Last Updated 6 seconds ago by tnd News, Uganda
Gulu | Fourteen former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) abductees have returned home after spending nearly two decades in captivity, marking another milestone in ongoing efforts to reunite families and heal communities affected by Northern Uganda’s long-running insurgency.
The group, comprising eight men, four women and two children, was repatriated from South Sudan through a joint effort involving the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, the Acholi Cultural Institution, and other stakeholders.
The return followed coordinated efforts between the UPDF’s Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, Maj. Gen. Richard Otto, and his South Sudanese counterpart, the Chief of Military Intelligence.
Upon arrival, the returnees were received at the Gulu Rehabilitation Centre, where government officials, cultural leaders, religious leaders and local authorities welcomed them and pledged support for their reintegration into civilian life.
Charles Canowira, the LCI chairperson of Pece-Pawel Central Cell in Gulu West Division, urged the returnees to embrace rehabilitation and become productive members of society.
“As local leaders, we shall support and protect you throughout the reintegration process and we encourage you to focus on rebuilding your lives and avoid activities that could bring conflict with the law,” he said.
Gulu West Division deputy mayor Tony Obal-Lim commended the UPDF and all partners involved in securing the return of the former abductees.
“We are committed to ensuring their safety and successful reintegration and we also appeal to those still in the bush to take advantage of the prevailing peace and return home,” he said.
Obal-Lim praised the military’s efforts in encouraging peaceful surrender and noted that many former combatants had been persuaded to abandon armed rebellion and return to civilian life.
Religious leaders reflect on peace efforts
Sheikh Musa Khalil, the Mufti for Northern Uganda and vice chairperson of the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative, recalled the role played by religious and cultural leaders in advocating for dialogue during the height of the insurgency.
He applauded President Yoweri Museveni for supporting peace initiatives that enabled religious and cultural leaders to engage with LRA fighters and encourage peaceful returns.
“One of our earliest achievements was advocating for the Amnesty Act, which created opportunities for former combatants to return home without fear and through collaboration with cultural leaders, local leaders and Members of Parliament, many abductees were able to reunite with their families,” Sheikh Khalil said.
He warned political actors against promoting violence or encouraging young people to embrace armed conflict.
“As religious and cultural leaders, we say no to war and northern Uganda has suffered enough and we must protect the peace we have achieved and ensure that future generations do not experience the horrors of conflict,” he said.
Martin Okumu, the deputy prime minister of the Acholi Cultural Institution (Ker Kwaro Acholi) and Minister for Finance, Planning and Investment, thanked all organizations involved in securing the return of former abductees.
He particularly commended Terra Renaissance, a non-governmental organization that supports the rehabilitation and reintegration of war-affected individuals.
“We thank everyone who has worked tirelessly to bring our people home and as cultural leaders, we shall continue supporting reconciliation and healing within our communities,” Okumu said.
He emphasised that traditional cleansing and reconciliation ceremonies would be conducted to facilitate the returnees’ acceptance into their communities.
“We urge Acholi communities to welcome these returnees as members of their families and they are part of us and should not face stigma or discrimination,” he added.
Government urges inclusion
Representing the State Minister for Northern Uganda, Gulu City Resident City Commissioner Ambrose Onoria called on communities to prioritise forgiveness and reconciliation.
“The focus should be on rebuilding lives rather than seeking revenge and northern Uganda now has numerous development opportunities, and returnees should be included in government programmes aimed at improving household incomes and livelihoods,” he said.
He urged local leaders and residents living near the rehabilitation centre to support the reintegration process by welcoming the returnees back into society.
“These are our sons and daughters and they deserve a chance to rebuild their lives with dignity,” he said.
The 14 returnees have been handed over to Terra Renaissance, an organisation founded by Japanese humanitarian Shingo Fujii, which has worked extensively with former abductees and war-affected communities in northern Uganda.
Through its rehabilitation and mindset transformation programmes, the organisation will provide psychosocial support, vocational training and life-skills development to help the returnees reintegrate into civilian life and build sustainable livelihoods.
According to the Amnesty Commission, the LRA insurgency displaced an estimated 1.5 million people across northern Uganda and claimed thousands of lives.
Over the years, more than 20,000 former abductees and combatants have returned home and been reintegrated into their communities through amnesty, rehabilitation and reconciliation programmes.
The return of the latest group is being viewed as another important step in northern Uganda’s long journey toward healing, reconciliation and lasting peace.
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