Peace Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uganda and the National Rescue Front II (Yumbe Peace Agreement)

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Country/entity: Uganda
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Peace Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uganda and the National Rescue Front II (Yumbe Peace Agreement)
Date: 24 Dec 2002
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Ugandan Conflicts (1970 - )
Uganda has long experienced tensions along ethnic, religious and national lines. On independence in 1962, Ugandan politics were defined by smaller monarchies, among which the Southern Kingdom of Buganda dominated the national sphere. Resistance to this system was the campaign platform of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) led by Milton Obote, who won the 1962 elections. Tension between the Buganda’s ruler King Mutesa II and Obote with his then-ally Idi Amin, led to Obote changing the constitution, abolishing the monarchic system and thus, centralizing power. However, a split between Obote and Amin eventually led to a military coup d’état in 1970, which brought Amin the presidency where he instituted his genocidal regime.

Despite economic collapse, President Amin was only removed from power following a failed attempt at invading Tanzania in 1979, whereby the Tanzanian counter-attack alongside forces loyal to former-President Obote toppled Amin. Authoritarianism continued under the new regime, after Obote won the 1980 elections under dubious circumstances, and in 1985, Obote was once again deposed in a coup. Out of the fray, Yoweri Museveni and the National Resistance Army (NRA) captured the presidency in 1986 and began instituting economic and democratic reforms.

Resistance to Museveni, however, continued with various insurgencies across the country including by former-supporters of President Obote or President Amin. Other insurgencies based on chiliastic beliefs based on the return of Jesus Christ, most notably the Holy Spirit Movement, fought in the late 1980s before splintering into several smaller factions. One such faction later became the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony. Many of the 22 or more insurgency groups estimated to contain more than 40,000 insurgents, operate from across the Ugandan border and are based in either South Sudan or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Uganda peace process
Parties: Rt. Hons ERIYA KATEGAYA, The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minster of Internal Affairs For and On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Uganda.

Maj. Ge. ALI A. BAMUZE, Chairman Uganda National Rescue Front II High Command For and on behalf of the Uganda National Rescue Front II.
Third parties: Signed in the presence of Maj. Gen. Yoweri Museveni (for Government) and LT. Col. Amis Akuaku (UNRF II)
Description: The Peace Agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Uganda and the National Rescue Front II (UNRF II) (also known as the Yumbe Peace Agreement) is a formal ceasefire agreement committed to peace, stability and development in West Nile in particular and in Uganda at large. Key provisions include, dissolution of UNRF II and the demobilisation, reintegration and resettlement of ex-combatants.

Agreement document: UG_021224_Yumbe.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: Groups→Children/youth→Substantive
Page 5, Article VI National Issue
...
8. The Government shall facilitate the One Hundred and Thirty-Five (135) Child Soldiers who are interested in going back to school.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Rhetorical
Page 7, Article VIII Miscellaneous

...

3. Government undertakes to facilitate the return of all UNRF II ex-combatants
currently living in Juba and Khartoum, Sudan as soon as possible.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: Gender→Men and boys→Gender neutral wording
Page 5, Article IV Integration of Selected UNRF II Officers and Men into the UPDF,

1. Immediately after the signing of this Agreement, UNRF II ex-combatants who opt and qualify to join the UPDF shall be integrated into the UPDF

2. It is agreed that the ex-combatants referred to in Article IV (1) above shall be issued with their Amnesty certificates after the signing of this Agreement and thereafter their initial resettlement packages shall be made available as soon as practicable.

3. The UNRF II officers who wish and qualify to join UPDF shall be allowed to retain their current ranks subject to passing appropriate examinations set and conducted by the UPDF.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: Power sharing→Military power sharing→Merger of forces
ARTICLE IV 1
INTEGRATION OF SELECTED UNRF II OFFICERS AND MEN INTO THE UPDF

1. Immediately after the signing of this Agreement, UNRF II ex-combatants who opt and qualify to
join the UPDF shall be integrated into integrated into the UPDF.

2. It is agreed that the ex-combatants referred to in Article IV
(1) above shall be issued with their Amnesty certificates after the signing ofthis Agreement and
thereafter their initial resettlement packages shall be made available as soon as practicable.
...
Power sharing→Military power sharing→Joint command structures
ARTICLE IV 1
INTEGRATION OF SELECTED UNRF II OFFICERS AND MEN INTO THEUPDF

3. The UNRF II officers who wish and qualify to join UPDF
shall be allowed to retain their current ranks subject to passing appropriate examinations set and
conducted by the UPDF.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1, Preamble,

WE, the Parties to this Agreement:

... CONSCIOUS that this instability has impaired development in West Nile and in Uganda at large;

Page 4, Article V, Development in West Nile

1. UNRF II recognizes and appreciates on-going Government programmes in West Nile and calls upon Government to expediate their completion.

2. The Government recognizes the development programmes identified by the UNRF II as priority areas as reflected in the proceedings of the peace talks and agrees to embark on their implementation as soon as practicable.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: Article VIII, Miscellaneous

...

2. The Parties further recognize and appreciate the invaluable role played by the Government's development partners.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
The Yumbe Peace Agreement deals with the cessation of hostilities in its entirety.

Page 2, Article I Cessation of Hostilities,

ARTICLE I

CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES

With effect from the signing of this agreement this 24th day of December 2002, all forms of hostilities between the Parties to this Agreement totally, permanently, and unequivocally cease.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→DDR programmes
Page 2, Article II Disarmament

1. Immediately after the signing of this agreement the UNRF II shall hand over all arms and ammunitions in its possession together with their inventory to the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Force (UPDF).

Page 3, Art III, Dissolution of UNRF II and the Demobilisation, Reintegration and Resettlement of Ex-Combatants

2. Demobilisation and reintegration of the ex-combatants who are to resettle in civilian life shall be done concurrently within thirty (30) days after the signing of this Agreement. During that period the ex-combatants shall stay at Bidi-Bidi Camas the Amnesty Commission processes their Amnesty Certificates and initial resettlement packages.

3. Government shall provide a sum of UGX 4,200,000,00 (Uganda Shilling Four Billion and Two Hundred Million) for the resettleme nt of all UNRF II ex-combatants.

4. The sum stated in Article III(3) above shall be made available within one year from the date of signing this Agreement. This period may however be extended if the circumstances relating to the mobilization of funds so warrant.

Page 5,

6. The UNRF II Chairman shall further nominate sixteen (16) members of the UNRF II not covered in Article III (5) above whom Government shall assist to find gainful employment.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 3, Art III, Dissolution of UNRF II and the Demobilisation, Reintegration and Resettlement of Ex-Combatants

1. With effect from the signing of this Agreement, the UNRF II shall for all intents and purposes stand dissolved.

See further DDR provisions.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: Transitional justice→Amnesty/pardon→Amnesty/pardon proper
Page 3, Article III Dissolution of UNRF II and the Demobilization, Reintegration and Resettlement of Ex-Combatants

...

2. Demobilisation and reintegration of the ex-combatants who are to resettle in civilian life shall be done concurrently within thirty (30) days after the signing of this Agreement. During that period the ex-combatants shall stay at Bidi-Bidi Camp as the Amnesty Commission processes their Amnesty Certificates and initial resettlement packages.

Page 5, Article IV Integration of Selected UNRF II Officers and Men into the UPDF

...

2. It is agreed that the ex-combatants referred to in Article IV(1) above shall be issued with their Amnesty Certificates after the signing of this Agreement and thereafter their initial resettlement packages shall be made available as soon as practicable.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: Page 7, Article VII Implementation

1. All disbursements relating to this Agreement shall be made by Government and other interested parties.

2. On dissolution of the UNRF II, the former members of the Front shall form a Committee through which they shall liaise with Government on matters relating to the implementation of this Agreement.

3. The Government shall whenever appropriate grant clearance for the Committee to solict for funds from third parties to cover its operation expenses.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: Available at: https://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/UG_021224_Agreement%20between%20GOU%20and%20UNRF%20II.pdf

THE PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA AND THE UGANDA NATIONAL RESCUE FRONT II

THIS PEACE AGREEMENT is made between the GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA and the UGANDA NATIONAL RESCUE FRONT Il, the Parties, pursuant to the Ceasefire Agreement signed between the Parties on the 15th day of June 2002 and to the Peace Talks held from 16th December 2002 to 22nd December 2002 at State Lodge, Arua

WE, the Parties to this Agreement:

AWARE that Uganda in general and West Nile in particular has for a long time suffered political, social and economic instability;

CONSCIOUS that this instability has impaired development in West Nile and in Uganda at large;

RECALLING the desire of both the people and the Parties hereto for peace in the region;

MINDFUL that any continuation of armed conflict shall perpetually prevent development in the region;

BELIEVING that the process of restoring peace, stability and development is now irreversible, as reflected in the spirit of mutual cooperation, trust, and goodwill between the Parties at the peace talks:

NOW DO SOLEMNLY PROCLAIM for and in the name of peace, stability and development in West Nile in particular and in Uganda at

large, the urgent necessity:

• of bringing to a speedy and permanent end of armed conflict in all it's fonns and manifestations.

• of bringing total peace, security and good order throughout the region.

AND TO THIS END DECLARE AND AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

ARTICLE I

CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES

With effect from the signing of this agreement this 24th day of December 2002, all fornis of hostilities between the Parties to this Agreement totally, pennanently, and unequivocally cease.

ARTICLE II

DISARMAMENT

Immediately after the signing of this agreement the UNRF II shall hand over all arms and ammunitions in its possession together with their inventory to the Uganda Peoples' Defense Forces (UPDF).

ARTICLE III

DISSOLUTION OF UNRF Il AND THE DEMOBILISATION, REINTEGRATION AND RESETTLEMENT OF EXCOMBATANTS

1. With effect from the signing of this Agreement, the UNRF II shall for all intents and purposes stand dissolved.

2. Demobilisation and reintegration of the ex-combatants who are to resettle in civilian life shall be done concurrently within thirty (30) days after the signing of this Agreement.

During that period the ex-combatants shall stay at Bidi-Bidi Camp as the Amnesty Commission processes their Amnesty Certificates and initial resettlement packages.

3. Government shall provide a sum of UGX 4,200,000,000 (Uganda Shillings Four Billion and Two Hundred Million) for the resettlement of all UNRF II ex-combatants.

4. The sum stated in Article III (3) above shall be made available within one year from the date of signing this Agreement.

This period may however be extended if the circumstances relating to the mobilization of funds so warrant.

ARTICLE V

DEVELOPMENT IN WEST NILE

1. UNRF II recognizes and appreciates on-going Government programmes in West Nile and calls upon Government to expedite their completion.

2. The Government recognizes the development programmes identified by the UNRF II as priority areas as reflected in the proceedings of the peace talks and agrees to embark on their implementation as soon as practicable.

3. The Government shall in conjunction with the Committee referred to in Article VII (2) herein convene the stakeholders' conference mentioned in Article VIII of the Ceasefire Agreement within four (4) months from the date of signing this Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

NATIONAL ISSUES

UNRF II recognizes steps taken by Government towards peaceful resolution of conflicts in other parts of the country and calls upon all other armed groups to abandon war and embark on peaceful resolution of conflicts.

5. The UNRF II Chairman shall nominate ten (10) members of UNRF II whom Government shall :

facilitate to pursue further education.

6. The UNRF II Chairman shall further nominate sixteen (16) members of the UNRF Il not covered in Article III (5) above whom Government shall assist to find gaμiful employment.

7. The UNRF II Chairman shall be provided with such assistance, as the Government shall deein appropriate.

8. Government shall facilitate the One Hundred and Thirty-Five (135) Child Soldiers who are interested in going back to school.

ARTICLE IV

INTEGRATION OF SELECTED UNRF II OFFICERS AND MEN INTO THE UPDF

1. Immediately after the signing of this Agreement, UNRF II ex-combatants who opt and qualify to join the UPDF shall be integrated into integrated into the UPDF.

2. It is agreed that the ex-combatants referred to in Article IV (1) above shall be issued with their Amnesty certificates after the signing of this Agreement and thereafter their initial resettlement packages shall be made available as soon as practicable.

3. The UNRF II officers who wish and qualify to join UPDF shall be allowed to retain their current ranks subject to passing appropriate examinations set and conducted by the UPDF.

ARTICLE V

DEVELOPMENT IN WEST NILE

1. UNRF II recognizes and appreciates ongoing Government programmes in West Nile and calls upon Government to expedite their completion.

ARTICLE VI

NATIONAL ISSUES

ARTICLE VII

IMPLEMENTATION

1. All disbursements relating to this Agreement shall be made by Government and other interested parties.

2. On dissolution of the UNRF II, the former members of the Front shall form a Committee through which they shall liaise with Government on matters relating to the implementation of this Agreement.

3. The Government shall whenever appropriate grant clearance for the Committee to solicit for funds from third parties to cover its

operational expenses.

4. The Government agrees to provide office space for the Committee.

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

1. The Parties recognize and appreciate the invaluable role played by the Aringa-Obongi Peace Initiative Committee (AROPIC) in the peace process and llccordingly agree that a sum of UGX 200,000,000/= (Uganda Shillings Two Hundred Million) be extended to AROPIC to cover outstanding bills and winding-up expenses.

2. The Parties further recognize and appreciate the invaluable role played by the Government's development partners.

3. Government undertakes to facilitate the return of all UNRF II ex-combatants currently living in Juba and Khartoum, Sudan as soon as possible.