Kampala|The Amnesty Commission’s Principal Legal Officer, Nathan Twine, has urged former Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) combatants to maintain peace.
Twine has also urged them to behave appropriately upon reintegration into their communities.
Twine spoke at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala, emphasizing the importance of following the law.
“We expect you to behave well when you return to the community and not sin again, because if you are caught in any act that violates the laws, the law will work against you.”
The Amnesty Commission, which was established to facilitate the implementation of the Amnesty Act of 2000, seeks to promote peace and stability in Uganda through forgiveness and reconciliation.
Twine gave credit to the Bridge Way Foundation and the Mbuya Center for Community Organization for teaching former combatants useful skills like baking, sewing, painting, and mechanics.
The organizations also offered medical assistance, psychosocial education, and spiritual counseling.
A former ADF combatant, Ahmed, thanked the Ugandan government and the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) for their efforts to restore peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Thank you for having a good heart and helping us; we have learned a lot of things while at the Mbuya Center for Community Organization that will help us transform our lives.”
This is the fourth cohort of ex-ADF combatants, with 25 individuals (20 from Uganda and 5 from the Democratic Republic of Congo) undergoing three months of rehabilitation at the Mbuya Center for Community Organization.
Bridge Way Foundation will continue to support them for at least a year after they have been reunited with their families.
The Amnesty Commission’s efforts aim to promote a peaceful and stable Uganda, in line with its vision of a “peace and conflict-free Uganda.”