MPs collecting evidence to pin Ongwen

By Cyprian Musoke and Julius Adiga

MPs from the districts that were affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency have vowed to collect evidence to pin the indicted LRA Commander Dominic Ongwen who is currently facing charges in the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In meeting between the MPs and the ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda currently in the country for a five-day official visit at Parliament over the weekend, the MPs from the affected regions said they will gather enough evidence for the prosecutor to pin Ongwen, because they were in areas where the atrocities were committed and know where many bodies were buried.

The chairperson of legal and parliamentary affairs committee Stephen Tashobya who moderated the meeting with the prosecutor at parliament told journalists that the Prosecutor’s mission at parliament was to brief the MPs on how she was proceeding with the indictment Ongwen at ICC.

“She briefed us on what has been taking place in the Hague and how Ongwen’s rights have been protected, and when the trial is supposed to take place. The prosecutor is also going to the north to interact with the victims of Ongwen and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) war,” Tashobya said.

“In general MPs expressed support that that people in and outside power must be held to accountable for wrongs and atrocities they commit against humanity,” Tashobya added.

The MPs noted that people who abduct and rape women during warfare should be dealt with severely, a position that has received popular support from the legislators.

However, the MPs expressed concern that the African Union (AU) the Court is only pursuing African belligerents, ignoring those outside the African continent.

They asked the prosecutor to consider those matters and see the best a way forward, to buttress the important role the ICC is playing of checking impunity.

“True, there are mistakes but we shouldn’t throw away the child with the bathing water. Let us first clean the child before adisposing off the water, “Tashobya said.

Soroti MP and former leader of Arrow boy s that fought the LRA incursion in Teso Mike Mukula said that they are behind the ICC on prosecution of Ongwen.

“He should be brought to book by undergoing the due process . Many of our girls and young boys were abducted, taken at tender age of 12, 13, and 14 and girls were forced into marriage. This is unacceptable and some of the girls have gone into irreparable trauma,” Mukula said.

He said there are many mutilated people who have lost lips, ears not forgetting the Barlolyno massacre where over 300 all of which evidence can pin Ongwen and cohorts.

“ I took part in burying the 300 in a semi - circular grave yard, therefore there is no way the people of Lango can let go and say forgive Ongwen and partners,”  Mukula said.

The rebels, he added,  were given the opportunity when the peace talks were going on in Juba, but thy squandered the opportunity by absconding. The peace talks were led by current Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda.

“We then set up internal justice system that they also walked out of. The ICC has taken over as there is no other alternative. There is no way Ongwen can say he is victim that was abducted,” Mukula told the prosecutor.

Those who attended were ten MPs, who included, Ayivu MP Bernard Atiku, Kajara MP Stephen Tashobiya, Dokolo Woman Mp Ciclia Ogawal, Yumbe Woman MP, Huda Oleru, minister for northern Uganda Rebecca Otegu, Felix Okot Ogwong among others.

MP Bernard Atiku said that this was a good opportunity to meet the prosecutor as members from the affected regions to give her an insight. She said they will guide her tour when she visits the sites where atrocities were committed.