Summary
Content
Report on Inter-Agency Logistics Assessment Mission to Northern Uganda
(UNJLC, WFP, UNICEF)
Executive Summary:
An inter-agency assessment mission was undertaken to the key locations in Northern-Uganda. The mission took place between the 18th and the 26th of November and comprised staff from UNJLC, WFP, and UNICEF. The aim of the mission was to gain an understanding of the current and potential corridors through Uganda into Southern Sudan,and to establish a network between key players in both Sudanese and Ugandan programmes.
Seven current or potential corridors into Southern Sudan were identified, three of which were thought to be of sizeable potential in the event of a peace deal. Key to their optimisation is an agreement on cross-line de-mining as well as an improvement in the security situation in Northern Uganda. Rehabilitation work was found to be ongoing onall three routes. While this is of import, the mission found that no clear and coherent plan for road maintenance is in existence and that its absence will result in the negation of any benefits brought about by rehabilitation work.
The commercial long haul transport sector in Uganda was found to have little in the way of immediate knowledge about, or plans for, transport to and within Southern Sudan. Short haul ‘bush trucks’ however were found in the key locations in Northern Uganda and companies showed both a knowledge of the Sudanese market and a willingness and ability to expand their fleets to match a rise in demand.
Air links between Uganda and Southern Sudan were found to be minimal with no scheduled flights taking place. The absence of an air traffic control system in Southern Sudan poses a significant danger both now and in particular in the event of a future increase in air operations into Southern Sudan. This increase, from Uganda, is dependant,at least in part, upon the clear identification of airports of entry within a post peace deal Sudan.
Rail capacity within Uganda was found to be weak. A process of privatisation, currently ongoing, is expected to bring benefits in terms of efficiency and capacity, but these are unlikely to materialise in time to be of value to a post peace deal humanitarian response.River transport within Uganda is almost non-existent and is effectively barred as method of transport to Sudan by the existence of cataracts around the Nimule area.
Only one location was identified where there was both a Sudanese and Ugandan customs presence. Capacity on the Sudanese side, both procedural and infrastructural, was limited and capacity building in these areas was seen as vital. In this regard, the idea of joint customs and immigration posts, manned by both Sudanese and Ugandan officials should be investigated.
Liaison with the Ugandan military was both constructive and rewarding, substantial information being made available to the mission. These links should be expanded upon by the humanitarian operations in Sudan in order to ensure a continued flow of information.