THE LRA DISARMAMENT AND
NORTHERN UGANDA RECOVERY ACT

Only weeks ago, U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) and U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA), Brad Miller (D-NC) and Ed Royce (R-CA) introduced legislation to help end the reign of terror conducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in northern Uganda and neighboring countries. This bill calls

“…to apprehend or otherwise remove Joseph Kony and his top commanders from the battlefield, and to disarm and demobilize Lord’s Resistance Army fighters.”

The bill not only sets a plan for ending the war but outlines the need for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the war affected regions. It is our goal at Lobby Days to see that we put our support behind this bill.

Here is a quote from Senator Feingold as he introduced the bill to the president:

“Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009, and I am pleased to do so with a great champion on this issue: Senator Sam Brownback.  For many years, we have both sought to bring attention to the terror orchestrated by the Lord’s Resistance Army, the LRA, and the suffering of the people of northern Uganda.  We have come a long way in just a few years, thanks especially to young Americans who have become increasingly aware of and outspoken about this horrific situation. Those efforts have yielded some success, but if we are now to finally see this conflict to its end, we need to commit to a proactive strategy to help end the threat posed by the LRA and support reconstruction, justice, and reconciliation in northern Uganda.  This bill seeks to do just that.” ~ Russ Feingold

Download a PDF of the complete bill (44kb)

OUR POLICY AND WHAT WE ARE LOBBYING FOR

Joseph Kony’s brutal insurgency has outlasted four U.S. presidents and 11 straight sessions of Congress. It is now Africa’s longest-running war and it’s time for it to be over. By taking action now, U.S. policymakers can put a stop to the LRA’s atrocities across central Africa and help put northern Uganda and the surrounding region on track towards lasting peace. Here’s how:

- Stop Joseph Kony: Develop a comprehensive strategy for working with international partners to ensure LRA captives are rescued and rebel leaders are prevented from committing further atrocities

- Help the people he’s terrorized: Increase financial assistance to address the urgent needs of families forced to flee their homes by LRA attacks

- Commit to lasting peace:  Make long-term recovery for communities affected by the violence a priority in the region

These three things, if done in conjunction with each other, can finally end the war that’s now affecting millions of people in four different countries. But history has shown us that our leaders won’t act on issues like this until there’s enough public pressure on them to do so. That’s where you come in. They have the power to help end this war, and you have the power to make them do it.

For more information, visit our resources section.