UGANDA: LRA VICTIMS IN NORTHERN UGANDA DIVIDED OVER ONGWEN’S ICC TRIAL

GULU-UGNADA: The victims of LRA Massacre disowned ICC state witnesses in the Hague, ICC based court that they are state managed witnesses who lack knowledge in regards to Lukodi massacre.

Retired Bishop of Northern Uganda Anglican Diocese, Nelson Onono Onweng said he is happy with the work so far done by ICC, as the trial is coming to its conclusion in March this year, 2020.

“I am very happy today that the ICC is going to make their final statement of the parties on March 10, 2020. I really thank God that the ICC has achieved its objectives.” Bishop Onono Onweng reiterated.

Bishop Onono said when it comes to the issue of reparation which is still a speculation; he cautioned those who are optimistic of reparation benefits, arguing that if ICC finds that Ongwen is not guilty of any crimes, the issue of reparation will be called off.

The man of God further admitted that the expectations of the people were high depending on which side somebody belongs but people should patiently wait for the final statement to be released in March before they  can seek the next cause of action but for now the matter is still before the international justice court” Onono said.

Picking from the bishop, Henry Kilama Komakech of Kimala Komakech and Company Advocate argued that the impact of Ongwen’s case as a lawyer is like waiting for the postmortem; it will depend upon how the ICC judges and defenses counsels have analyzed and understood Ongwen’s case, the Gulu based lawyer remarked.

In addition to that, he said if Ogwen is convicted, he still has the chance of appealing like the case of Pier Bemba of the DRC. But if the ICC judges find him not guilty and He is acquitted of all crimes as charged, then there will be no reparation for the LRA victims affected in areas of Odek, Lukode, Abok and Pajule for the crimes that he has been accused of committing in these areas, Kilama noted.

“I have not seen a lot of changes so far but what I have known is that most of the affected areas want reparation which they have to patiently wait as the case is coming to its final stages.

In his concluding remarks, Kilama said although the UPDF claims that they have tried their top commanders who carried out war crimes against Humanity and Genocide in Northern Uganda, there is no evidence that proves this claim. Without prove of such evidence the Acholi community wants to see some elements of UPDF also face the ICC court at The Hague. Henry Kalama Komakech lamented.

Lily Adong Opiyo 33 years old, and a mother of five children, a residence of Lagot Icol, said she is one of victims of Lukode 2004 massacre she cried when Oyeng Yeng News Editor asks her to give her opinion as the ICC Ongwen case trial statement of parties will soon take place.

Adong Opiyo says three of her people died in the Lukode massacre, her father Okumu Willy, her brother Omony Nelson and Okumu Robin all died in the attack, she recalled.

“I lost household items, including goats and many chicken in the attack. I want reparation incase Ongwen is convicted.” Adong Opiyo said

Adong Opiyo argues that those people of Lukode IDP Camp who lost their relatives want ICC and the government of Uganda to give them reparation if Ongwen is found guilty of the accused crimes.

Ouma Jamal 33 years old, a father of 3 children is one of the Lukode IDP Camp attack, says Ongwen, should have been tried in Uganda, Gulu where the alleged atrocities happened.

He argues that if Ongwen was to be tried in Gulu, they the affected communities would have been able to provide witness against or not against Ongwen. He is surprised that at the ICC trial against Ongwen, the witnesses are from other countries including those that LRA did not reach, Ouma said

“He added that there are so many witnesses who went to defend Ongwen and some are state witnesses who claimed to be from our areas but we don’t know them. He posed a question such as this ‘If you live in Europe do you know things better than the people who were affected in northern Uganda and suffered in the IDP Camps? Ouma dismissed some of the witnesses.

Ouma argues that they are the people who bore the burns of Lukode massacre, they can tell the story based on how the attack took place, not politically concocted witnesses,     Ouma warns.

He says ICC must know that the massacre occurred not only in Lukode IDP Camp, but also in Atiak and Biwang in Patongo currently Agago district where school teachers and many other people were cooked, Ouma insisted.

The Northern Uganda community still lives in trauma.

Ouma narrated that even those former LRA abducted children, “referring to himself as one of themselves.” They have never benefited from Government education scheme, the government should have enrolled core education for former abductees to benefit, but thousands of former abductees were left at will.

“I am blaming the government; this is a big problem on the ruling regime. However, the ICC indictment has given Northern Uganda some hope. But the short fall constrains has been on the side of ICC what should have been done to the victims of the violent of Human Rights abuses that took place in Northern Uganda.” Ouma urged.

He says that after LRA conflict in Acholi Sub Region, the human rights abuses should have been fully addressed; only sensitization happened at peace milk. The government of Uganda and the Civil Societies Organization failed, Ouma observed.

He says for example, the failure to address Human Rights abuses right from the beginning is still causing problems that are now calumniating into Land Conflicts. One of these kinds of abuses is the recent Government apportioning of big shanks of land in Apaa village in Labala Sub County; Amuru district. The government’s annex of 680,000 hectors of land belonging to Acholi to Adjumani district. And part of Lakang Village also in Amuru District where the government grabbed 40,000 hectors of land in the name of investing in Sugarcane Production constitute undermining of Acholi peoples right to land  Ouma says.

Ouma, adds that although the guns have gone silent in northern Uganda and the ICC indictment of top LRA leaders in 2005 has helped to stop human catastrophes in Northern Uganda, the region is still at war, because the post war conflict was not handled well through PRDP. UGX 50 billions meant for economic bailout was robbed from the Prime Minister’s Office by the President Museveni and his cronies, latter Museveni castigated the former Prime Minister John Patrick Amana Mbabazi (JPAB) for the sin he engineered and committed himself.

Ouma’s wonder is contemplated by the fact that the ICC finally will come out to make statement of parties, but he posed this question; what about those who are not yet accounted for, the missing bodies within LRA, and those who were arrested by UPDF, the ruling government forces and have never been seen since, who is to account for them?.

Ouma, says his father Otto Daniel Ouma though still alive was arrested by Uganda government forces tortured, his body was speared all around, and left to suffer while other relatives were killed during the long spells of insurgency.

Benefit never reached the LRA victims

The widows and orphans of the LRA war affected communities in Northern Uganda, said when they came out from the bush, Uganda Amnesty Commissioner gave them UGX 200,000, mattress and few saucepans. They are aware that they were supposed to get more than what they were given but the real benefits went to the government officials who handed themselves items and cash meant for them.

Janet Adoch 32, one of the survivors of Abok massacre, says Ongwen is just a sacrificial Lamb, supposing Ongwen did not surrender to UN in the Central African Republic, would the ICC try him? Adoch asked.

In her own words she said this; “I don’t know much about Ongwen, although during Abok attack I was there, little was heard about him on that day (Lacek dyero lak Apoli) he is just a sacrificial lamb.” Adoch admitted.

She further posed a question that; what about the UPDF whom many people know to have committed crimes against the people of northern Uganda, why are they walking freely in Gulu City and Kampala City, she lamented.

Finally, Adoch remarked that because Ongwen surrendered himself, he has been subjected to carry the whole blame of the LRA and government wrong doings, yet in the first place it was the government that failed to protect people in Northern Uganda that is why Ongwen was abducted while on his way to school at the ages of 10 years old, she concluded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UGANDA: LRA VICTIMS IN NORTHERN UGANDA DIVIDED OVER ONGWEN’S ICC TRIAL

GULU-UGNADA: The victims of LRA Massacre disowned ICC state witnesses in the Hague, ICC based court that they are state managed witnesses who lack knowledge in regards to Lukodi massacre.

Retired Bishop of Northern Uganda Anglican Diocese, Nelson Onono Onweng said he is happy with the work so far done by ICC, as the trial is coming to its conclusion in March this year, 2020.

“I am very happy today that the ICC is going to make their final statement of the parties on March 10, 2020. I really thank God that the ICC has achieved its objectives.” Bishop Onono Onweng reiterated.

Bishop Onono said when it comes to the issue of reparation which is still a speculation; he cautioned those who are optimistic of reparation benefits, arguing that if ICC finds that Ongwen is not guilty of any crimes, the issue of reparation will be called off.

The man of God further admitted that the expectations of the people were high depending on which side somebody belongs but people should patiently wait for the final statement to be released in March before they  can seek the next cause of action but for now the matter is still before the international justice court” Onono said.

Picking from the bishop, Henry Kilama Komakech of Kimala Komakech and Company Advocate argued that the impact of Ongwen’s case as a lawyer is like waiting for the postmortem; it will depend upon how the ICC judges and defenses counsels have analyzed and understood Ongwen’s case, the Gulu based lawyer remarked.

In addition to that, he said if Ogwen is convicted, he still has the chance of appealing like the case of Pier Bemba of the DRC. But if the ICC judges find him not guilty and He is acquitted of all crimes as charged, then there will be no reparation for the LRA victims affected in areas of Odek, Lukode, Abok and Pajule for the crimes that he has been accused of committing in these areas, Kilama noted.

“I have not seen a lot of changes so far but what I have known is that most of the affected areas want reparation which they have to patiently wait as the case is coming to its final stages.

In his concluding remarks, Kilama said although the UPDF claims that they have tried their top commanders who carried out war crimes against Humanity and Genocide in Northern Uganda, there is no evidence that proves this claim. Without prove of such evidence the Acholi community wants to see some elements of UPDF also face the ICC court at The Hague. Henry Kalama Komakech lamented.

Lily Adong Opiyo 33 years old, and a mother of five children, a residence of Lagot Icol, said she is one of victims of Lukode 2004 massacre she cried when Oyeng Yeng News Editor asks her to give her opinion as the ICC Ongwen case trial statement of parties will soon take place.

Adong Opiyo says three of her people died in the Lukode massacre, her father Okumu Willy, her brother Omony Nelson and Okumu Robin all died in the attack, she recalled.

“I lost household items, including goats and many chicken in the attack. I want reparation incase Ongwen is convicted.” Adong Opiyo said

Adong Opiyo argues that those people of Lukode IDP Camp who lost their relatives want ICC and the government of Uganda to give them reparation if Ongwen is found guilty of the accused crimes.

Ouma Jamal 33 years old, a father of 3 children is one of the Lukode IDP Camp attack, says Ongwen, should have been tried in Uganda, Gulu where the alleged atrocities happened.

He argues that if Ongwen was to be tried in Gulu, they the affected communities would have been able to provide witness against or not against Ongwen. He is surprised that at the ICC trial against Ongwen, the witnesses are from other countries including those that LRA did not reach, Ouma said

“He added that there are so many witnesses who went to defend Ongwen and some are state witnesses who claimed to be from our areas but we don’t know them. He posed a question such as this ‘If you live in Europe do you know things better than the people who were affected in northern Uganda and suffered in the IDP Camps? Ouma dismissed some of the witnesses.

Ouma argues that they are the people who bore the burns of Lukode massacre, they can tell the story based on how the attack took place, not politically concocted witnesses,     Ouma warns.

He says ICC must know that the massacre occurred not only in Lukode IDP Camp, but also in Atiak and Biwang in Patongo currently Agago district where school teachers and many other people were cooked, Ouma insisted.

The Northern Uganda community still lives in trauma.

Ouma narrated that even those former LRA abducted children, “referring to himself as one of themselves.” They have never benefited from Government education scheme, the government should have enrolled core education for former abductees to benefit, but thousands of former abductees were left at will.

“I am blaming the government; this is a big problem on the ruling regime. However, the ICC indictment has given Northern Uganda some hope. But the short fall constrains has been on the side of ICC what should have been done to the victims of the violent of Human Rights abuses that took place in Northern Uganda.” Ouma urged.

He says that after LRA conflict in Acholi Sub Region, the human rights abuses should have been fully addressed; only sensitization happened at peace milk. The government of Uganda and the Civil Societies Organization failed, Ouma observed.

He says for example, the failure to address Human Rights abuses right from the beginning is still causing problems that are now calumniating into Land Conflicts. One of these kinds of abuses is the recent Government apportioning of big shanks of land in Apaa village in Labala Sub County; Amuru district. The government’s annex of 680,000 hectors of land belonging to Acholi to Adjumani district. And part of Lakang Village also in Amuru District where the government grabbed 40,000 hectors of land in the name of investing in Sugarcane Production constitute undermining of Acholi peoples right to land  Ouma says.

Ouma, adds that although the guns have gone silent in northern Uganda and the ICC indictment of top LRA leaders in 2005 has helped to stop human catastrophes in Northern Uganda, the region is still at war, because the post war conflict was not handled well through PRDP. UGX 50 billions meant for economic bailout was robbed from the Prime Minister’s Office by the President Museveni and his cronies, latter Museveni castigated the former Prime Minister John Patrick Amana Mbabazi (JPAB) for the sin he engineered and committed himself.

Ouma’s wonder is contemplated by the fact that the ICC finally will come out to make statement of parties, but he posed this question; what about those who are not yet accounted for, the missing bodies within LRA, and those who were arrested by UPDF, the ruling government forces and have never been seen since, who is to account for them?.

Ouma, says his father Otto Daniel Ouma though still alive was arrested by Uganda government forces tortured, his body was speared all around, and left to suffer while other relatives were killed during the long spells of insurgency.

Benefit never reached the LRA victims

The widows and orphans of the LRA war affected communities in Northern Uganda, said when they came out from the bush, Uganda Amnesty Commissioner gave them UGX 200,000, mattress and few saucepans. They are aware that they were supposed to get more than what they were given but the real benefits went to the government officials who handed themselves items and cash meant for them.

Janet Adoch 32, one of the survivors of Abok massacre, says Ongwen is just a sacrificial Lamb, supposing Ongwen did not surrender to UN in the Central African Republic, would the ICC try him? Adoch asked.

In her own words she said this; “I don’t know much about Ongwen, although during Abok attack I was there, little was heard about him on that day (Lacek dyero lak Apoli) he is just a sacrificial lamb.” Adoch admitted.

She further posed a question that; what about the UPDF whom many people know to have committed crimes against the people of northern Uganda, why are they walking freely in Gulu City and Kampala City, she lamented.

Finally, Adoch remarked that because Ongwen surrendered himself, he has been subjected to carry the whole blame of the LRA and government wrong doings, yet in the first place it was the government that failed to protect people in Northern Uganda that is why Ongwen was abducted while on his way to school at the ages of 10 years old, she concluded.