NORTHERN NEWS EXTRA
For un-censored news from Northern Uganda
ISSUE No. 6
Introduction&
Following the Barlonyo massacre, Ugandans are still awaiting the truth about what actually took place. If this wasn't Uganda i.e. if this was any other African country where democratic norms are in place or taking root, branches of society would have already launched an independent inquiry (even a judicial enquiry of some sort would have taken place). But then again this is Uganda. The NRM/UPDF are the law - what they say, simply goes. It is for this fact that, not even parliament can suggest to the NRM government that there should be an independent investigation to answer the so many unanswered questions surrounding the massacre. A meek attempt by parliament to declare Northern Uganda a disaster zone, was quickly put down by the commander in chief of the UPDF, Lt. Gen. Museveni himself. Ugandans are therefore left to draw up their own conclusions about what actually happened. In this issue we pose some of the unanswered questions and try and find some answers. For the record ever since the NRM/UPDF government came to power, civilian massacres have taken place at Corner Kilak, Bucoro, Atiak, Agago, Mukura to name but a few. Never on one occasion have there been an independent look at what actually took place. Rather Ugandans have had to make do with whatever the UPDF tells them.On the 04 March 2004 the NRM military dictatorship revealed through the government mouthpiece - the New Vision that they had received information that the LRA were planning another massacre, on a similar scale to Barlonyo. This latest claim by the UPDF has to be seen in light of a similar claim made in September 2003. At that time the UPDF reported that it had received information to the effect that the LRA were planning to kill Acholi religious leaders (religious leaders engaged in trying to find a peaceful resolution to the Northern conflict). It took an emphatic denial by the LRA on an international media that saved the lives of the religious leaders. For it seemed the UPDF were already at an advanced stage in planning the assassination of these very leaders, some of whom it perceived as going against its designs for Northern Uganda.
The latest claim by the UPDF therefore can only but suggest that whatever it hoped to achieve through the Barlonyo massacre, were not all fully achieved hence it is the UPDF's desire to plan another, perhaps even more horrific killing of civilians. Many people would speculate that amongst many of the UPDF's unpalatable designs for Northern Uganda, is its desire to see that the Acholi and Langi people get involved in a full scale war against each other (just like the UPDF managed to achieve in Eastern Congo where the Lendu viciously fought the Hema). It is for this reason and the ones mentioned before that indeed we'll see more massacres occur in Northern Uganda.
On behalf of the team, I bid you a good read.
UPDF mutilates suspect, throws his body through window...
On the 30 October 2003, a civilian by the name of Mr. Komakech came to Gulu town to do some shopping. He was from Lukome, in Gulu district. It was after he had completed his shopping and on the way back to his home, that he was stopped by soldiers belonging to the UPDF's Internal Security Organisation (ISO). These UPDF soldiers were from their branch office next to Acholi Inn i.e. former office of the governor of Northern Uganda during Iddi Amin's time. Komakech was led upstairs where ISO soldiers subjected him to severe torture including cutting bits of his body off. Later on gunshots were heard coming from the direction of the building and shortly afterwards people saw a human body falling down from the window upstairs. ISO officers had shot Mr. Komakech dead and threw his body out of the building through the window. It is believed the UPDF officer who led the execution of Mr. Komakech is called Mugisha and he is well known in Gulu area for his brutality (including killing of civilian suspects).
Mugisha and his troops told people who later arrived at the scene that they had killed Komakech because he had tried jumping through the window. They also said they arrested Komakech because he was a rebel suspect who tried to bomb the GUSCO centre in September 2003 and all along they had been searching for him.
Komakech's body was later taken to Gulu main hospital mortuary using a ministry of work's (government department) tipper lorry for his relatives to come and collect. His relatives never came because they too feared that they would be arrested and suffer the same fate. Komakech's burial was undertaken by Gulu municipal council (through the hospital officials).
UPDF loots home, rape owner..
On 4 January 2004, Jennifer Lalam, a breast-feeding mother, went to her home at Lagwing in Aswa County to harvest potatoes. Lagwing is 6 kms from Gulu town. Upon reaching home, she found Kiswahili speaking UPDF soldiers helping themselves to her property including foodstuff. At first when she saw them, she wanted to run, but then she changed her mind. She proceeded and enquired who they were. The UPDF soldiers explained that they needed just a few things of hers and that they were not interested in harming her. Lalam knowing that she was powerless and with much fear, proceeded to the garden to harvest potatoes. Before she left, the UPDF soldiers told her that she should be very careful as rebels had been reported in the area. Shortly afterwards, the same group of UPDF soldiers, followed her to the potato field, put her at gunpoint and raped her. They then threatened her that if she reported the matter to anybody, they would return and kill her.
After her ordeal, Lalam, went straight to the home of the LC1, a gentleman by the name of Daniel Opige, who unfortunately wasn't at home. Together with a few civilians, she then proceeded to the Detach unit and reported what had happened to the UPDF commander in the area, Captain Ali. At the UPDF detach she was asked to return the following day, where a parade of soldiers would take place. Unknown to the civilians, what the UPDF really wanted was to "whisk" the guilty soldiers away from the area so that when an identity parade took place the UPDF soldiers would not be present. The following day, when Lalam, her husband Lakony plus other civilians returned to the detach, they could not physically identify the guilty UPDF soldiers.
The UPDF commander then offered to pay Lalam an equivalent of what he said was his one-month's salary. When Lalam refused to accept the offer of money, Capt. Ali ordered that the civilians should leave immediately. The UPDF soldier told the civilians that should they return to his unit again, he would have them locked up.
Observers note that given the high level protection given to the guilty UPDF soldiers, this confirms what many people in Northern Uganda believe, and that is that rampant rape and attacks against the civilian population are infact official UPDF policy.
UPDF shoots civilians in Opit...
That the populations of Northern and Eastern Uganda are in displaced people's camps is not as the UPDF would make the world believe, for their own protection. The reasons the people of these areas face the dire conditions they face in the camps are for military reasons thought of by the UPDF. How else could the UPDF explain bombing raids carried out simply to drive people away from their homes into the camps. And the fact that in so many cases, the physical layout of the camps are such that it is the civilians whose dwellings are on the outside, whilst the UPDF barracks are on the inside of the camps i.e. the civilians protecting the UPDF. Observers believe some of the reasons why the UPDF forcibly removed people from their homes in Acholiland were principally to deny the LRA of much needed food, intelligence and recruits. In the camps, the civilians face death from starvation if not disease. Not to mention the fact that it is common practice for UPDF soldiers to move from door to door at night demanding people's wives and or daughters to sleep with.
It was against this background of dire conditions in the camps that the people of Opit camp decided to venture out to their former homes seeking food and firewood so that they could eat.
On 2nd January 2004 a large number of civilians went to the LC1 of the area Mr. Okwera requesting him to go and get permission from the UPDF commander in charge of Opit camp, Lt. Katongole so that they could go back to their former homes to collect some food if not firewood. The UPDF flatly refused the civilians request. It was then that some people decided that rather than die the slow painful way from starvation, they would rather face what may and return to their homes.
On getting information that some civilians had decided to go home, Lt Katongole despatched a large contingent of UPDF soldiers to follow the people to where they had gone. According to one of the civilians, a gentleman by the name of Sam Onen, when the UPDF caught up with them, they shot directly at them with the intention of "teaching them a lesson"/killing them. Several civilians were seriously injured in the incident, and it is unclear how many died as a result of their injuries.
UPDF ambush more civilian vehicles...
In its attempt to see the Acholi and Langi peoples of Northern Uganda at war with each other, the UPDF have made business trips between Kitgum, Pader and Lira one of the most risky journeys ever in Uganda. It was against this background that on 07 February 2004, the UPDF arranged for an ambush of a civilian vehicle in Lira district close to Aswa brigade, just opposite a UPDF detach. Like all UPDF crimes against the civilian population, whether be it by UPDF regular soldiers or the psuedo-LRA outfit, the UPDF blamed the attack on the LRA. When pressed further that the ambush took place just opposite a UPDF detach, the UPDF pointed the finger of blame at the Amuka militia. This is convenient, because it would appear the sole purpose of the ambush was for the UPDF to send a message out that the Amuka are targeting business people from Pader and Kitgum districts and further create tension between the Acholi and Langi.
During the attack of the 07 February 2004, 10 civilians were seriously wounded having sustained bullet wounds (it is unclear what became of the civilians who sustained life threatening injuries). For the record, survivors of the attack confirmed that the ambush was the work of the combined forces of the UPDF and Amuka militia. The merchandise, which the vehicle was carrying like crates of beer, cartons of cigarette, bags of cement, etc., was all looted by the UPDF.
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NB: I hope you will find time to read and sign a petition to stop the Northern Uganda carnage at: http://www.petitiononline.com/savacoli/petition.html
