The Ugandan Freedom Movement (UFM) was formed in 1979 with the objective of resisting Milton Obote's regime (BBC Summary 27 Apr. 1987). The UFM's former leader, Andrew Kayiira, participated in the Tito Okelo regime as a member of its military council; Okelo subsequently entered the Museveni government as minister of energy in 1986 (Political Handbook of the World: 1992 1992, 696; AP 24 Mar. 1987). The UFM was one of the parties represented in the Museveni government(Political Handbook of the World: 1992 1992, 792; ibid. 1991 1991, 696). Despite this, however, fractures within the party leadership became evident during 1987 (Revolutionary and Dissident Movements: 1988 1988, 386).

According to a 17 April 1987 Reuters report, Francis Bwengye, secretary-general of the UFM, accused the Ugandan government of complicity in the March 1987 killing of Andrew Kayiira. The same article reports that Bwengye announced that the UFM had decided to fight against the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) (ibid.). However, Paulo Kalula Kadogo, the new UFM chairman, strongly dissociated his movement from Bwengye's announcement and offered to support the government (BBC Summary 27 Apr. 1987; Political Handbook of the World: 1992 1992, 792). On 30 July 1987 the Ugandan government held peace talks in London with exiled dissident groups, including some members of the UFM (Xinhua 4 Aug. 1988). Citing a Ugandan weekly, The Star, Xinhua reported that the Ugandan government appointed three UFM political dissidents to senior diplomatic posts (30 Oct. 1993). Xinhua added that unidentified sources maintain that the government has persuaded UFM dissidents to give up their opposition to government in return for appointments to the diplomatic service (ibid).

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.

The Associated Press (AP). 24 March 1987. PM Cycle "Uganda Police Arrest Five in Cabinet Minister's Death." (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 27 April 1987. "UFM Leader Denies Intention to Fight NRM." (NEXIS)

Political Handbook of the World: 1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Handbook of the World: 1991. 1991. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Reuters. 17 April 1987. AM Cycle. "Ugandan Guerilla Group to Fight Government." (NEXIS)

_____. 25 March 1987. AM Cycle. "Ugandan Police Arrest Five Suspects in Energy Minister's Murder." (NEXIS)

Revolutionary and Dissident Movements: An International Guide. 1988. 2nd ed. London: Longman Group UK.

The Standard [Nairobi, in English]. 15 May 1987. "Ugandan Rebels Claim Capture of 2,000 Government Troops." (BBC Summary 19 May 1987/NEXIS)

The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 30 October 1993. "Former Ugandan Dissidents Appointed to Senior Diplomatic Posts." (NEXIS)

_____. 4 August 1988. "Ugandan Government Holds Talks with Exiled

Dissident Groups." (NEXIS)

The Associated Press (AP). 24 March 1987. PM Cycle "Uganda Police Arrest Five in Cabinet Minister's Death." (NEXIS)

The Standard [Nairobi], in English]. 15 May 1987. "Ugandan Rebels Claim Capture of 2,000 Government Troops." (BBC Summary 19 May 1987/NEXIS)

Political Handbook of the World: 1992. 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications, p. 792.

Political Handbook of the World: 1991. 1991. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications, p. 696.

Reuters. 17 April 1987. AM Cycle. "Ugandan Guerilla Group to Fight Government." (NEXIS)

Revolutionary and Dissident Movements: An International Guide. 1988. 2nd ed. London: Longman Group UK, p. 386.

The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 30 October 1993. "Former Ugandan Dissidents Appointed to Senior Diplomatic Posts." (NEXIS)

_____. 4 August 1988. "Ugandan Government Holds Talks with Exiled Dissident Groups". (NEXIS)