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By Martin AnguyoArua City The Lord’s resistance Army (LRA) war victims in West Nile have planned for a regional demonstration after the government has delayed to compensate them. The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) conflict, a brutal and multifaceted war that beg
By Martin Anguyo
Arua City
The Lord’s resistance Army (LRA) war victims in West Nile have planned for a regional demonstration after the government has delayed to compensate them.
The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) conflict, a brutal and multifaceted war that began in 1987 and has been marked by extreme violence, abductions, and human rights abuses, has left an indelible mark on the people of West Nile. Despite the conflict's devastating impact, the government has failed to provide timely compensation to the victims since 2021.
The planned demonstration is a symptom of a larger issue. As Alex Matua, chairman of West Nile LRA war victims, notes, they are ready for the demonstration and can't keep quiet anymore. “We are just waiting as the time is coming, because it is election time, we are going to demonstrate and we are not going to vote any candidate from NRM, and this is what we have planned. We can’t be deceived like this, we are not kids.
If they think it is going to be easy, let them wait and see. When I will be leading my members, it will not be an easy thing and any government leader who comes on our way will get it rough. This 30 billion Ugandan shillings, where has it gone and on top of that our members of parliament are not saying anything over the money, proving they have been sleeping" Alex angrily said.
The LRA war may have officially ended in terms of large-scale violence, but its impact continues to be felt. The victims' struggle for justice and compensation is a reminder that the true cost of conflict goes far beyond the battlefield.
As Pamela Acidi, one of the victims, testifies, the pain and suffering endured during the LRA war are still fresh in her mind. “My body is in total pain, the nails are all gone and they told us His Excellency was going to meet us and we waited for him all in vain. So I don’t know what to do because I have nothing on hand right now yet I had enough for living" Pamela recounts.
The victims' decision to demonstrate is driven by a deep-seated desire for justice and recognition. The demonstration is a cry for help, a plea for the government to acknowledge their plight and provide the necessary support.