Lira Women Call for Peace Talks
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New Vision (Kampala)
October 29, 2003
Posted to the web October 29, 2003
James Oloch
Kampala
LIRA women have petitioned President Yoweri Museveni to seek dialogue with Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels to end the 17-year-old insurgency.
The women's spokesperson, Florence Otongo, made the request during a district security meeting at the council chamber last Friday.
"We have suffered a lot. The LRA rebels have killed, maimed and abducted our husbands and children. Women have been widowed, raped and lead a miserable life," she said.
She said the rebels defiled, forcefully married and frequently killed girls.
Otongo said women bore the brunt of pain and suffering, especially when their children and husbands get killed in the protracted war.
She said women in the district wanted to have a face-to-face meeting with the President on the war.
They requested the President to pitch camp in Lira as he has done in the districts of Gulu and Soroti.
She said his presence improves the situation and boosts the army's morale.
