LRA displace 70,000 in DR Congo

Kony chatting with Rwot Acana as rebels watch in their jungle hideout
GENEVA, Switzerland - The World Food Programme said on Wednesday it is extending its humanitarian operations across the eastern DR Congo, including areas hit by a conflict involving LRA rebels.

“WFP is concerned about a humanitarian crisis unfolding in Orientale Province, in the far north-east of the DRC (around Dungu), where rebels from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have been attacking civilians and forcing thousands to flee their villages,” the organisation said in a statement.

“WFP is preparing to assist about 70,000 people who have been forced from their homes and live in fear of their children being abducted by the LRA,” it said.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced in the two decades of fighting between the LRA and the Ugandan Government.

The area around Dungu is extremely difficult to reach because of both insecurity and impassable roads, so the WFP said it was opening a strategic air bridge between Dungu and Entebbe in Uganda which it would also make available to other aid agencies.
“There is also a possibility of using air drops to provide much-needed food assistance,” the agency said.

Across the whole of the eastern DRC, including Nord-Kivu province which has seen heavy fighting between government troops and rebels led by ex-general Laurent Nkunda, the WFP said it has delivered food to about 564,000 people in November.

LRA leader Joseph Kony failed to turn up on Saturday to sign an overdue peace agreement aimed at ending the two-decade-long civil war in the north.
A signing ceremony was to be held in Ri-Kwangba, a jungle town in southern Sudan, for the LRA leader to ink the deal finalised in April and already signed by the Government.

Civil and religious leaders travelled to Ri-Kwangba hoping Kony would turn up to sign the peace agreement.

Orombi concludes Northern tour

Bwola dancers at Bungatira in Ajulu Archdeaconry
Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi holding one of the many gifts during his pastoral visit to the Diocese


Anglican Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi has decried the rampant land wrangle in Northern Uganda. He said the problem is worst in Amuru district where he visited for three days. Delivering a sermon at Christ Church on Sunday, Archbishop Orombi appealed to the public to help political leaders find amicable solution to the land wrangles. He also caution the Acholi against selling the land saying the land has been given to them by God for them and future generations to live in. He said many people had learnt that the Acholi land is fertile and therefore need a piece of it. He warned the rich not to provoke the situation by wanting to buy big chunk of land. Archbishop Orombi concluded his pastoral tour of the Diocese of Northern Uganda on Sunday 30, December 2008

Meanwhile Archbishop Orombi has tasked the Northern Diocese Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng to explain why he was never received with royal bwola dance during his visit except in Bungatira.
Archbishop Orombi said Acholi have the best traditional dance and music in Uganda and was surprised to note that he was not welcome by Bwola dance during his visit. Bishop Nelson referred the question to Archdeacons of Keyo Rev. J.P Nyeko and Rev. Oyet William Willies who explained that it is pagan way to use local dance and songs.
Archbishop Orombi who is a guitarist himself appealed to the clergy to unbind the Christians to let them use sanctified local songs and dances to worship the Lord.

Clerics in New Uniform

The General Secretary Bible Society of Uganda Mr. Henry Kalule hands over a clerical shirt to Rev. Jane Toodera

Henry Kasule, Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng and Rev. Joyce Lakot, members of the Bible Society and Clergy of the Diocese of Northern Uganda pose for a general photo after receiving the clerical shirts

As preparation for the visit of the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda gains momentum, the clergy of the Diocese of northern Uganda got a morale lifting when a delegation from the Bible Society of Uganda donated Clerical Shirt to all of them; both retired and in active service.
The General Secretary Bible Society of Uganda Mr. Henry Kalule who led the team said “We as members of the Bible Society decided to offer the little we could to support our brothers and sisters in this diocese”
The clergy appreciated the gift and pledge their commitment in spreading the good news of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. They thanked Bible Society for demonstrating practically the Good Samaritan today. They also said the clerical shirts would make them appear very smart in front of the Archbishop who is scheduled to visit from November 24-30, 2008

IDP close

Following the relative peace that has been enjoyed by the people in northern Uganda for the last two years, a good number are returning to their original homes. According to a survey carried out by the District recently over 80% have returned to their home in Gulu District. It has also been found out that those who are not able to support themselves are still in the camps the category includes; orphans, widows, disable as well as old people.
In another related development, some of those who were in the Lord's Resistance Army are finding life difficult, some of them cannot go back home for fear that the community may not accept them. Part of the reason for this negative feeling is based on some accusation of being involved in abduction in own village during the war. One of those I spoke to told me “our land has been taken away by some people I fear to argue with them"

Reports from Kitgum say, District authorities last week launched the phase-out of the internally displaced people’s (IDP) camps. This was to facilitate people’s return to their original homes. Speaking at the launch at Labongo Amida IDP camp in Chua County, the deputy resident district commissioner, Sylvester Opira, said the phase-out followed assessment and recommendations by the district disaster management committee. “In Amida camp, over 80% of the population has already left the camps near their home villages. The remaining 20% comprises the elderly, disabled and children,” Opira said

ICC inquires on Congo’s Kony pursuit

New Vision Thursday, 23rd October, 2008

By John Odyek

THE International Criminal Court (ICC) has asked for the steps the DR Congo has taken in pursuing the indicted leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

In 2005, the ICC sought for the arrest of the LRA’s top leaders who were hiding in the DR Congo’s Garamba National Park.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ICC stated that it needed the information by November 17.

Kony and his top commanders have been indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

“On September 27 2005 the requests for (the) arrest and surrender of Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen, were submitted to the DR Congo, following information from Uganda that the LRA had been based in that country for more than three years, specifically in Garamba National Park,” the statement read.

The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber II noted that Article 87 (7) of the Rome Statute, provides that when a state party fails to comply with a request to cooperate, the Court may make a finding to that effect and refer the matter to the Assembly of States Parties.

“The Chamber ordered the Registrar to promptly transmit the request to the Government of the Congo,” the statement read.

Uganda referred the situation to the court on January 29 2004. The ICC prosecutor opened an investigation on 29 July 2004.

A Conservative-led resolution calling for Uganda to resume its efforts to bring Kony to the ICC was passed on Tuesday by the Members of the European Parliament at a sitting in France.

The resolution, authored by a member of UK’s Conservatives and a Member of the European Parliament, Nirj Deva, is critical of Uganda’s halting of efforts to capture Kony.

The warlord is accused of 33 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. “Peace and reconciliation cannot be achieved for the LRA’s victims until Kony stands in the dock and answers the allegations.

The Ugandan government and other governments in the region, especially the DR Congo must step up efforts to capture Kony and deliver him to the ICC, which will decide whether it is appropriate for him to stand trial in Uganda,” Deva said.

The UN estimates that the LRA has kidnapped 20,000 children in the past two decades, turning the boys into soldiers and the girls into sex slaves.

In April, Kony did not appear to sign the final peace deal in South Sudan.