Uganda: A militia group called "Arrow" that is organized by the government and is fighting rebels together with the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UDPF) (2002-February 2004)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 10 February 2004 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | UGA42362.E |
| Reference | 4 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Uganda: A militia group called "Arrow" that is organized by the government and is fighting rebels together with the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UDPF) (2002-February 2004), 10 February 2004, UGA42362.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/41501c6b2a.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Various reports refer to Arrow also known as "Arrow Boys" (Africa Confidential 26 Sept. 2003, 3; Africa Research Bulletin 30 Sept. 2003, 15463), as a militia group recruited and trained by the Ugandan government to support the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) in their fight against the Lord' Resistance Army (LRA) (ibid; Africa Confidential 26 Sept. 2003, 3; ACT 26 Aug. 2003; IRIN 28 Jan. 2004).
Led by Mosa Echuaru and Sam Otai, both former members of the rebel Uganda People's Army, the Arrow group was initiated in June 2003 in response to LRA extended attacks in northern regions (ACT 26 Aug. 2003; BBC 28 Sept. 2003). Estimated to have 11,000 members (Africa Confidential 26 Sept. 2003, 3; Africa Research Bulletin 30 Sept. 2003, 15463), a 16 August 2003 Action by Church Together (ACT) report stated that Arrow militias are "volunteer fighters from the old Teso rebel army and the Uganda people's Army, which made peace with the government in early 1990."
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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 additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Action by Churches Together (ACT). 26 August 2003. "ACT Alert Uganda - 1/03 Lord Resistance Army (LRA) Attacks in Katakwi District." Africa Confidential [London]. 26 September 2003. Vol. 44, No 19. "Uganda. In Come The Vigilantes: the 'Arrow Boys' Are Doing Better Than the Army in the War Against the LRA."
Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 30 September 2003. Vol. 40, No 9. "Uganda. Arming the Militia: Enlisting the Help of Group Like the "Arrow Boys" Could Have Disastrous Consequences."
BBC News. 28 September 2003. "Rebels Strike in Eastern Uganda." United Nations. Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN). 28 January 2003. "Uganda: The 18-year Old War That Refuses To Go Away." Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Confidential
Africa Research Bulletin
Dialog
IRB Databases
Jeune Afrique/L'intelligent
Mondes rebelles. 2002.
Resource Centre country file. Uganda
Websites, including
Africatime
Allafrica
Amnesty International
BBC Africa
European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI)
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
Indian Ocean Newsletter
MISNA
ReliefWeb.
