By Christopher Nyeko
ENTEBBE: Details have emerged regarding the 14 former Lord Resistance Army- LRA rebels who were last week repatriated to Uganda after surrendering to the UPDF in the Central African Republic recently.
The returnees who had been in the rebellion for more than a decade were welcomed in the county by a delegation led by Prime Minister of Uganda Rt Hon. Robinah Nabanja, government officials and members of Acholi parliamentary group-APG.
They were abducted from northern Uganda and Congo and later forced into the rebellion by the LRA rebels who were fighting the government of Uganda in the late 90 and early 2000s.
Most of these were abducted during their childhood and they include: Simon Oceng, Olyeti Patrick, Komakech James, Lieutenant colonel Acaye Doctor, Kidaga Denis, Acaye Iyiko, James Ongom, Patrick Oyul Komakech and James Ocira.
Others are: Solomon Wokorach Tabu, Richard Olanya Mobile, Simon Okello, Patrick Mujio and Pascal Adohe.
This website has established details about each of these former rebels and brings them to you.
Simon Oceng who returned along with one wife and four children, was abducted in 1996 from Pabo Sub County, Labala Parish. He hails from Palwong kiri in Amuru district and he was a pupil at Pemain-Lawak primary school at the time he was abducted.
Another returnee is Olyeti Patrick who was abducted in 1997 from Atyiak Parwaca while in P1 at Oliya Primary school in Amuru district. He returned along with one wife and four children while Okello Simon was abducted in 1994 from Pabo Pagaya while in P3 at Pagaya primary school.
Komakech James, who returned with one wife and four children, was abducted from Atyiak Parwaca in 2002 while in P6 at Pongdwongo Primary also in Amuru district.
Lieutenant colonel Acaye Doctor was abducted from Pabbo Centre in 1998 while in P2 at Agole primary school in Amuru district. Acaye, who has two wives, came along with only one of them and 7 children while the second wife was left in the Central African Republic after delivering a day before they flew to Uganda.
Denis Kidaga was abducted from Laliya Tol Manwang in 2002 while he was in P5 at Laliya Primary school now in Gulu city. He returned to Uganda with one wife and seven children while Acaye Iyiko who was abducted from Paicho Ngom-rom in 1995 also in Gulu city while in P5 at Pakwelo Primary school, returned along with one wife and two children.
James Ongom James was abducted in 1996 from Lamin-lawino, Koch Ongako Sub County while he was in Primary four at Lamin-lawino Primary school in Koch Ongako Sub County in Omoro district. He returned along with one wife and two children.
Another returnee Patrick Komakech Oyul was abducted in 1996 from Amida west Sub County, Lamola Parish Dyeodwor village in Kitgum district. Komakech was abducted alongside his brother David Ociti David who died in the bush. He returned home with one wife and a child.
Meanwhile, James Ocira who was abducted from Labongo Layamo sub county Pamolo Parish in 2003 while he was in P3 at Ayuma Primary school, Kitgum district, returned with 2 wives and two children.
Solomon Wokorach Tabu who hails from Omiya Anyima sub county Akobi Parish, Kitgum district, was abducted in 2003 while studying at Lupur primary school while Richard Olanya Mobile who hails from Omiya Anyima in Kitgum district, was abducted in 2003 while he was in P4 at Lupur primary school. Both of them left their wives and children in the Central African Republic for unknown reasons.
The returnees who were abducted outside northern Uganda include Patrick Mujio from Nakasongola district who was abducted in 2005 from Jira Bandi in DR. Congo and Pascal Adohe, a Congolese national who was abducted in 2001.
Margaret Lamwaka Odwar, the Chua East Constituency Member of Parliament in Kitgum district says they have managed to locate the relatives to some of these returnees.
She however adds that the returnees are still being kept in a hotel in Entebbe where they are undergoing medical examinations to ascertain their health statuses and later offered psychosocial support before they are reunited with their families.
The MP adds that as leaders from the Acholi region they are engaging the government to consider absorbing some of these returnees into the UPDF so that they are able to support their family.
Attempts to get a comment from Felix Kulaigye, the UPDF spokesperson on the matter were futile as he could not answer our repeated phone calls.
