Commissioner Apologizes to Lukodi Massacre Survivors; Promises to Talk to the President

By Nobert Dacan

On May 19, the Lukodi Community in Gulu District carried out the 15^th 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.

Hon. Reagan remarked that, “peace is not only the silence of the gun; you should utilize the existing peace for economic development. It is important to focus towards education and poverty eradication, Let us focus on uplifting the poor of the poorest,” He went on saying, “at this point you should focus on lobbying for war reparations from government.”