Former fighters of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) who were pardoned under the Amnesty Act will face prosecution if they are found to have been involved in any rebel activities, a former Amnesty Commission official has said.
The warning comes on the heel of two deadly attacks on security installations in Gulu district which left three government security personnel and a 5-year-old child dead and nine guns missing.
Speaking in a radio talkshow in Gulu on Thursday, Sister Mary Okee, the former Amnesty Commission’s Demobilization and Resettlement Officer in northern Uganda explained that being granted amnesty does not guarantee one immunity from being prosecuted if you are later found to be involved subversive activities.
Sister Okee said Amnesty only bars one from prosecution in regards to crimes committed against the state prior to being granted amnesty.
The former Demobilization and Resettlement Officer asked the former fighters to shun rebellion and instead engage in economic activities that will improve their livelihood.
About 26,000 former LRA fighters were granted amnesty, many of them from Acholi.
In the wake of the recent attacks on security installations in Gulu, the 4th Division spokesman, Lt Hassan Ahmad Kato reiterated that there is no plan by the army to target the former LRA fighters. He, however, cautioned them against rebellion, saying those found to have committed crimes will be charged.
Former senior LRA commanders who were pardoned under the Amnesty Act 2000 and granted Amnesty include Sam Kolo, Caesar Acellam, Kenneth Banya and Okwonga Alero among others.
