear what position Pulkol, "former Minister in charge of Karamoja," would hold in Museveni's new government following the 9 May 1996 elections. In November 1996, however, the Indian Ocean Newsletter reported that David Pulkol had been appointed Director General of the External Security Organization (ESO).

One of the rare members of the regime to come from Karamoja, in the country's desert-like north east region, David Pulkol is a former deputy education minister (July 1991) who was promoted to the ministerial chair in November 1994. Two years later, in June this year [1996], he was bounced out again. David Pulkol is the fourth man to hold the top External Security Organization job, after Amama Mbabzi, colonel Kahinda Otafire and major-general Elly Tumwiine (ibid.).

In October 1998, President Museveni shuffled the intelligence chiefs and replaced David Pulkol as head of the ESO with Major-General Fred Oketcho (Daily Nation on the Web 30 Oct. 1998). A statement released from the President's office "did not say where the former security chiefs [had] been employed to or give the exact reasons for their being dropped from the intelligence system" (ibid.). On 31 October 1998, New Vision reported that "the former ESO director general, Mr. David Pulkol, yesterday said he needs to consult the President before he decides on his next job. He is rumoured to have an offer from the UN."

Specific references to David Pulkol moving from the ESO to UNICEF could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. The Africa Development Forum '99 Program published by the UN Economic Commission for Africa lists David Pulkol as the Deputy Director, UNICEF, Nairobi (21 Oct. 1999). On 22 September 2000, Tomric Agency in Dar es Salaam referred to Pulkol as the deputy regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, UNICEF. Further references to David Pulkol could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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. Please see below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Daily Nation on the Web. 30 October 1998. Dan Elwana. "Museveni Appoints New Intelligence Bosses." http://www.nationaudio.com/News/DailyNation/1998/301098/News/Regional3.html [Accessed 2 Nov. 2000]

The East African [Nairobi]. 29 July 1996. James Kigozi. "Opinion: Jockeying for Cabinet Seats in Uganda." http://www.africaonline.co.ke/AfricaOnline/eastafrican/960805/ea3.html [Accessed 2 Nov. 2000]

EcoNews Africa [Nairobi]. 23 February 1995. Vol. 4, No. 4. Mercy Wambui. "Events." http://www.alternatives.com/library/env/envterra/wa100032.txt [Accessed 2 Nov. 2000]

Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 2 November 1996. No. 739. "Uganda: New Bods in Intelligence."

International Development Research Centre (IDRC). 1996. Grassroots Indicators for Desertification Experience and Perspectives from Eastern and Southern Africa. http://www.idrc.ca/books/focus/794/ [Accessed 2 Nov. 2000]

Keesing's Record of World Events. 1996. "Reference Supplement 1996." http://keesings.gvpi.net/keesings/ [Accessed 2 Nov. 2000]

New Vision [Kampala]. 31 October 1998. "New ESO Job Excites Oketcho." http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/199810310030.html [Accessed 3 Nov. 2000]

Tomric Agency [Dar es Salaam]. 22 September 2000. "UNICEF to Educate Burundi Refugee Children." http://allafrica.com/stories/200009220261.html [Accessed 3 Nov. 2000]

UN Economic Commission for Africa. 21 October 1999. "African Development Forum '99 Program." http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/199910210003.html [Accessed 3 Nov. 2000]

Africa Confidential [London].

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford].

Europa World Yearbook 2000. 2000.

Political Handbook of the World: 1999. 1999.

LEXIS/NEXIS

Uganda Country File. Resource Centre.

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet Sites including:

Africa Development Forum '99

Amnesty International

Human Rights Watch

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)

Transparency International

UNICEF

Search Engines including:

Google

Hot Bot

Metacrawler