Ongwen family apologise for LRA ills

Nwoya.

Relatives of former Lord’s Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen have apologised to the Acholi community over the atrocities their son allegedly committed while with the rebel outfit.
The relatives asked the Acholi Paramount Chief, Rwot David Onen Achana II, to intercede for the family and bring back the lost love in the community.

The LRA fought an atrocious war in northern Uganda from 1987 to 2006. During the war there were grisly massacres, abductions, looting, enslavement and torching of villages.

Mr John Odonga, 62, Ongwen’s paternal uncle and a resident of Coorom village in Lamogi Sub-county Amuru District, said in an interview on Wednesday they are touched by the condemnation directed at Ongwen.

Mr Ongwen, who surrendered early this year in Central African Republic, was transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he faces seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Ongwen was among the five top LRA commanders including their leader Joseph Kony and his former deputy, the late Vincent Otti, Raska Lukwiya and Okot Odhiambo, who were indicted by the ICC in 2005 for war crimes meted out to the people of Northern Uganda during the two decades rebellion.

Its estimated that between 300,000 – 500,000 lost their lives while 1.5 million people while displaced. The IDPs lived in despicable camps. Mr Ongwen is the first of the indicted LRA rebels’ commanders to be arraigned at the ICC. On January 26, Ongwen appeared in the ICC pre-trial chamber before Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova and charges were read for him. The case was adjourned to August 24 when hearings will determine if he should face trial.

Mr Odonga said although he (Ongwen) did commit the crimes willingly, he was being commanded by other senior LRA rebel leaders which could have been totally against his wish.

“We would like the Acholi Paramount chief to preach reconciliation in the region. He should make residents understand the circumstances under which our sons committed (some of these) crimes. We should not direct hatred towards each other but rather learn to come together in times of difficulty,” Mr Odonga observed.

Another relative, Ms Magdalena Akot, 52, said Ongwen was abducted at a tender age and forced to commit crimes. She said as an abductee, Ongwen is equally a victim. “We want to apologize on his behalf and ask for forgiveness from each one of the people who were affected his alleged deeds,” Ms Akot said.

Mr Okin Ojara, the Prime Minister Acholi Ker Kal Kwaro welcomed the stance taken by Ongwen’s relatives. He said that the Paramount Chief will be more than willing to broker reconciliation and disseminate such messages to enhance peace in the region.

“Our role has always been to enforce community cohesion and looking at reconciliation as one of the peace bringing mechanisms. We would like to encourage others to come out the same way Ongwen’s relatives have approached Acholi Ker Kal Kwaro,” Mr Ojara said.

Reaction from the locals
Mr Atwoma Otim, a resident of Awach Sub-county in Gulu district however said the Acholi people have been practicing forgiveness for long adding that hatred has never been a part of their tradition.
“We welcome their pleas, we want the relatives to be set free, and even he (Ongwen) should be relieved off what he could have done,” says Mr Atwoma.