By Emmy Ojara
Mr Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Gulu District Chairman said said truth and reconciliation in Northern Uganda and the entire country will come after the regime of President Yoweri Museveni.
The chairman’s remarks came after a poet, Mr James Onono Ojok asked why political leaders in Uganda have failed to address the issue of peace and reconciliation between perpetrators and victims of the war in Northern Uganda.
This was during the showcasing of a theater play ‘THE SILENT VOICE’ by Judith Lucy Adong, held at Gulu Secondary School last week.
The play depicts the atrocities and war crimes committed against the people of Northern Uganda during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the National Resistance Army ( NRA) now called Uganda People’s Defense Force, (UPDF).
The chairman who moderated the discussion after the play in his response said atrocities and war crimes committed in northern Uganda had many political leaders involved and that many people suffered in the hands of government soldiers.
He said men and women were raped.
He said victims of the war lack where to seek redress because the perpetrators are the leaders in the country who do not want to stain their reputation.
The chairman said that many people who suffered are dying internally with anger.
“The exact numbers of victims of the war have not been clearly identified to date, returnees have as well remained unidentified because not all of them passed through rehabilitation centers,” He said.
He said the government has refused to listen to victims of the situations and have now become part of the problems.
The chairman added that the judicial system has failed to understand the genesis of how war perpetrators got involved in such situations, a factor which has led to despair where people think their problems cannot be solved.
Mr Johnson Omony, an official at Refugee Law Project said victims of war crimes will remain victims but should push themselves to become victors.
“Victims should forgive their perpetrators and not die with guilt and heart of revenge because revenge only leads to downfall. He however said it is complex for one to forgive someone who does not ask for forgiveness.
He urged government to advocate for peace and reconciliation between victims and perpetrators of war crimes adding that negligence of government to give support and protection to both victims and perpetrators has left issues of forgiveness and reconciliation unanswered.
This he said has led to suicide and gender related violence because of unresolved trauma within the affected community.
Mr Henry Komakech Kilama, a practicing lawyer said everyone in the global village should understand the meaning of forgiveness in bringing peace and justice. He said Uganda should fight against impunity and be ready to receive truth.
He however said, “Leaders fear to hand over power for fear of prosecution. They tend to over stay in power to stay safe from judgment and in turn create poison among the people who suffered their misdeeds.”
Ends
