44. Uganda (1962-present)

Pre-Crisis Phase (October 9, 1962-January 22, 1964):  Uganda formally achieved its independence from the United Kingdom and became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations (CON) on October 9, 1962. Milton Obote, leader of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), became prime minister on October 9, 1962.  Edward Frederick Mutesa II, King of Buganda, was elected president on October 9, 1963.

Crisis Phase (January 23, 1964-January 19, 1979):  Several government soldiers rebelled against the government near Lake Victoria beginning on January 23, 1964, and Prime Minister Obote requested British military assistance on January 24, 1964. Some 500 British troops were deployed in support of the government on January 25, 1964.  The British government agreed to provide military assistance to the Ugandan government on March 3, 1964. British troops withdrew from the country on August 1, 1964. Prime Minister Obote assumed emergency powers on February 22, 1966, and deposed President Mutesa on March 2, 1966.  Former president Mutesa led a rebellion against the government in Buganda beginning on March 3, 1966. Prime Minister Obote was elected president by the National Assembly on April 15, 1966. Government troops suppressed the rebellion in Buganda on May 28, 1966.  A new constitution went into effect on September 8, 1967. Former president Edward Frederick Mutesa died in exile in London on November 21, 1969.  President Obote survived an attempted assassination on December 19, 1969.  President Obote declared a state-of-emergency and banned opposition political parties on December 20, 1969.  President Obote was deposed in a military coup led by General Idi Amin Dada on January 25, 1971. General Amin appointed himself president-for-life, and President Obote went into exile in Tanzania. Tanzania imposed diplomatic sanctions (diplomatic non-recognition) against the government of General Amin on January 28, 1971.  The governments of Guinea and Somalia imposed diplomatic sanctions (diplomatic non-recognition) against the government of General Amin on January 29, 1971.  President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia imposed diplomatic sanctions (diplomatic non-recognition) against the government of General Amin on February 5, 1971.  The governments of Britain and Ghana provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the government of General Amin on February 5, 1971. Some 10,000 government troops defeated an invasion of some 1,000 supporters of former President Milton Obote from Tanzania on September 15, 1972. The government expelled some 50,000 Asians, including 20,000 citizens of Uganda, from the country in 1972.  The Soviet Union provided military assistance (250 military advisors, military training, and weapons) to the Ugandan government between 1973 and 1979.  Government troops suppressed a military rebellion led by Brig. Charles Arube in Kampala on March 23-24, 1974, resulting in the deaths of several individuals.  The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemned the government on June 4, 1974.  The London-based human rights non-governmental organization, Amnesty International, condemned human rights abuses and some 50,000 killings by the government in a report issued on February 6, 1977.  Government police killed Bishop Janani Luwum, the Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, and two government ministers on February 16, 1977.  Burgess Carr, general-secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), condemned the death of Archbishop Luwum on February 17, 1977.  The U.S. government, World Council of Churches (WCC), and International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemned the death of Archbishop Luwum on February 17, 1977. Government troops killed some 2,000 members of the Lango and Acholi tribes on February 17-27, 1977. On May 17, 1977, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemned President Amin for political murders.  On June 15, 1977, the CON heads of state condemned the Ugandan government for violations of human rights.  On September 9, 1977, fifteen individuals were executed by the government for plotting to assassinate President Amin. The U.S. government imposed economic sanctions (trade embargo) against the government on October 10, 1978.  Some 300,000 individuals were killed, and some 50,000 individuals were displaced as a result of political violence between May 1966 and January 1979.

Conflict Phase (January 20, 1979-April 13, 1979): Ugandan rebels and some 40,000 Tanzanian government troops invaded the country beginning on January 20, 1979.  President Amin referred the matter to the United Nations (UN) secretary-general on January 27, 1979.  President Amin referred the matter to the UN Security Council on February 13, 1979.  The Organization of African Unity (OAU) established a conciliation committee (Central African Republic, Gabon, Gambia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Togo, Tunisia, Zaire, Zambia) headed by the representative from Nigeria.  The OAU conciliation commission unsuccessfully attempted to mediate a cessation of military hostilities from February 21 to March 2, 1979.  President Daniel Moi of Kenya appealed for a ceasefire on February 25, 1979.  The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) provided $4 million in economic assistance to the government in March 1979.  The Organization of Frontline States (OFLS) condemned the government on March 5, 1979.  The Libyan government deployed some 2,500 troops in support of the government beginning on March 4, 1979 (President Amin had requested military assistance on February 25, 1979).  Ugandan exiles met in Moshi in northern Tanzania, and established the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) on March 24-26, 1979. The UNLF formed an eleven-member executive council with Yusuf Lule as chairman, as well as a National Consultative Council (NCC).  Libyan government troops departed Uganda on April 7, 1979.  President Amin’s government was overthrown by 5,000 Tanzanian soldiers and 3,000 Ugandan rebels on April 10, 1979, and Yusufu Lule was proclaimed president by the UNLF on April 13, 1979. The governments of Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia had provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the government on April 12, 1979. Some 3,500 individuals were killed during the conflict, including some 440 Tanzanian soldiers and 200 Libyan soldiers. Some 100,000 individuals were displaced during the conflict.

Post-Conflict Phase (April 14, 1979-February 5, 1981):  The governments of Britain, Ethiopia, and India provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the government of President Lule on April 15, 1979. The European Community (EC) provided humanitarian assistance to the government beginning on April 25, 1979. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the World Food Program (WFP) provided humanitarian assistance to individuals displaced during the conflict beginning in May 1979 (the ICRC mission was ordered out of the country on March 31, 1982).  The Chinese government provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the government on May 2, 1979. The U.S. government lifted economic sanctions (trade embargo) against the government on May 15, 1979. President Lule was dismissed by the NCC on June 20, 1979, and Godfrey Binaisa was appointed president by the NCC on June 21, 1979.  The Tanzanian government provided civilian police assistance (1,000 policemen) to the government beginning on September 30, 1979.  The British government provided civilian police assistance (60 police officers) to the government beginning in October 1979.  The Uganda Freedom Movement (UFM) was established in opposition to the government in 1979.  President Binaisa was deposed by the Military Commission of the UNLF on May 10-11, 1980, and the six-member military commission headed by Paulo Muwanga took control of the government on May 12, 1980.  Milton Obote returned to Uganda from Tanzania on May 27, 1980.  A five-person electoral commission was appointed on July 15, 1980, and registration of voters began on October 6, 1980.  Legislative elections were held on December 10, 1980, and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) won 72 out of 126 seats in the National Assembly. The Democratic Party (DP) won 51 seats in the National Assembly. Milton Obote of the UPC was elected president on December 10, 1980, and he was inaugurated as president on December 15, 1980. The CON sent 70 short-term observers from nine countries led by Ebenezer Deborah of Ghana to monitor the presidential and legislative elections from November 24 to December 18, 1980.  General Yoweri Museveni, leader of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), claimed election fraud. Some 10,000 Tanzanian troops remained in the country until June 30, 1981 (some 620 Tanzanian soldiers were killed during the deployment in Uganda).

Conflict Phase (February 6, 1981-January 26, 1986):  The National Resistance Army (NRA) led by General Yoweri Museveni rebelled against the government of President Obote beginning on February 6, 1981.  The UFM initiated a campaign of political violence against the Ugandan government in April 1981. Former Presidents Godfrey Binaisa and Yusuf Lule established the Uganda Popular Front (UPF) in opposition to the government on January 7, 1982. The London-based human rights NGO, Amnesty International, condemned the government for “extra-legal executions, torture, killings of people in detention, and abductions” on April 15, 1982.  The CON provided military assistance (36 military advisers from Australia, Britain, Canada, Guyana, Jamaica, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, commanded by Colonel J. H. Clavering of Britain) to the government between March 15, 1982 and March 15, 1984.  NRA rebels killed 81 civilians near Kikyusa on May 30, 1983. Government troops killed some 90 individuals in Namugongo on May 25, 1984.  The British government agreed to provide military assistance (military training) to the government on August 17, 1984.  Some 200 North Korean troops were deployed in support of the government on November 16, 1984.  President Obote was overthrown in a military rebellion led by General Bajilio Olara Okello on July 27, 1985, resulting in the deaths of ten individuals.  President Obote fled to Kenya on July 28, 1985. A nine-member military council headed by General Tito Okello Lutwa took control of the government and suspended the constitution on July 29, 1985.  President Daniel Moi of Kenya mediated negotiations between representatives of the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) and the NRA from August 26 to December 17, 1985.  General Okello and General Yoweri Museveni, leader of the NRA, signed the Nairobi Peace Accord on December 17, 1985.  Under the terms of the accord, the UNLA and NRA agreed to a ceasefire and to share government power.  The NRA violated the ceasefire agreement on January 17, 1986, and NRA rebels took control of the government on January 26, 1986.  Some 250,000 individuals, including some 9,000 NRA rebels and 40,000 government soldiers, were killed during the conflict.  At least 750,000 individuals were displaced during the conflict.

Post-Conflict Phase (January 27, 1986-February 28, 1994):  General Yoweri Museveni was sworn in as president on January 29, 1986.  The presidents of Kenya, Rwanda, and Zaire expressed support for the government of President Museveni on January 29, 1986.  Government troops captured Gulu from UNLA rebels on March 9, 1986.  The government suspended political party activity on March 10, 1986.  The heads-of-state of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Zaire jointly expressed support for President Museveni on March 20, 1986.  The Uganda People’s Democratic Movement (UPDM) headed by Eric Otema Allimadi and Lt. Colonel John Angelo Okello began a rebellion against the government in northern Uganda in May 1986.  The Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) began a rebellion against the government in northern Uganda in January 1987.  Some 350 UNLA rebels were killed by government troops near Lira on January 18, 1987.  Andrew Lutaakome Kayiira, leader of the UFM, was assassinated on March 9, 1987.  The government largely suppressed the UNLA rebellion in August 1987. President Museveni and Lt. Colonel Okello of the UPDM signed a peace agreement in Gulu on June 4, 1988.  Eric Otema Allimadi, a leader of UPDM, rejected the peace agreement.  Representatives of the government and UPDM signed a peace agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on July 12, 1990.  The World Bank provided reconstruction assistance to the government between September 11, 1990 and December 31, 2002.  President Yoweri Museveni issued an ultimatum to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony on February 6, 1994.  The ultimatum called on LRA rebels to surrender to government forces within seven days.

Conflict Phase (March 1, 1994-February 23, 2008):  The LRA launched an insurgency against the government on March 1, 1994.  Legislative elections were held on March 28, 1994, and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) won 114 out of 214 seats in the Constituent Assembly.  The United Nations (UN) provided electoral assistance and coordinated some 110 election observers from November 1992 to December 1994.   President Yoweri Museveni appointed Kintu Musoke as prime minister on November 18, 1994.  The Allied Democratic Front (ADF) headed by Jamir Mukulu began a rebellion against the government in 1995.  LRA rebels attacked and killed between 170 and 220 civilians in Gulu district on April 22, 1995.  Government troops killed 16 LRA rebels and 13 civilians near Lokung on August 31, 1995.  The Constituent Assembly adopted a new constitution on September 22, 1995, and the constitution went into effect on October 8, 1995.  President Museveni was re-elected with 74 percent of the vote on May 9, 1996.  The OAU sent observers to monitor the presidential elections, and reported that the elections were free and fair.  Legislative elections were held on June 27, 1996, and the NRM won 156 out of 276 contested seats in the National Assembly.  The UN provided electoral assistance and coordinated the Joint International Observer Group in Uganda (JIOG-Uganda) from February to July 1996.  The CON sent observers to monitor the presidential and legislative elections.  The International Foundation of Election Systems (IFES) sent five observers to monitor the election process from April 28 to June 30, 1996.  LRA rebels killed 130 individuals near Karuma in March 1996, and LRA rebels killed 115 individuals at the Achol Pii refugee camp in northern Uganda on July 12-13, 1996.  The London-based human rights NGO, Amnesty International, condemned the LRA for the attacks against civilians on July 18, 1996.  Some 350 LRA rebels and 285 West Bank Nile Front (WBNF) rebels were killed by government troops in 1996. Some 400 individuals were killed, and some 200,000 individuals were displaced as a result of LRA rebel attacks between January and May 1997.  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) established a mission consisting of some 25 international personnel and 175 local personnel to provide humanitarian assistance to Ugandans displaced during the conflict beginning in June 1997. LRA rebels offered to resume negotiations with the government on February 5, 1998.  ADF rebels attacked Kichwamba and Kabatunda on April 9, 1998, resulting in the deaths of 16 individuals.  Human Rights Watch (HRW) sent a fact-finding mission to Uganda in April 1998. ADF rebels killed some 60 individuals in Kaborole on June 9, 1998. HRW condemned ADF on June 10, 1998 for the attack in Kaborole.  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), CARE, and Oxfam International (OI) provided humanitarian assistance to Ugandans displaced during the conflict. ADF rebels killed five individuals in Bunegeya on September 8, 1999. Government troops and ADF rebels clashed near Bundibugyo on December 10-11, 1999, resulting in the deaths of some 50 rebels, 11 civilians, and nine government soldiers. ADF rebels killed two policemen and one civilian in a national park in western Uganda on December 17, 1999. ADF rebels killed six civilians in the Huyira refugee camp near Bundibugyo on December 22, 1999. Government troops and LRA rebels clashed on December 26-29, 1999, resulting in the deaths of four rebels. LRA rebels killed five civilians in Kitgum district in northern Uganda on December 31, 1999.  The U.S. government condemned the LRA on January 6, 2000. ADF rebels killed 27 individuals near Bundibugyo and Fort Portal on January 7-11, 2000.  Government troops killed 16 ADF rebels in western Uganda on January 25, 2000.  ADF rebels killed five civilians in the village of Habusisi on February 10, 2000.  LRA rebels killed 12 individuals in a refugees camp near Kitgum on March 6, 2000. Ugandans rejected a multiparty political system in a referendum held on June 29, 2000.  The OAU sent four short-term observers headed by Benjamin Godwyll of Ghana to monitor the referendum on June 27-30, 2000.  LRA rebels killed 10 individuals in the district of Kitgum on September 2, 2000.  Government troops killed four supporters of presidential candidate, Colonel Kizza Besigye, in the town of Rukungiri on March 3, 2001.  President Museveni was re-elected with 69 percent of the vote on March 12, 2001.  The CON sent three short-term observers to monitor the presidential elections on March 6-13, 2001.  ADF rebels killed 15 individuals in the town of Kasese on March 17, 2001.  Legislative elections were held on June 26, 2001.  Seven individuals were killed in election-related violence.  LRA rebels killed four civilians in Gulu district on August 28, 2001.  LRA rebels killed some 60 individuals in Agoro hills, southern Sudan on April 26, 2002.  LRA rebels killed 52 individuals in the village of Lapono on October 13, 2002.  President Museveni announced a temporary cessation of military hostilities on March 10, 2003.  LRA rebels killed more than 40 individuals in the Barlonya camp for internally-displaced persons (IDPs) near Lira in northern Uganda on February 5, 2004.  LRA rebels killed as many as 200 civilians in the Barlonya camp near Lira on February 21, 2004.  UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan condemned the massacre at the Barlonya camp.  Government troops killed 30 LRA rebels in Pader district on February 26, 2004.  Government troops killed 55 LRA rebels in Bibia in northern Uganda on March 20, 2004.  LRA rebels killed some 42 civilians in the village of Lokodi on May 20, 2004.  LRA attacked a camp for displaced persons in Apac district on June 9, 2004, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 individuals.  Government troops killed at least 25 LRA rebels in southern Sudan on September 19, 2004.  The government declared a unilateral ceasefire with the LRA rebels on November 15, 2004.  LRA rebels attacked the village of Rejaf in southern Sudan on December 10, 2004, resulting in the deaths of three women and four children.  The government ended its unilateral ceasefire with LRA rebels on December 31, 2004.  The government declared an 18-day truce with LRA rebels in northern Uganda on February 3, 2005, and the truce ended on February 22, 2005.  On April 22, 2005, an opposition political group, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), urged donors to suspend foreign assistance to Uganda.  On April 29, 2005, the British government imposed economic sanctions (cancellation of economic assistance) against the Ugandan government.  The International Criminal Court (ICC) indicted five leaders of the LRA, including Joseph Kony and Vincent Otti, for war crimes and crimes against humanity on July 8, 2005.  Some 92.5 percent of Ugandans approved a multiparty political system in a referendum held on July 28, 2005.  Several opposition groups, including the FDC and the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), boycotted the referendum.  On October 14, 2005, the ICC issued warrants for the arrest of the leader and four commanders of the LRA.  Opposition leader Kizza Besigye was arrested by government police in Kampala on November 14, 2005, but he was ordered released by the High Court on January 2, 2006.  At least one protester was killed by government police in Kampala on November 15, 2005.  LRA rebels ambushed and killed at least 12 individuals near the town of Pader in northern Uganda on November 21, 2005.  As a result of concerns regarding the arrest of the main Ugandan opposition leader, the British government reduced direct foreign assistance to the Ugandan government by $26 million on December 20, 2005.  Government troops killed ten LRA rebels, including senior commander Francis Kapere, in Gulu District on December 24-25, 2005.  Government troops also killed eight civilians in the Lalogi camp near Gulu on December 25-26, 2005.  Two individuals were killed in political violence in Kampala on February 15, 2006.  Legislative elections were held on February 23, 2006, and the NRM won 205 out of 319 seats in the National Assembly.  The FDC won 37 seats in the National Assembly.  President Museveni was re-elected with 59 percent of the vote on February 23, 2006, and he was sworn in for a third term on May 12, 2006.  The European Union (EU) sent nine election experts, eight long-term observers, and 60 short-term observers headed by Max van den Berg of the Netherlands to monitor the elections beginning on January 26, 2006.  The East African Community (EAC) sent thirteen observers to monitor the presidential and legislative elections from February 19 to February 26, 2006.  The CON sent thirteen short-term observers headed by Sir Ketumile Masire of Botswana to monitor the presidential and legislative elections from February 4 to March 3, 2006.  The African Union (AU) sent observers headed by Victor Tonchi of Namibia to monitor the presidential and legislative elections.  Representatives of the government and LRA held negotiations, which were mediated by Vice-President Riek Machar of Southern Sudan, in Juba, Sudan beginning on July 14, 2006.  The LRA declared a unilateral ceasefire on August 4, 2006.  One of the LRA leaders indicted by the ICC, Raska Lukwiya, was killed by government troops on August 12, 2006.  The parties signed a temporary ceasefire agreement in Juba, Sudan on August 26, 2006.  The parties signed another temporary ceasefire agreement in Juba, Sudan on November 1, 2006.  Following the deaths of three LRA rebels by government troops in southern Sudan, the LRA suspended its participation in peace negotiations with the government on November 29, 2006.  Former President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique was appointed as UN Special Envoy for the LRA insurgency in Uganda on December 4, 2006.  The Ugandan government and LRA extended a ceasefire agreement by two months on December 18, 2006.  The LRA agreed to resume peace negotiations with the government on March 14, 2007, and the parties signed a new ceasefire agreement on April 14, 2007.  LRA rebels ambushed and killed seven individuals in northern Uganda on April 30, 2007.  On November 24, 2007, the British government agreed to provide economic assistance (700 million British pounds) to the government of Uganda over a ten-year period.  On February 19, 2008, the parties signed an agreement in Juba, Sudan, which provided for alleged war crimes to be tried in a special court in Uganda as opposed to the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands.  Representatives of the government and LRA signed a permanent ceasefire agreement mediated by the UN special envoy in Juba, Sudan on February 23, 2008.  Some 30,000 individuals were killed during the conflict, and some two million individuals were displaced.

Post-Conflict Phase (February 24, 2008-December 13, 2008):  Representatives of the government and LRA signed an agreement on disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration mediated by the UN special envoy in Juba, Sudan on February 29, 2008.  LRA deputy leader, Okot Odhiambo, and eight other individuals were killed in clashes between LRA factions on April 14, 2008.  The president of the UN Security Council condemned the LRA on October 21, 2008.  LRA leader Joseph Kony refused to sign a peace agreement with the government by the deadline of November 29, 2008.

Conflict Phase (December 14, 2008-present):  Some 300 Ugandan government troops, along with soldiers from the DRC and South Sudan, launched a military offensive (“Operation Lighting Thunder”) against LRA rebel bases located in the Garamba region of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on December 14, 2008.  On December 22, 2008, the president of the UN Security Council condemned the failure of Joseph Kony to signed the peace agreement.  The president of the UN Security Council condemned the LRA on January 16, 2009.  The LRA announced a cessation of military hostilities starting on March 18, 2009.  Government troops began withdrawing from the DRC on March 15, 2009.  Former President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique ended his efforts as UN Special Envoy for the LRA insurgency in Uganda on June 30, 2009.  Government policemen clashed with rioters in Kampala on September 10-13, 2009, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 individuals.  Charles Arop, a senior LRA commander, surrendered to Ugandan government troops in the town of Djabir in the DRC on November 5, 2009.  Bok Abudema, a senior LRA commander, was killed by Ugandan government troops in the Central African Republic on January 1, 2010.  Some 74 individuals, including at least 60 Ugandans, were killed by Somali militant suicide bombers in Kampala on July 12, 2010.  The Ugandan Constitutional Court dismissed treason charges against opposition leader Kizza Besigye and ten other individuals on October 12, 2010.  Legislative elections were held on February 18, 2011, and the NRM won 263 out of 375 seats in the National Assembly.  The FDC won 34 seats in the National Assembly.  President Yoweri Museveni of the NRM was re-elected with 68 percent of the vote on February 18, 2011, and he was sworn in for a fourth term on May 12, 2011.  The CON sent thirteen observers and five staff members led by Dame Billie Miller of Barbados to monitor the legislative and presidential elections from February 10 to February 24, 2011.  The AU sent 29 short-term observers led by Gitobu Imanyara of Kenya to monitor the legislative and presidential elections beginning on February 14, 2011.  The EU sent seven election experts, 34 long-term observers, and 68 short-term observers from 28 countries to monitor the legislative and presidential elections from January 15 to March 10, 2011.  The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), jointly with the EAC and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), sent 70 observers from 14 countries led by Simbi Mubako of Zimbabwe to monitor the legislative and presidential elections beginning on February 12, 2011.  Opposition leader Kizza Besigye was arrested by government policemen on April 28, 2011.  At least two individuals were killed in riots in Kampala on April 28-29, 2011.  On October 12, 2011, some 100 U.S. special operations personnel were deployed in Uganda to assist in training Ugandan military personnel and in combating remaining elements of the LRA in the central African region.  The U.S. mission was known as Operation Observant CompassThe AU Peace and Security Council established the Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord’s Resistance Army (RCI-LRA) on November 22, 2011.  Francisco Caetano José Madeira of Mozambique was appointed as AU Special Envoy to Uganda on November 23, 2011.  On March 24, 2012, the AU launched the military component of the RCI-LRA, the Regional Task Force (RTF), consisting of 5,000 troops from Uganda, South Sudan, Central African Republic, and the DRC.  The RTF of the RCI-LRA was commanded by Colonel Dick Prit Olum of Ugandan with the task of combating the LRA in the region.  RTF troops captured Caesar Acellam, a leader of the LRA, in Central African Republic on May 12, 2012.  The president of the UN Security Council condemned the LRA on June 29, 2012.  Some  2,000 Ugandan troops and 500 South Sudanese troops were officially added to the RTF at a ceremony in Yambia, South Sudan on September 18, 2012.  On October 25, 2012, the Swedish government imposed economic sanctions (suspension of bilateral assistance) against the Ugandan government as a result of allegations of embezzlement of foreign assistance.  On October 25, 2012, the Irish government government imposed economic sanctions (suspension of bilateral economic assistance) against the Ugandan government as a result of allegations of embezzlement of foreign assistance.  On October 31, 2012, the Danish government imposed economic sanctions (suspension of bilateral assistance) against the Ugandan government as a result of allegations of embezzlement of foreign assistance.  On November 16, 2012, the British government imposed economic sanctions (suspension of bilateral economic assistance) against the Ugandan government as a result of allegations of embezzlement of foreign assistance.  On December 1, 2012, the German government imposed economic sanctions (suspension of bilateral assistance) against the Ugandan government as a result of allegations of embezzlement of foreign assistance.  On December 3, 2012, the Norwegian government imposed economic sanctions (suspension of bilateral assistance) against the Ugandan government as a result of allegations of embezzlement of foreign assistance.  On December 4, 2012, the EU imposed economic sanctions (suspension of bilateral assistance) against the Ugandan government as a result of allegations of embezzlement of foreign assistance.  AU RTF troops killed the chief bodyguard of Joseph Kony, a commander known as Binani, in the Central African Republic, on January 18, 2013.  The president of the UN Security Council condemned the LRA and called for an immediate end to the violence in Uganda on May 29, 2013.  U.S. Special Forces transported some 20 Ugandan government troops serving with the AU RTF into Central African Republic on November 22, 2013.  Within one week, Ugandan government troops killed between five and ten LRA rebels, including senior LRA commander Colonel Samuel Kangul.  The president of the UN Security Council condemned the LRA on November 25, 2013.  Nineteen LRA rebels surrendered to AU RTF troops in the Central African Republic on December 6, 2013.  The Ugandan parliament approved a law making homosexual acts punishable by life imprisonment on December 20, 2013.  President Yoweri Museveni signed the anti-gay bill into law on February 24, 2014.  On February 24, 2014, the governments of Denmark, Netherlands, and Norway imposed economic sanctions (suspension of bilateral economic assistance) against the Ugandan government as a result of its implementation of anti-gay legislation.  On February 27, 2014, the World Bank postponed a $90 million loan to the Ugandan government as a result of its implementation of anti-gay legislation.  On March 6, 2014, the Swedish government imposed economic sanctions (suspension of bilateral economic assistance) against the Ugandan government as a result of its implementation of anti-gay legislation.  On March 13, 2014, the U.S. government imposed economic sanctions (suspension of bilateral economic assistance) against the Ugandan government as a result of its implementation of anti-gay legislation.  On June 19, 2014, the U.S. government imposed additional economic sanctions (travel ban on certain Ugandans) and military sanctions (cancellation of a U.S. military-sponsored aviation exercise) against the Ugandan government.  Local militiamen attacked three government police stations and a military barracks in western Uganda on July 5-6, 2014, resulting in the deaths of more than 60 militiamen, five soldiers, three policemen, and nine civilians.  On July 10, 2014, the AU appointed Lt. General Kiprono Tuwei of Kenya as the AU Special Envoy for the LRA insurgency.  The Swedish government lifted economic sanctions (suspension of bilateral economic assistance) against the Ugandan government on July 28, 2014.  The Ugandan Constitutional Court annulled the anti-gay legislation on August 1, 2014.  LRA deputy commander Dominic Ongwen surrendered to U.S. troops in the Central African Republic on January 9, 2015.  Legislative elections were held on February 18, 2016, and the NRM won 293 out of 426 seats in the National Assembly.  The FDC won 36 seats in the National Assembly.  President Yoweri Museveni was re-elected with 61 percent of the vote on February 18, 2016.  The EU sent 10 election experts, 30 long-term observers, and 54 short-term observers led by Eduard Kukan on Slovakia to monitor the presidential and legislative elections from December 28, 2015 to February 25, 2016.  The CON sent 13 short-term observers led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to monitor the presidential and legislative elections from February 11, 2016 to February 20, 2016.  Opposition leader Kizza Besigye was arrested by government police and charged with treason on May 11, 2016.  Yoweri Museveni was inaugurated as president on May 12, 2016.  On July 12, 2016, Kizza Besigye was released on bail pending a hearing on the treason charge.  The U.S. government announced the end of Operation Observant Compass on March 30, 2017.  The same day, Major Michael Omona of the LRA surrendered to Ugandan military forces in the Central African Republic.  On April 19, 2017, the Ugandan government announced the forthcoming withdrawal of its 2,500 troops from the Central African Republic.  More than 100,000 individuals were killed, and more than 400,000 individuals were displaced during the conflict.

Post-Conflict Phase (May 1, 2017-present):

[Sources: Africa Diary, October 15-21, 1979, January 29-February 4, 1981, September 21-29, 1984, January 1-7, 1985, December 24-31, 1985; Africa News, September 29, 1980, December 15, 1980; Africa Contemporary Record (ACR), 1980-1981, 352-377; Africa Research Bulletin (ARB), March 1-31, 1974, February 1-28, 1977, January 1-31, 1979, February 1-28, 1979, March 1-31, 1979, April 1-30, 1979, May 1-31, 1979, June 1-30, 1979, October 1-31, 1979, April 1-30, 1980, May 1-31, 1980, December 1-31, 1980, March 1-31, 1982, April 1-30, 1982, June 1-30, 1983, July 1-31, 1983, June 1-30, 1984, August 15, 1985, February 15, 1986, April 15, 1986, July 15, 1988; African Union (AU), November 23, 2011, September 19, 2012, November 29, 2013, July 10, 2014; Agence France-Presse (AFP), February 13, 2006, October 4, 2011, October 31, 2012; Amnesty International (AI), January 6, 2000; Associated Press (AP), February 25, 1997, September 8, 1999, December 11, 1999, December 13, 1999, January 10, 2000, January 12, 2000, June 30, 2000, September 4, 2000, March 4, 2001, March 16, 2003, March 29, 2003, April 7, 2003; Banks and Muller, 1998, 942-948; Beigbeder, 1994, 242-243; Bercovitch and Jackson, 1997, 200-201; British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), February 4, 2004, February 22, 2004, February 24, 2004, February 28, 2004, March 21, 2004, May 21, 2004, June 4, 2004, June 9, 2004, September 19, 2004, November 14, 2004, December 12, 2004, December 28, 2004, December 31, 2004, February 3, 2005, February 4, 2005, February 22, 2005, April 22, 2005, April 29, 2005, July 27, 2005, July 28, 2005, August 1, 2005, November 14, 2005, November 15, 2005, November 21, 2005, December 20, 2005, December 27, 2005, February 15, 2006, February 16, 2006, February 25, 2006, May 12, 2006, July 14, 2006, August 4, 2006, August 18, 2006, August 26, 2006, August 29, 2006, November 1, 2006, November 29, 2006, December 5, 2006, December 18, 2006, March 14, 2007, April 14, 2007, April 26, 2007, May 2, 2007, June 30, 2007, October 30, 2007, November 24, 2007, February 18, 2008, February 23, 2008, April 10, 2008, April 14, 2008, June 6, 2008, November 29, 2008, December 14, 2008, December 15, 2008, December 21,  2008, March 15, 2009, September 10, 2009, September 11, 2009, September 14, 2009, November 5, 2009, January 2, 2010, July 12, 2010, July 15, 2010, October 12, 2010, February 20, 2011, April 28, 2011, April 29, 2011, May 12, 2011, October 14, 2011, March 24, 2012, October 25, 2012, November 16, 2012, November 20, 2013, June 19, 2014, August 1, 2014, April 19, 2017; Clodfelter, 1992, 1021, 1029-1039; Commonwealth of Nations (CON), March 5, 2001, February 10, 2006, February 8, 2011, February 18, 2011; Decalo, 1976, 173-230; Degenhardt, 1988, 385-386; East African Community (EAC), February 24, 2006; European Union (EU), February 13,  2006, February 20, 2011,  March 10, 2011; Facts on File, March 3-9, 1966, March 17-23, 1966, June 2-8, 1966, January 21-27, 1971, March 30, 1974, June 4, 1977, September 17, 1977, April 13, 1979, April 20, 1979, June 29, 1979, March 15, 2001; Human Rights Watch (HRW), June 10, 1998; International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), October 8, 1997, November 13, 1997; Jessup, 1998, 767-771; Keesing’s Record of World Events, March 21-28, 1964, April 23-30, 1966, February 13-20, 1971, August 7-14, 1971, January 6-12, 1975, June 22, 1979, September 21, 1979, November 28, 1980, February 13, 1981, August 28, 1981, December 10, 1982, December 1985, August 1986, July 1990, April 1994, May 1996, May 1997; Langer, 1972, 1279; New York Times, June 16, 1977, February 23, 2004, October 14, 2005, February 24, 2008, April 11, 2008, February 20, 2011, October 14, 2011, October 17, 2011, March 23, 2012, April 29, 2012, May 13, 2012, January 21, 2013, November 21, 2013, February 19, 2016, February 21, 2016; Panafrican News Agency (PANA), June 27, 2000, June 28, 2000, June 29, 2000, June 30, 2000, November 23, 2011; Reuters, February 5, 1998, December 17, 1999, December 22, 1999, December 29, 1999, December 31, 1999, January 6, 2000, January 11, 2000, January 26, 2000, February 10, 2000, March 7, 2000, June 30, 2000, March 4, 2001, March 14, 2001, March 18, 2001, October 14, 2002, November 21, 2002, November 8, 2003, February 23, 2006, October 14, 2011, December 1, 2012, December 4, 2012, December 3, 2013, December 20, 2013, February 24, 2014, February 25, 2014, February 27, 2014, March 6, 2014, March 13, 2014, March 24, 2014, June 19, 2014, July 6, 2014, July 7, 2014, July 8, 2014, July 28, 2014, February 20, 2016, April 19, 2017; The Monitor (Kampala), September 4, 2000, April 30, 2002; Tillema, 1991, 104; United Nations (UN), March 23, 2012, September 18, 2012; Voice of America (VOA), October 31, 2012, April 3, 2013, May 2, 2013; Washington Post, February 26, 2006.]

Selected Bibliography

Cooper, Laurie and Daniel Stroux. 1996. “International Election Observation in Uganda: Compromise at the Expense of Substance,” Africa Spectrum, vol. 31 (2), pp. 201-209.

Kasfir, Nelson. 2005. “Guerrillas and Civilian Participation: The National Resistance Army in Uganda, 1981-1986,” The Journal of Modern African Studies, vol. 43 (2), pp. 271-296.

Lofchie, Michael F. 1972. “The Uganda Coup – Class Action by the Military,” The Journal of Modern African Studies, vol. 10 (1), pp. 19-35.

Omara-Otunnu, Amii. 1987. Politics and the Military in Uganda, 1890-1985. London: Macmillan Press.

Southall, Aidan. 1975. “General Amin and the Coup: Great Man or Historical Inevitability,” The Journal of Modern African Studies,” vol. 13 (1), pp. 85-105.

Tindigarukayo, Jimmy K. 1988. “Uganda, 1979-1985: Leadership in Transition.” Journal of Modern African Studies 26 (no.4): 607-622.