Kwiyucwiny greeting Doctor Acaye the head of the LRA returnees at SOS center in Gulu City. All photos by Walter Okot
By Walter Okot
Gulu
The former abductees of the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) have requested the people in northern Uganda and the government to forgive them for the atrocities they committed during the 20 years of insurgency.
Doctor Acaye, the representative of LRA returnees, said they were abducted when they were young, recruited into the rebel against their will, and commanded to commit inhuman atrocities.
“We request that you forgive us for what we have done in the past, it was not our own making, we were forced without our will. We decided to come back home with one heart and we request that you consider us as your children that have come back home,” Acaye said.
Acaye thanked the APRU an NGO in the Democratic Republic of Congo for repatriating them, and the governments of Uganda, DRC, and Central African Republic for allowing them to return home peacefully.
He made the remarks on Saturday during the welcome of LRA returnees at their new rehabilitation Centre at the former SOS center at Pece Pawel central cell, Laroo-Pece division in Gulu City.
Brigadier commends the returnees
Brigadier Patrick Ocen, the chairperson of the technical committee for repatriation in the Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs, said the 141 LRA returnees include 36 ex-combatants, 27 spouses, and 78 children. Three of the children were born in Migyera in Uganda, where the returnees lived in a transit camp.
Ocen said the returnees were first stationed in Migyera in Nakasongola district for rehabilitation because there was no Centre to keep them in Gulu.
He commended the returnees for taking a bold step to come back home and revealed that they would receive their certificates of Amnesty from the office of the State Minister for Northern Uganda.
“There are many LRA abductees who fear to come back home, thinking they will be killed,” Ocen said.
Brigadier John Musoke, the second in command 4th division commander, urged the returnees not to worry, but to thank God that they had reached well and they were nearer to their homes.
“We have prepared this place for you so that you live in a conducive environment which is protected, your relatives can come, visit and support you as you go through rehabilitation so that resettling back home is easy”, Musoke said.
Minister cautions returnees
Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, Minister of State for Northern Uganda welcomed the LRA returnees and thanked God that they have reached home safely despite difficulties they met in the bush.
Kwiyucwiny asked the Acholi to welcome and support the returnees, saying their return should be like that of the biblical prodigal son whose father celebrated a bull to welcome his homecoming.
“We are seeing acceptance from home people, repentance from you for all you have done, and forgiveness from your people,” Kwiyucwiny said.
Kwiyucwiny asked them to live peacefully and assured them that the government was taking care of them by giving them the rehabilitation needed before they are reunited with their families. She however cautioned them against engaging in criminal activities.
Archbishop John Baptist Odama, the Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese welcomed the returnees and thanked God for bringing the children back home.
Odama, who is also the chairperson of Acholi religious leaders’ peace initiative, the umbrella body that brings all religious leaders in Acholi together, said they had been praying for the return of the abductees.
“You are the loved children of God. From us we have forgiven you, don’t fear us, we will organize and we are coming to pray with you here,” Odama said.
Odama requested the cultural chiefs to keep these children very well and urged them to work hard to ensure that communities that have not accepted them do so.
Okello Okuna, the acting Prime Minister of Acholi cultural institution, thanked the government for bringing the former LRA abductees back home, adding that many parents are waiting to see their children return home while others do not know whether or not their children are still alive.
Okuna revealed that after the rehabilitation, the cultural institution will organize rituals for the former LRA abductees before they are reunited with their families.
Returnees promised support
Malitano Apayima Jean Claude, national coordinator APRU, NGOs in Congo that helped to repatriate the LRA returnees thanked the returnees for entrusting them when they signed a contract to return home and asked them to be good citizens by respecting the laws of the country.
Apayima said they will continue providing food to the returnees, pay school fees for their children and those ex-combatants who want to join vocational training and support those who want to get medical treatment and psychosocial support.
Christopher Opiyo Ateker, the chairperson of Gulu district, requested the government to help process the national identity cards of the returnees, citing that many of the children who were born in captivity are unable to get their national identity cards because some of them do not know their particulars.
Atekere also requested the government to resettle these LRA returnees well, buy land, and build houses for those who cannot trace their relatives.
Brigadier Kenneth Banya, former LRA Commander, asked the former LRA abductees to be calm and live well in the community.
Banya, who returned in 2002 said he is now a pastor who is living well with his community and preaching the gospel to the people.
