By Nobert Dacan
On May 19, the Lukodi
Community in Gulu District carried out the 15th annual Commemoration
of the Lukodi Massacre in 2004. It was attended by more than 1000 people from
around the world. During the commemoration, visitors toured the memorial
Monument and the Community Memory Center constructed in 2018 by Foundation for
Justice and Development Initiatives (FJDI) with support from Robert Bosch
Stiftung.
The major talk of the
event was forgiveness. The preacher- Rev Peter Ojok argued that, “the
sufferings Lukodi went through should shape them in the direction of God,” in
his words, “There is a reason for everything that happens. Those who don’t
forgive others live in poor health. Forgiveness is the key to personal
development,” he said. “You should forgive all those who hurt you if you are to
move forward as a community,” he added while referring to the perpetrators of
the massacre.
Taking
you back to the fateful incident; On May 19, 2004, a group of the Lord’s
Resistance Army rebels descended on the Lukodi displaced people's camp after
overpowering a nearby military unit and murdered more than sixty people what
has since been called the Lukodi Massacre. Dominic Ongwen is being tried for
this particularly incident and three other attacks in Odek, Pajule and Abok IDP
camps between 2002 and 2004. He has pleaded not guilty to all. In
Lukodi the rebels also destroyed property, abducted scores of the IDPs, while
others managed to escape with bullet wounds. However, fifteen years after the
attack, the victims complain that government has done nothing to help them
recover from the traumatic incident.
The representative of
victims- Wilfred Lalobo while addressing the congregation said, “We are working
hard to improve our livelihoods but still need support from the government
because we have not received any support since the incident took place.” He
highlighted several challenges the victims are facing and strongly insisted
that they need government support. He further mentioned that the victims need
help in developing and relocating the memory center to a separate place,
establishing a community counseling center to help meet their (victims) psycho-social
needs; and in advocating for reparations. In his words he said, “as victims, we
want to relocate this community center somewhere else and make it bigger and
more informative…we also need a counseling center constructed in the village to
help in providing psycho-social support because the level of trauma is still
high in this area,” He said.
While responding to
these cries, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Gulu district who
represented the president of Uganda in the event started by apologizing to the
community on behalf of the government. His apology was received by notable
hand claps signaling approval by the community. “There has been too much
talking, but I want to start by apologizing on behalf of the government for
your suffering,” he made this remark before emphasizing forgiveness. He also
said, “Prayers is for those alive and for forging the future of the next
generation. Avoid conflicting memory and retraumatization. Stop lamenting and
having self pity but instead utilize existing resources properly,” he said. The
RDC promised to talk to the president saying, “I will talk to the president and
give you feedback in the next annual prayer,” he said
In attendance also
included the leader of opposition in Uganda’s parliament who doubles as the Gulu
district female parliamentarian- Hon. Betty Aol Ochan; and the long time Aswa
county parliamentarian Hon. Reagan Okumu. Both senators asked the community to
forgive their tormentors and focus on economic development.
