The Pece Agreement

(3 June 1988)

THE PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UGANDA GOVERNMENT AND THE UGANDA PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT

This AGREEMENT is made pursuant to the various Peace Talks and Negotiations held between the Government of Uganda and the Uganda People's Democratic Movement at GULU and STATE HOUSE ENTEBBE.

We, the GOVERNMENT OF UGANDA and UGANDA PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT (UPDM), the Parties to the Agreement:

AWARE: that Uganda has undergone Persistent Political, Social and Economic turmoil since Independence in 1962;

CONSCIOUS: that this period of turmoil has resulted into retrogression in all the various aspects of our lives and National Affairs;

CONVINCED: that the aforesaid turmoil and its ramifications is a result of the wrong politics adopted and pursued by the past successive Governments during the said period;

BELIEVING: that this NEGATIVE development can only be arrested, checked and REVERSED by the adoption of a correct political line, proper economic policies and the observance of the cardinal principles of the Rules of Law, to wit:

a). The respect for the Dignity of the Human person, the Fundamental freedom and Liberty, and the basic Human Rights of all Ugandans without distinction or discrimination on whatever grounds; b). The respect for justice to all, AND obedience to the will of the people of Uganda in the running of National Affairs; UNITED IN PURPOSE: in the search for lasting peace and the attainment of a just society and social progress in our Motherland Uganda;

NOW DO SOLEMNLY PROCLAIM IN THE NAME OF UNITY, JUSTICE, DEMOCRACY, PEACE AND PROGRESS IN UGANDA the need: 1. To bring immediate and lasting peace to Uganda;

2. To bring an end to the social retrogression occasioned by the wrong politics of the past;

3. To establish and sustain a system of Government acceptable to and endorsed by the people of Uganda;

AND IN THIS PURSUIT DECLARE AND AGREE THAT:

A. POLITICS (1) Government shall expand and complete the formation and constitution of the NRC before the end of 1988, in accordance with the stipulated NRM Programme, and Section 2(iii) (a) and (b) of Legal Notice No. 1 of 1986.

For the avoidance of doubt, UPDM shall be accorded appropriate representation in the NRC in accordance with the provisions of Legal Notice No. 1 aforesaid, and also in the Government Executive.

(2) The expanded and fully constituted National Resistance Council shall, within the period of tenure in office of the present Government as stipulated in Section 14 of Legal Notice No. 1 of 1986, resolve itself into a Constituent Assembly and draw up a Popular National Constitution that shall safeguard the Interest and Fundamental Rights of the people of Uganda.

Provided that in the making of the Constitution and the economic situation in the country allowing, a National Referendum shall be conducted to enable the people of Uganda to decide on the issue of Party System and system of Government that shall replace the present Interim Government.

(3) The Interim Government shall call for and organize free and fair General Elections within the period of its tenure of office.

(4) Government shall continue and complete the exercise of election of Resistance Councils and Committees from village to District level in war ravaged areas, as a matter of priority.

(5) In the Interim Period, while the appointment of Cabinet Ministers and their Deputies remains the prerogative of the President, the composition thereof shall reflect the National interest of the People of Uganda.

B. MILITARY

(1) All hostilities between Government and UPDM shall cease forthwith upon the signing of this Peace Agreement.

(2) Upon the signing of this Peace Agreement the Implementation Committee herein established shall ensure that Government releases all the combatants and non combatants arrested as a result of the hostilities between the UPDM and Government, and are currently being held in various Prisons and Detention Centres.

(3) The UPDA Officers and men who wish to continue with Military service and qualify shall be absorbed and integrated into the NRA and shall participate at all levels of the Army depending on their experiences, ability and merits and shall not be victimised, discriminated against, frustrated, or maligned in any way at all.

Provided that while the absorption and integration exercise is going on any charge or allegation that is brought against any officer or soldier of UPDA or NRA shall first be investigated by the Implementation Committee to determine the genuineness of the charge or allegation and decide on the course of action to be taken thereon.

(4) All UPDA Officers and men who desire to Join the Productive Unit of the NRA shall initially be sent to Pabo Military Farm, and later to such other Productive Units appropriate for the attainment of their individual skills, trade or needs.

(5) The UPDA Officers and men who opt NOT to continue with Military Service shall be free to do so, and shall within the National Programme be assisted either to pursue education in schools and Institutions of Higher learning, or be adequately assisted and provided with the means to settle and resume civilian life.

Provided that the safeguards contained in the proviso to paragraph (3) of part B hereof shall apply.

(6) All UPDA School-going-age children (Kadogos) shall be resettled and provided with education in Military Schools.

(7) All civil servants who due to the hostilities between UPDM and Government have not been able to carry out their duties shall be considered for reinstatement in accordance with Public Service Regulations.

(8) The National Army shall be balanced and drawn proportionately from all Districts of Uganda and shall guard against all forms of discrimination, sectarian politics, misuse of the Armed Forces for the attainment of personal political ends and shall uphold the Constitution in force.

(9) After the Interim period the elected Parliament shall determine the name of the minimum entry qualifications for the National Army.

(10) A Military Implementation Committee comprised of representatives of UPDA or NRA is hereby established to oversee and supervise the execution and implementation of the Agreement save those that are to be done by NRC.

Provided that other Groups that will join the Peace process shall be co-opted into the Implementation Committee.C. REHABILITATION

(1) Government shall mobilise all available resources to rehabilitate the socio-economic infrastructure in Gulu and Kitgum Districts as well as in other war ravaged areas.

(2) Government shall declare a policy of free education at all levels, up to the end of the year 1989, for pupils and students from the war ravaged areas.

(3) Government shall, up to the end of the year 1988, exempt the peasants of the war ravaged areas from paying graduated tax.

(4) The declared Government policy of rehabilitating people and restocking their livestock which were looted, rustled or lost during the hostilities should be strengthened and made more realistic to have practical effect on the population.

(5) The currency Reform Exercise shall be carried out in all areas that were due to the war incapacitated from so doing.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF THE PARTIES HERETO HAVE SET THEIR HANDS THIS 3RD DAY OF JUNE 1988.

Signed by: President Museveni, On Behalf of the government of Uganda John Angelo Okello, On Behalf of the Uganda People’s Democratic Movement In the Presence of: Bishop Emeritus of Gulu

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