ADF war victims demand pay

Defiant. Former ADF leader Jamil Mukulu at the Kampala High Court on May 28. Survivors said they were tortured by the rebel group under his command. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA

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Justification. The group says it was subjected to untold suffering during captivity.

Former abductees of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in greater Kibaale and Hoima districts have appealed to government for compensation nearly 20 years since the end of the insurgency.

Speaking at a dialogue organised by the Amnesty Commission in Kagadi Town on Tuesday, more than 20 people said they were abducted by ADF rebels in early 2000 and underwent all forms of torture such as forced labour and forced marriage while in Bugoma forest, which borders Kikuube and Kagadi districts, and jungles in DR Congo.

Kennedy Mugisa said he was abducted in 2000 from Rugashali, Kagadi District, at the age of 12 and taken to Rwenzori Mountains where he spent about four years before the rebels took him and others to DR Congo where they stayed for 10 years.
He said he escaped activity in 2014 after some rebels were captured and or surrendered to the UPDF.
“They tortured me under Jamil Mukulu when I attempted to escape twice from DR Congo forests and Rwenzori Mountains. I regretted why I attempted to escape because they could subject me to daily lashes and starvation for some days on top of carrying heavy materials as we kept on shifting to new places. I was even shot in the leg,” he said.

Ms Mary Twikirize, 35, also of Rugashali, said she was abducted at the age of 17 in 2000 and stayed with ADF rebels for four years before escaping from Bugoma forest.

The survivors urged government to offer them financial packages as a way of consolation for the misery suffered at the hands of their rebel captors.

Msgr Thomas Kisembo from Amnesty Commission revealed that about 20,000 former ADF abductees were each given Shs263,000 in Kasese District, where most of the ADF activities were concentrated, and said the compensation programme will be extended to other districts affected by the insurgency.

He, however, said for one to qualify for compensation, they must possess a certificate, indicating they were victims of rebel incursions and must have been registered by security authorities in the district.

“I am going to contact relevant authorities to ensure you are compensated because we have already compensated those who suffered like you in Kasese, Bundibugyo and Kabarole districts,” Msgr Kisembo said.

Mr Henry Basaliza Alaari, the coordinator De-mobilise Resettlement Team, an organisation that rehabilitates victims of armed insurgency, urged the survivors to shun witchcraft, domestic violence and drug abuse.