UGANDA: LRA CEASAR ACELLAM CHARGED WITH WAR CRIMES

 

GULU, UGANDA: The former LRA combatant Major General Caser Acellam has been arrested by the security officials on demand by the International Crime division of the High Court of Uganda.

Gen, Acellam faces over 40 charges of war crimes and crimes against Humanity preferred against him by the Court.

He is to answer charges of crimes committed while he was in the bush, although he holds a Amnesty Certificate.

Acellam was picked from Gulu and transferred secretly to Kampala under very high security protection and detained at Makindye Military barrack for a week before his released.

The Gen was set free after media report over the charges went viral. The Court Deputy Registrar confirmed Acellam’s arrest stating more others were on list of investigation.

The Registrar of the International Crime Division of the High Court Justice Margaret Oguli confirmed the arrest and charges saying twenty more other commanders are under investigation.

The Court is carrying out outreach activities in northern Uganda especially Amuru district.

One of the Commanders of the Lord’s Resistance Army returnee who asked for anonymity because of the seriousness of the case said the former rebel commanders were summoned at the 4^th Division Military Barrack and promised with no ‘problem.’

“The Commanders called us in the barrack and assured us of no further arrest. They said we should stay calm and relaxed” the Officer said flanges by other senior officers.

 Acellam was taken to Kampala military custody.

“Everybody trained was on high alert” A source in the intelligence said “If they make any mistake, silly, people will see what they have never imagined and regretted in lives ever.”

 Under section 3 (2) of the Amnesty Act August 2009, states A reporter who has in any way been involved in insurgency shall not be persecuted or punished for those crimes.

 What are these crimes? The same Act spelled out in section 3(1) as actual participation in combat, collaboration with insurgents; committing crimes to support insurgency, and assisting others involved in insurgency.

Section 2 of the Amnesty Act states that “Amnesty’’ is the protection from prosecution and punishment.

These important guarantees are repeated here, Amnesty means there will be no prosecution and no punishment for insurgents.

The Lord resistance Army rebel has fought government of Uganda since 1987 and negotiated peace agreement with Kampala in Juba, south Sudan in 2006. Among agreement is recovery of Northern Uganda, fostering peace and reconciliation among broken communities. End.