In a May 1993 report on Uganda entitled Uganda: The Death Penalty: A Barrier to Improving Human Rights, Amnesty International (AI) indicated that under the National Resistance Army (NRA) Operational Code of Conduct, desertion carries a maximum penalty of death (4). According to the report, this code of conduct was incorporated into the New Army Act in November 1991 and the death penalty was retained for 18 offences (ibid). Further information on the law governing sanctions for desertion could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

For information from 1987 to 1993 on the treatment of deserters in Uganda, please consult the attachments. Mention of the pardon and release in 1992 of more than 1,300 prisoners who were sentenced to terms of imprisonment for desertion from the NRA can be found on page 295 of the 1993 AI annual report, which is available at your Regional Documentation Centre. According to this report, at the end of 1992, there were still over 100 reported "army deserters" detained in military barracks (ibid., 294).

Also attached please find a number of reports on the army demobilization that began in June 1992, including the 24 December 1992 AFP report, the 30 June 1992 Africa Research Bulletin article, the 16 April 1994 Xinhua report and the Radio Uganda Network reports. These reports may also be of interest.

Please note that in January 1995, the name of the NRA was changed to Uganda Armed Force (UAF) (Xinhua 18 Jan. 1995)

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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 find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Amnesty International. May 1993. Uganda: The Death Penalty: A Barrier to Improving Human Rights. (AI Index: AFR 59/03/93). London: Amnesty International.

_____. 1993. Amnesty International Report. New York: Amnesty International.

Attachments

Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 1-31 March 1995. Vol. 32, No. 3. "Uganda: Soldiers to be Demobilised," pp. 11801-02.

_____. 1-30 June 1992. Vol. 29, No. 6. "Uganda: Armed Forces' Cuts," p. 10626.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 13 April 1995. "Two Rebel Commanders Captured in Central Uganda." (NEXIS)

_____. 24 December 1992. "Demobilisation of Ugandan Army Fully Underway." (NEXIS)

_____. 21 December 1991. "Uganda Rejects Amnesty International Charges." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International. May 1993. Uganda: The Death Penalty: A Barrier to Improving Human Rights. (AI Index: AFR 59/03/93). London: Amnesty International, pp. 1-8.

_____. 1993. Amnesty International Report. New York: Amnesty International, pp. 294-95.

New African [London]. January 1993. No. 34. "Museveni Bites the Bullet," p. 29.

Radio Uganda Network [Kampala, in English]. 16 March 1995. "Government Plans Demobilization of Soldiers."(FBIS-AFR-95-051 16 Mar. 1995, p. 5)

_____. 15 April 1994. "Second Phase of Army Demobilization to Begin." (FBIS-AFR-94-074 18 Apr. 1994, p. 7)

_____. 30 September 1993. "Ten Senior Army Officers Voluntarily Retire." (FBIS-AFR-93-189 1 Oct. 1993, p. 4)

_____. 5 June 1992. "Army Council Issues Criteria for Reducing Army." (FBIS-AFR-92-110 8 June 1992, pp. 10-11)

Reuters. 21 July 1989. PM Cycle. "Uganda Rounding Up Former Soldiers and Deserters, Jails 600." (NEXIS)

Xinhua News Agency. 18 January 1995. "Ugandan National Army Changes Name." (NEXIS)

_____. 16 April 1994. "Uganda Starts Second Phase of Army Demobilization." (NEXIS)

Other Sources Consulted

Oral sources.