Uganda: A group called the Kalangala Action Plan; its activities and organizational structure; whether it is affiliated with the government

Limited information on the Kalangala Action Plan (KAP) was found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. References to the KAP describe it as a paramilitary (The Monitor 6 Jan. 2003; ibid. 11 Mar. 2003), extrajudicial (Country Reports 2002, 31 Mar. 2003, sec. 1d) and militant (The East African 5 Mar. 2001) security force (HRW 2003, 88) that is led by Major Kakooza Mutale, the Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs (Country Reports 2002, 31 Mar. 2003, sec. 1d; The Monitor 6 Jan. 2003; The East African 21 Apr. 2003).

The KAP, used during political campaigns and elections to "sway votes and harass citizens" (Country Reports 2002 31 Mar. 2003, 1d), has been accused of using violence against those who do not support President Yoweri Museveni (The East African 21 Apr. 2003).

Dr. Kiiza Besigye, who ran against President Museveni in the 2001 presidential elections, accused the KAP of "torturing" his supporters (ibid. 5 Mar. 2001). A Parliamentary Select Committee tasked by the Ugandan government to review reports of violence during elections held in 2001 and 2002 also accused the KAP of "'terrorising and intimidating Col. Kizza Besigye's and opposition parliamentary candidates' supporters'" (The Monitor 3 Oct. 2002). In addition, Human Rights Watch (HRW) claims that both suspected political opposition supporters and civilians were arbitrarily arrested and detained by government security forces, including the KAP who, "in many cases," carried out arrests while wearing civilian clothes with no identifying insignia (2003, 88).

In response to the Parliamentary Select Committee's report, President Museveni reportedly stated that the KAP is a "'political action group of the [National Resistence] Movement which helps in gathering intelligence in disturbed areas'" (New Vision 23 Apr. 2002).

Additional information on the KAP including its organizational structure could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2002. 31 March 2003. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. [Accessed 13 June 2003]

The East African [Nairobi]. 21 April 2003. "Uganda: Keep Army Out of Politics, Say Besigye's Reformists." (Africa News/NEXIS)

_____. 5 March 2001. David Kaiza. "Brute Force, Not Merit, Could Carry the Day." [Accessed 13 June 2003]

Human Rights Watch (HRW). Human Rights Watch World Report 2003. [Accessed 4 July 2003]

The Monitor [Kampala]. 11 March 2003. Sheila C. Kulubya. "When You Sue Gov't and Lose, You're Made to Pay Heavily." [Accessed 13 June 2003]

_____. 6 January 2003. "Uganda: A Year of Operations; First Iron Fist, then Wembley." (Africa News/NEXIS)

_____. 3 October 2002. "Uganda: Committee on Violence Failed Its Homework." (Africa News/NEXIS)

New Vision [Kampala]. 23 April 2002. "Uganda: Museveni Links Kony to Besigye." (Africa News/NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential

IRB Databases

NEXIS

Internet sites, including:

Africa Online

Amnesty International

BBC Africa

The Daily Nation

Government of Uganda

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)

World News.com

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