Govt repatriates second batch of ex-LRA rebels
Repatriated Ex LRA rebel Gen Faustine Olango with his other Family on arrival at Entebbe International Airport on August 14. Photo/Eve Muganga
What you need to know:
- Gen Faustine Olango who led the returnees thanked both governments for working together to see that they get back home safely.
Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) has repatriated the second batch of the former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels and their family members back to Uganda from the Central African Republic (CAR).
The 16 returnees who include women and children arrived at Entebbe International Airport aboard a Kenya Airways flight number KQ 579 on Monday, August 14.
They were received by the Minister of State for Defense in charge of Veteran Affairs, Ms Oleru Huda Abason together with the State Minister for Primary Education, Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu and Lt. Gen. Charles Okidi, Commandant Airforce who represented the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi among other dignitaries.
“You are back home and you are very safe because you have the amnesty. Uganda started resettling people a long time ago. You are going to be reunited with your families which you had missed for all those years. We thank God for this,” said Minister Oleru while addressing the returnees in the VIP Press Room.
She commended the President of Uganda and the one of CAR for working together to ensure that the repatriation is successfully done.
“We are happy that they have accepted to come back and as government it is our responsibility to welcome them since they accepted dropping the guns,” she said.
She added that “last time we received around 69. Today we have received 16 and we are still in negotiation with others with hope that they will also come back. We shall continue to give them confidence that nobody is going to imprison them. We expect a total of around 100 people at the end of the exercise.”
Lt. Gen. Okidi also assured the returnees of good treatment and commitment to peacefully resettle them.
“We are happy that our brothers denounced the useless war. We are ready to pick any Ugandan from anywhere in the world to integrate them home safely and peacefully. My brother Olango, you took a very good positive decision to get out and come out, you will prove it by yourself,” he said.
Gen Faustine Olango who led the returnees thanked both governments for working together to see that they get back home safely.
“On 14th April 2018 we settled in CAR where we have been involved in cultivating and warmly welcomed by the community in CAR which inspired us to look forward to getting back home,” Mr Olango said.
