In addition to information contained in UGA25227.E of 27 September 1996, an Indian Ocean Newsletter report of May 1997 stated that according to military sources in Kampala, Uganda, Herbert Itongwa, leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had sought refugee in Kenya after his movement was "dismantled" (7). The ION reported that Itongwa was believed to have applied for refugee status at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Nairobi, and that military officials in Kampala reportedly alleged that the Kenyan government had offered him "the job of training a military group for special duties (including hunting down cattle rustlers along the country's borders) (ibid.).

A Human Rights Watch report on democracy in Uganda published in 1999 stated that the "defunct" NDA was formed by a former Democratic Party (DP) treasurer, Evaristo Nyanzi, and "renegade" officers of the ruling Uganda People's Democratic Forces (UPDF), Major Fred Mpiso and Major Herbert Itongwa (vii). Human Rights Watch stated that some of its elements had joined the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) (ibid.).

A 23 December 2000 Agence France Presse report stated that according to a Ugandan police spokesman, gunmen claiming to be National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rebels had attacked a police station in central Uganda, injured a policewoman, and stole rifles," AFP added that:

Police recovered the abandoned vehicle a distance away after the attackers dropped leaftlets in Kiwoko town claiming that they were members of the NDA led by renegade army officer, Major Hebert Kikomeko Itongwa. The erstwhile force has not recently been active. In central Uganda in 1994 and 1995, the rebels attacked police stations and at one time abducted and killed a senior police officer. They also abducted then health minister James Makumbi, but released him after weeks in captivity. The Ugandan army later drove them out, forcing Itongwa to flee to exile in Kenya, before moving on to Europe where he is believed to be currently living. A few NDA remnants who remained in the country have been trying to regroup recently (ibid.)

Reports on the treatment of members, supporters and family members of the leaders of the NDA by the Ugandan authorities 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 find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 23 December 2000. "Ugandan Rebels Attack Police Station in Central Uganda." (NEXIS)
The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION) [Paris]. 31 May 1997. No. 767.

"Hebert Itongwa."