The Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs in charge of Veteran Affairs, Hon. Huda Abason Oleru, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting survivors and returnees who were abducted or affected by the former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency.
Hon. Oleru made the remarks during a visit to LRA returnees, where she commended them for their resilience and determination to rebuild their lives despite the hardships and trauma they experienced during captivity.
“We appreciate the courage you have shown in returning home and choosing peace. Our responsibility is to continue supporting your recovery and creating opportunities that will enable you to live productive and dignified lives,” Hon. Oleru said.
Hon. Oleru encouraged returnees to take advantage of government development programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga and other livelihood initiatives aimed at improving household incomes and promoting self-reliance.
She said the Government recognises the pain and challenges faced by former abductees and remains committed to supporting their recovery and reintegration into their communities.
Hon. Oleru noted that Uganda began receiving LRA returnees in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with the process becoming more structured following the enactment of the Amnesty Act in 2000. The legislation provided for amnesty to combatants who renounced rebellion and returned to civilian life.
She said reception centres were subsequently established in northern Uganda to support the reintegration and rehabilitation of returnees, including children and former abductees, particularly following peace initiatives aimed at ending the LRA insurgency.
She added that the Government, together with the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) and other stakeholders, would continue supporting efforts to repatriate abductees and former fighters who escape from regional hideouts in neighbouring countries, including the Central African Republic and South Sudan.
She also called on local leaders and communities to continue welcoming and supporting returnees without discrimination or stigma.
The Minister urged cultural and religious leaders, as well as other stakeholders, to promote healing, reconciliation and social cohesion among communities affected by the LRA insurgency.
Hon. Oleru also appreciated RECCE Japan for its support towards programmes aimed at assisting returnees and communities affected by the conflict.
One of the returnees, Mr Otto, expressed gratitude to the Government and development partners for the continued support, including psychosocial counselling, vocational training and livelihood assistance.
He, however, appealed for additional support in areas such as education, healthcare and income-generating projects to enable returnees to become more self-reliant.
The visit is part of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs’ ongoing efforts to monitor the welfare of conflict-affected communities and strengthen programmes promoting recovery, reconciliation and sustainable peace in northern Uganda.
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