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Over 28,000 Ugandans have been demobilised from about 40 rebel groups since the country’s Amnesty Commission was established in 2000.

This was revealed by the spokesperson of the commission, Moses Draku, on Wednesday (June 19) at a press conference at the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala.

Former ADF rebels demonstrating what happens in the jungles of DR Congo when the rebels attack communities.

He made the remarks during the presentation of another group of 30 former Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters and victims of abduction to the media.

These former fighters and victims were rehabilitated by the Bridgeway Foundation in partnership with the UPDF and will soon be reunited with their families in both Uganda and DR Congo.

Draku said out of the over 28,000 former rebels, the majority (13,500) are from the Lord’s Resistance Army, 6,500 from the West Nile Bank Front, 3,500 from the defunct Uganda National Rescue Front II and over 2,500 from the ADF.

“I urge those who are still in the bush to come back home because the war will not succeed and the good thing is that organizations like the UPDF are very welcoming. You surrender to them and they bring you back home,” he said.

He also said those who seek to be pardoned by the State will also be assisted by other organisations such as the Bridgeway Foundation.

Former fighter and vicitims shwowing off some of the things they have made. These former fighters and victims were rehabilitated by the Bridgeway Foundation in partnership with the UPDF

“I encourage those who have come back home to tell their friends and relatives who are still in rebellion that they have been well received and resettled well. So, encourage them to come back,” Draku implored the former rebels back home.

He thanked the UPDF and the Bridgeway Foundation for doing a lot of work for them as a commission. 

Former rebels assembling a motorcycle engine after the rehabilitation. These former fighters and victims were rehabilitated by the Bridgeway Foundation in partnership with the UPDF

The commission is under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and was established under the Amnesty Act 2000 to implement the Amnesty Act, which sought to give a blanket amnesty to reporters or the people involved in rebellion who seek to be pardoned by the State.