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At about 2:40pm, today, September 28, 2023, the final batch of 61 ex-Lord's Resistance Army rebels and their families returned from Mboki and Bangassou in the Central African Republic.

Their arrival was under a repatriation exercise co-ordinated by the defence ministry and the Uganda People's Defense Forces. 

The final batch of 61 ex-Lord's Resistance Army rebels and their families returned from Mboki and Bangassou in the Central African Republic. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)

They ex-Lord's Resistance Army rebels and their families touched down at Entebbe International Airport at about 2:30pm.

They touched down at Entebbe International Airport at about 2:30pm and were received at the airbase by a team of senior army officers, led by commander of the air forces Lt. Gen. Charles Okidi, who represented the Commander of Defence Forces. 

Kilak North County Member of Parliament Anthony Akol represented the legislators from Acholi region to receive the ex-fighters. 

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja was in attendance.

The women who returned were 14 including 11 Congolese, who came along with 32 children and a newborn baby.

The returnees included 15 men, including one Congolese and one South Sudanese national. The women were 14 including 11 Congolese, who came along with 32 children and a newborn baby.

The number was originally 67, but a man, his wife and their four children from CAR opted to remain. 

"The Government of Uganda, Ministry of Defence and the UPDF are grateful to all parties involved in this very final stage of bringing an end to the LRA conflict," defence ministry deputy spokesperson Col. Deo Akiiki said. 

The returnees included 15 men, including one Congolese and one South Sudanese national.

Kilak North County Member of Parliament Anthony Akol represented the legislators from Acholi region to receive the ex-fighters.

He explained that there was no more UPDF operation in CAR and that the whereabouts of rebel leader Joseph Kony were unknown. However, it was suspected that he was still hiding in Sudan.  

MP Akol said as a former abductee, he was excited to see Ugandans return home, including some of the 12,000 children who were abducted from the north during the insurgency. 

UPDF officers welcome the ex-fighters.

He said he was happy to talk to the ex-combatants, two of whom were from his constituency and able to speak Acholi, including their wives and children. 

The guest of honour was Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja. 

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Below is a pictorial showing the returnees as they landed back in Uganda, all photos by Eddie Ssejjoba;

Commander of Air Forces Lt. Gen. Charles Okidi

There was also entertainment.

Senior UPDF officers receiving the ex-combatants.

Several NGO workers accompanied the ex-fighters to Entebbe Airbase