The Agreement between the Uganda Government and the Lord's Resistance Army ('Gulu Ceasefire')

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Country/entity: Uganda
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: The Agreement between the Uganda Government and the Lord's Resistance Army ('Gulu Ceasefire')
Date: 2 Feb 1994
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: National Resistance Minister of State, Resident in the North, Hon. Mrs Betty Atuku Bogombe with National Resistance Army 4th Division Commander Commander Colonel Samuel Wassawa on the one hand and the and the Lord's Resistance Army leader H.H. Joseph Kony and his High Command on the other.
Third parties: In the presence and witnessed by: Hon. Mrs. Betty Bigombe, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Resident in the North, the District Administrator, Gulu, District Administrator, Kitgum, Mr Yusuf Okwonga Adek, Mr Okot Ogoni, Mr Okidi, Angol, Mr George William Lugai.
Description: The agreement is pursuant to the previous peace initiatives as a means of finding a non-violent solution in the Northern Uganda districts of Gulu, Kitgum and heighbouring areas. Amounts to a short ceasefire agreement and a commitment to look for peace. With effect from 14:00 hours on the 2nd day of February 1994, hostilities between the two parties to this agreement formally cease forthwith.

Agreement document: UG_940202_The Gulu Ceasefire.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Main category: Page 1, Appendix A, To regroup all their forces, and this shall equally incorporate the duty of, Article 1,
... (c) Documenting men and women under LRA control;

Women, girls and gender

Participation: No specific mention.
Equality: No specific mention.
Particular groups of women: No specific mention.
International law: No specific mention.
New institutions: No specific mention.
Violence against women: No specific mention.
Transitional justice: No specific mention.
Institutional reform: Institutional reform→DDR, army, parastatal or rebel forces
Page 2, Appendix A: Pursuant to the ceasefire Agreement signed on 2nd February 1994, the Lord’s Resistance Army undertakes: 1. To regroup all their forces, and this shall equally incorporate the duty of:
...(c) Documenting men and women under LRA control.
Development: No specific mention.
Implementation: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Agreement between the Uganda Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA)

(Gulu Ceasefire)

2 February 1994

This ceasefire agreement is made pursuant to the peace initiatives conducted during diverse dates between May 1992 and January 1994, as a means of finding a nonviolent solution in the Northern Uganda districts of Gulu, Kitgum and neighbouring areas in the region, between National Resistance Minister of State, Resident in the North, Hon.

Mrs Betty Atuku Bigombe with National Resistance Army 4th Division Commander Colonel Samuel Wasswa on the one hand and the Lord’s Resistance Army leader H.H. Joseph Kony and his High Command on the other.

We,

The National Resistance Army and the Lord’s Resistance Army (hereinafter referred to as ‘NRA’ and ‘LRA’ respectively), parties to this agreement,

Appreciating the necessity for viable and sustainable peace in this region of Uganda that has been bedevilled by insecurity for a long time now,

Recalling the desire of both the people and the government for peace in the region and mindful of endless conflicts that fail to improve the plight of our people in the region,

Convinced that any continuation of armed conflict prevents development in this region,

Welcoming the commitment to, and participation in, the search for peace in the region by the government of the National Resistance Movement and the Lord’s Resistance Army leadership,

Do now solemnly proclaim for and in the name of peace in the region, the urgent necessity:

Of bringing to a most speedy end, armed conflicts in all its forms and manifestation.

Of restoring total peace, security and good order throughout the region and laying groundwork for that goal.

And to this end declare and agree that:

After the signing of this agreement there shall be formalized a ceasefire on the following terms:

With effect from 14:00 hours on the 2nd day of February 1994, hostilities between the two parties to this agreement formally cease forthwith.

Atrocities in the form of abductions, highway robberies, ambushes, real and all their disguised forms and manifestations cease henceforth.

All subsequent peace negotiations between the government and the Lord’s Resistance Army will be channelled through and handled by the Office of the Minister of State, Resident in the North and that of the 4th Division Commander, National Resistance Army.

In the event of violation(s) of the ceasefire, punishment will be meted out to the individual member of the force concerned, accruing to the rules of the force and the laws of the country.

This ceasefire agreement will be implemented according to the programme of schedule attached herewith.

In witness whereof the parties hereunto have, through their representatives, set their hands at Lacekocot this 2nd day of February 1994.

Col. Samuel WASSWA

Division Commander 4th Division

National Resistance Army

George Komakech

OMONA Field Commander

Lord’s Resistance Army

In the presence and witnessed by:

Hon. Mrs. Betty BIGOMBE

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Resident in the North

The District Administrator, Gulu

The District Administrator, Kitgum

Mr Yusuf Okwonga ADEK

Mr Okot OGONI

Mr Okidi ANGOL

Mr George William LUGAI

APPENDIX A CEASEFIRE IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

Pursuant to the ceasefire Agreement signed on 2nd February 1994, the Lord’s Resistance Army undertakes:

1. To regroup all their forces, and this shall equally incorporate the duty of:

(a) Locating and assembling casualties and other LRA members in sickbays;

(b) Collecting all LRA military equipment and hardware from where they were hidden;

(d) Upon orderly regrouping, LRA will inform government and the 4th Division Commander for the purpose of seeking area of assembly.

2. ( a) To, in conjunction with district authorities of Gulu and Kitgum, conduct public rallies in all counties for the purpose of explaining the peace process to the public.

During this process two elders shall be nominated from each Division for the purpose of performing traditional cleansing rituals.

(b) LRA leader H.H. Joseph Kony will consequently thereafter meet all the nominated elders to draw a programme for the cleansing rituals.

Delegate members from both sides for the peace talks and discussing modalities for the peace accord.

To expeditiously conclude the peace process within five months from the date the ceasefire agreement becomes effective, LRA agrees that mobilisation of elders and performing rituals shall take place within two months from now and the final peace talks to take place within one month before the conclusion of the process.

A ceasefire Implementation Committee constituted by both sides shall periodically review progress on all points every month.

If however not all is achieved within the stipulated time frame, both sides will review the time schedule with a possibility of an extension of one month within which all will have been accomplished.