Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009
PL 111-172 (S.1067), enacted 05/24/2010

124 STAT. 1209 
PUBLIC LAW 111–172—MAY 24, 2010 
Public Law 111–172 
111th Congress 
An Act 
To support stabilization and lasting peace in northern Uganda and areas affected 
by the Lord’s Resistance Army through development of a regional strategy to 
support multilateral efforts to successfully protect civilians and eliminate the 
threat posed by the Lord’s Resistance Army and to authorize funds for humani-
tarian relief and reconstruction, reconciliation, and transitional justice, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Lord’s Resistance Army Disar-
mament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) For over 2 decades, the Government of Uganda engaged 
in an armed conflict with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) 
in northern Uganda that led to the internal displacement of 
more than 2,000,000 Ugandans from their homes. 
(2) The members of the Lord’s Resistance Army used brutal 
tactics in northern Uganda, including mutilating, abducting 
and forcing individuals into sexual servitude and forcing a 
large number of children and youth in Uganda, estimated by 
the Survey for War Affected Youth to be over 66,000, to fight 
as part of the rebel force. 
(3) The Secretary of State has placed the Lord’s Resistance 
Army on the Terrorist Exclusion list pursuant to section 
212(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1182(a)(3)), and LRA leader Joseph Kony has been designated 
a ‘‘specially designated global terrorist’’ pursuant to Executive 
Order 13224. 
(4) In late 2005, according to the United Nations Office 
for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Lord’s Resistance 
Army shifted their primary base of operations from southern 
Sudan to northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and the 
rebels have since withdrawn from northern Uganda. 
(5) Representatives of the Government of Uganda and the 
Lord’s Resistance Army began peace negotiations in 2006, medi-
ated by the Government of Southern Sudan in Juba, Sudan, 
and signed the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement on August 
20, 2006, which provided for hundreds of thousands of 
internally displaced people to return home in safety. 
(6) After nearly 2 years of negotiations, representatives 
from the parties reached the Final Peace Agreement in April 
Lord’s Resistance 
Army 
Disarmament 
and Northern 
Uganda Recovery 
Act of 2009. 
22 USC 2151 
note. 
22 USC 2151 
note. 
May 24, 2010 
[S. 1067] 
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124 STAT. 1210 
PUBLIC LAW 111–172—MAY 24, 2010 
2008, but Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance 
Army, refused to sign the Final Peace Agreement in May 2008 
and his forces launched new attacks in northeastern Congo. 
(7) According to the United Nations Office for the Coordina-
tion of Humanitarian Relief and the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees, the new activity of the Lord’s 
Resistance Army in northeastern Congo and southern Sudan 
since September 2008 has led to the abduction of at least 
1,500 civilians, including hundreds of children, and the displace-
ment of more than 540,000 people. 
(8) In December 2008, the military forces of Uganda, the 
Democratic Republic of Congo, and southern Sudan launched 
a joint operation against the Lord’s Resistance Army’s bases 
in northeastern Congo, but the operation failed to apprehend 
Joseph Kony, and his forces retaliated with a series of new 
attacks and massacres in Congo and southern Sudan, killing 
an estimated 900 people in 2 months alone. 
(9) Despite the refusal of Joseph Kony to sign the Final 
Peace Agreement, the Government of Uganda has committed 
to continue reconstruction plans for northern Uganda, and to 
implement those mechanisms of the Final Peace Agreement 
not conditional on the compliance of the Lord’s Resistance 
Army. 
(10) Since 2008, recovery efforts in northern Uganda have 
moved forward with the financial support of the United States 
and other donors, but have been hampered by a lack of strategic 
coordination, logistical delays, and limited leadership from the 
Government of Uganda. 
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States to work with regional 
governments toward a comprehensive and lasting resolution to the 
conflict in northern Uganda and other affected areas by— 
(1) providing political, economic, military, and intelligence 
support for viable multilateral efforts to protect civilians from 
the Lord’s Resistance Army, to apprehend or remove Joseph 
Kony and his top commanders from the battlefield in the contin-
ued absence of a negotiated solution, and to disarm and demobi-
lize the remaining Lord’s Resistance Army fighters; 
(2) targeting assistance to respond to the humanitarian 
needs of populations in northeastern Congo, southern Sudan, 
and Central African Republic currently affected by the activity 
of the Lord’s Resistance Army; and 
(3) further supporting and encouraging efforts of the 
Government of Uganda and civil society to promote comprehen-
sive reconstruction, transitional justice, and reconciliation in 
northern Uganda as affirmed in the Northern Uganda Crisis 
Response Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–283) and subsequent 
resolutions, including Senate Resolution 366, 109th Congress, 
agreed to February 2, 2006, Senate Resolution 573, 109th Con-
gress, agreed to September 19, 2006, Senate Concurrent Resolu-
tion 16, 110th Congress, agreed to in the Senate March 1, 
2007, and House Concurrent Resolution 80, 110th Congress, 
agreed to in the House of Representatives June 18, 2007. 
22 USC 2151 
note. 
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124 STAT. 1211 
PUBLIC LAW 111–172—MAY 24, 2010 
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENT OF A STRATEGY TO SUPPORT THE DISAR-
MAMENT OF THE LORD’S RESISTANCE ARMY. 
(a) REQUIREMENT
FOR STRATEGY.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 
develop and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
a strategy to guide future United States support across the region 
for viable multilateral efforts to mitigate and eliminate the threat 
to civilians and regional stability posed by the Lord’s Resistance 
Army. 
(b) CONTENT
OF STRATEGY.—The strategy shall include the 
following: 
(1) A plan to help strengthen efforts by the United Nations 
and regional governments to protect civilians from attacks by 
the Lord’s Resistance Army while supporting the development 
of institutions in affected areas that can help to maintain 
the rule of law and prevent conflict in the long term. 
(2) An assessment of viable options through which the 
United States, working with regional governments, could help 
develop and support multilateral efforts to eliminate the threat 
posed by the Lord’s Resistance Army. 
(3) An interagency framework to plan, coordinate, and 
review diplomatic, economic, intelligence, and military elements 
of United States policy across the region regarding the Lord’s 
Resistance Army. 
(4) A description of the type and form of diplomatic engage-
ment across the region undertaken to coordinate and implement 
United States policy regarding the Lord’s Resistance Army 
and to work multilaterally with regional mechanisms, including 
the Tripartite Plus Commission and the Great Lakes Pact. 
(5) A description of how this engagement will fit within 
the context of broader efforts and policy objectives in the Great 
Lakes Region. 
(c) FORM.—The strategy under this section shall be submitted 
in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. 
SEC. 5. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR AREAS OUTSIDE UGANDA 
AFFECTED BY THE LORD’S RESISTANCE ARMY. 
In accordance with section 491 of the Foreign Assistance Act 
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2292) and section 2 of the Migration and Refugee 
Assistance Act of 1962 (22 U.S.C. 2601), the President is authorized 
to provide additional assistance to the Democratic Republic of 
Congo, southern Sudan, and Central African Republic to respond 
to the humanitarian needs of populations directly affected by the 
activity of the Lord’s Resistance Army. 
SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE FOR RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION IN 
NORTHERN UGANDA. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—It is the sense of Congress that the President 
should support efforts by the people of northern Uganda and the 
Government of Uganda— 
(1) to assist internally displaced people in transition and 
returnees to secure durable solutions by spurring economic 
revitalization, supporting livelihoods, helping to alleviate pov-
erty, and advancing access to basic services at return sites, 
specifically clean water, health care, and schools; 
(2) to enhance the accountability and administrative com-
petency of local governance institutions and public agencies 
22 USC 2151 
note. 
President. 
Democratic 
Republic of the 
Congo. 
Sudan. 
Central African 
Republic. 
22 USC 2151 
note. 
Deadline. 
President. 
22 USC 2151 
note. 
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124 STAT. 1212 
PUBLIC LAW 111–172—MAY 24, 2010 
in northern Uganda with regard to budget management, provi-
sion of public goods and services, and related oversight func-
tions; 
(3) to strengthen the operational capacity of the civilian 
police in northern Uganda to enhance public safety, prevent 
crime, and deal sensitively with gender-based violence, while 
strengthening accountability measures to prevent corruption 
and abuses; 
(4) to rebuild and improve the capacity of the justice system 
in northern Uganda, including the courts and penal systems, 
with particular sensitivity to the needs and rights of women 
and children; 
(5) to establish mechanisms for the disarmament, demobili-
zation, and reintegration of former combatants and those 
abducted by the LRA, including vocational education and 
employment opportunities, with attention given to the roles 
and needs of men, women and children; and 
(6) to promote programs to address psychosocial trauma, 
particularly post-traumatic stress disorder. 
(b) FUTURE YEAR FUNDING.—It is the sense of Congress that 
the Secretary of State and Administrator of the United States 
Agency for International Development should work with the appro-
priate committees of Congress to increase assistance in future fiscal 
years to support activities described in this section if the Govern-
ment of Uganda demonstrates a commitment to transparent and 
accountable reconstruction in war-affected areas of northern 
Uganda, specifically by— 
(1) finalizing the establishment of mechanisms within the 
Office of the Prime Minister to sufficiently manage and coordi-
nate the programs under the framework of the Peace Recovery 
and Development Plan for Northern Uganda (PRDP); 
(2) increasing oversight activities and reporting, at the 
local and national level in Uganda, to ensure funds under 
the Peace Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda 
framework are used efficiently and with minimal waste; and 
(3) committing substantial funds of its own, above and 
beyond standard budget allocations to local governments, to 
the task of implementing the Peace Recovery and Development 
Plan for Northern Uganda such that communities affected by 
the war can recover. 
(c) COORDINATION WITH OTHER DONOR NATIONS.—The United 
States should work with other donor nations to increase contribu-
tions for recovery efforts in northern Uganda and better leverage 
those contributions to enhance the capacity and encourage the 
leadership of the Government of Uganda in promoting transparent 
and accountable reconstruction in northern Uganda. 
(d) TERMINATION OF ASSISTANCE.—It is the sense of Congress 
that the Secretary of State should withhold non-humanitarian 
bilateral assistance to the Republic of Uganda if the Secretary 
determines that the Government of Uganda is not committed to 
reconstruction and reconciliation in the war-affected areas of 
northern Uganda and is not taking proactive steps to ensure this 
process moves forward in a transparent and accountable manner. 
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124 STAT. 1213 
PUBLIC LAW 111–172—MAY 24, 2010 
SEC. 7. ASSISTANCE FOR RECONCILIATION AND TRANSITIONAL JUS-
TICE IN NORTHERN UGANDA. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that, 
despite reconstruction and development efforts, a continued failure 
to take meaningful steps toward national reconciliation and account-
ability risks perpetuating longstanding political grievances and 
fueling new conflicts. 
(b) AUTHORITY.—In accordance with section 531 of the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346), the President is authorized 
to support efforts by the people of northern Uganda and the Govern-
ment of Uganda to advance efforts to promote transitional justice 
and reconciliation on both local and national levels, including to 
encourage implementation of the mechanisms outlined in the 
Annexure to the Agreement on Accountability and Reconciliation 
between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance 
Army/Movement, signed at Juba February 19, 2008, namely— 
(1) a body to investigate the history of the conflict, inquire 
into human rights violations committed during the conflict 
by all sides, promote truth-telling in communities, and encour-
age the preservation of the memory of events and victims 
of the conflict through memorials, archives, commemorations, 
and other forms of preservation; 
(2) a special division of the High Court of Uganda to 
try individuals alleged to have committed serious crimes during 
the conflict, and a special unit to carry out investigations and 
prosecutions in support of trials; 
(3) a system for making reparations to victims of the con-
flict; and 
(4) a review and strategy for supporting transitional justice 
mechanisms in affected areas to promote reconciliation and 
encourage individuals to take personal responsibility for their 
conduct during the war. 
SEC. 8. REPORT. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 year after the submis-
sion of the strategy required under section 4, the Secretary of 
State shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the progress made toward the implementation 
of the strategy required under section 4 and a description and 
evaluation of the assistance provided under this Act toward the 
policy objectives described in section 3. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under section (a) shall 
include— 
(1) a description and evaluation of actions taken toward 
the implementation of the strategy required under section 4; 
(2) a description of assistance provided under sections 5, 
6, and 7; 
(3) an evaluation of bilateral assistance provided to the 
Republic of Uganda and associated programs in light of stated 
policy objectives; 
(4) a description of the status of the Peace Recovery and 
Development Plan for Northern Uganda and the progress of 
the Government of Uganda in fulfilling the steps outlined in 
section 6(b); and 
(5) a description of amounts of assistance committed, and 
amounts provided, to northern Uganda during the reporting 
period by the Government of Uganda and each donor country. 
22 USC 2151 
note. 
22 USC 2151 
note. 
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124 STAT. 1214 
PUBLIC LAW 111–172—MAY 24, 2010 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1067: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 111–108 (Comm. on Foreign Relations). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 156 (2010): 
Mar. 10, considered and passed Senate. 
May 12, considered and passed House. 
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2010): 
May 24, Presidential statement. 
(c) FORM.—The report under this section shall be submitted 
in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. 
SEC. 9. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON FUNDING. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) of the total amounts to be appropriated for fiscal year 
2011 for the Department of State and foreign operations, up 
to $10,000,000 should be used to carry out activities under 
section 5; and 
(2) of the total amounts to be appropriated for fiscal year 
2011 through 2013 for the Department of State and foreign 
operations, up to $10,000,000 in each such fiscal year should 
be used to carry out activities under section 7. 
SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CONGRESS.—The term 
‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ means the Committee 
on Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Relations 
of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. 
(2) GREAT LAKES REGION.—The term ‘‘Great Lakes Region’’ 
means the region comprising Burundi, Democratic Republic 
of Congo, Rwanda, southern Sudan, and Uganda. 
(3) LRA-AFFECTED AREAS.—The term ‘‘LRA-affected areas’’ 
means those portions of northern Uganda, southern Sudan, 
northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and southeastern 
Central African Republic determined by the Secretary of State 
to be affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army as of the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
Approved May 24, 2010. 
22 USC 2151 
note. 
22 USC 2151 
note. 
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