Ex-LRA abductees criticise Acholi MPs

GULU. Rights activists and girls who were abducted and subjected to slavery under the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have criticised Members of Parliament (MPs) from Acholi sub-region over what they described as failure to highlight their plight in Parliament.

They said because of MPs’ failure to push Parliament to enact special laws to address the post LRA conflict issues, many are still suffering despite being rescued from captivity.
Ms Lindsay Opiyo, a researcher with Justice, Peace and Reconciliation, said those who escape from LRA captivity are stigmatised.

She made the remarks during a consultative dialogue on sexual and gender-based violence in Gulu Town on Monday.
“Mothers and their children are stigmatised and there is need for government intervention so that the vice is addressed,” she said.

Ms Opiyo said the former LRA abductees should be provided psychosocial support.
Ms Sarah Achola, who was forcibly made a mistress of LRA leader Joseph Kony, said Acholi MPs are not interested in engaging government about the challenges they are facing.

“Despite petitioning Parliament some two years ago, nothing has changed since then, but we hope if there was a follow up by the MP from this region things should have changed for the better,” she said.

Margret Piloya, who spent several years in LRA captivity before being rescued, asked government to address their problem, especially of children born in captivity.

“We the mothers and our children are stigmatised and we have no body to turn too,” she added.
Kilak County MP Gilbert Olanya, who doubles as the Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) general secretary, said they are in the process of following up the petition of the former abducted girl with the ministries of Security, Internal Affairs and Finance.

He added that the process delayed because they were dealing with elections of new members of APG, including the chairperson of the caucus.

[email protected]