Due to the 20 year war waged by the Lord’s resistance Army in Northern Uganda, many people became victims of landmines, Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) and Unexploded Ordinances (UXOs) left in the region by insurgency. These objects have left many of their victims disabled, needing medical support and with no means to earn a living.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as part of the Integrated National Mine programme gears its work towards supporting these victims and the organisations that help them.

Victim assistance as one of the pillars of the Integrated National Mine Action Programme is critical in the sense that the landmine/ERW/UXO survivors must be part of the development of the country. It is only by addressing their medical and socio-economic needs that this development can be achieved.

In an effort to step up its work in victim assistance, UNDP Uganda recently handed over items to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) to support their work with victims of landmines/Explosive Remnants of War (ERW)/Unexploded Ordinances (UXO) in various conflict affected districts of Northern Uganda. 

The items which include vocational, agricultural, medical and sports materials were handed over to the Director for Social Protection, Mr. George Bekunda, who received them on behalf of the Ministry.

During the handover ceremony held on 6th January 2010 at the Ministry’s offices, Mr. Bekunda thanked UNDP for its continuous support. He said that these items would be a big help in pushing the ministry’s work forward in those areas of Northern Uganda that were adversely affected by the LRA rebellion. He also mentioned that the Mine Action Victim Assistance Programme is one of the programmes that has directly supported persons with disability.

He asked UNDP to continue supporting them particularly for those districts that had not been included this time round. The districts currently being covered are Pader, Amuru, Lira, and Oyam.

The items handed over included hoes, pangas, bee hives and ox ploughs to support agriculture, carpentry kits which include saws to support vocational trades such as carpentry.

Apart from giving these items, UNDP has also engaged eight vocational institutions to develop livelihood and business skills of the survivors. Three medical institutions have also been approached to undertake the complete physiotherapy and occupational training for the survivors. For survivors with medical conditions, services are also on hand to ensure that victim assistance activities are carried out, already a total of 334 survivors have been targeted to receive surgical services.

A brand-new Toyota Hilux Double Cabin was also handed over to the ministry to ensure that victims assistance activities are carried out and the landmine survivors are given the necessary services towards their transformation to become positive contributors to their communities and the country as a whole despite their circumstances.

“UNDP is happy with its collaboration with the MGLSD and would like to commend the minsters, the permanent secretary and its entire staff for the commitment and flexibility it has shown in doing what is necessary for the survivors of landmines, ERW and UXOs.” Mr. Jose Neil Manzano of UNDP said during the ceremony.

At the same ceremony, UNDP also handed over 4 motorcycles to the Ministry to support the Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) project. The motorcycles it is hoped will proved the much needed mobility to the district staff such as Community Development Officers (CDOs) to continue their work in stopping gender based violence with ease.