Ex-West Nile rebels return, end rebellion
May 09, 2004
A group of 20 former fighters of the West Nile Bank Front (WNBF) of Taban Amin arrived in Uganda on Friday, ending years of rebellion.<br>
By Emmanuel Mulondo
A group of 20 former fighters of the West Nile Bank Front (WNBF) of Taban Amin arrived in Uganda on Friday, ending years of rebellion.
The United Nations Mission in the DR Congo (MONUC) facilitated the return. They were received by the in-charge of West Nile region Amnesty Commissioner Bruhane Ganyanna Miiro.
Present were MONUC political affairs officers, Phillipe De Bard and Samuel Muganda who thanked the Amnesty commission for the tireless effort to make the return a reality.
Leading the group was Col. Jacob Olema, WNBF spokesman Maj. Frank Cajetan and Lt. Col. Modesta Ajura.
Miiro said the Amnesty Commission would undertake to transport them to their homes, give them a resettlement package, education on the political situation and sensitisation on HIV/AIDS.
He said the community would also be sensitised to receive them warmly and forget the old scores.
“We shall tell the returnees not to claim wives they left behind if they had married other men. We shall advise them to get fresh ones who are free of AIDS,†Miiro said.
The group publicist, Maj. Cajetan, said some fighters had spent about 25 years in exile, since the late former president, Idi Amin was deposed.
He said the original exiles belonged to the then Uganda Army that existed at Independence but was exiled when Amin was deposed.
Cajetan said part of the former fighters were in Kinshasa while others were Kitona where the DRC government had quarantined them, adding that they were happy to return.Ends
A group of 20 former fighters of the West Nile Bank Front (WNBF) of Taban Amin arrived in Uganda on Friday, ending years of rebellion.
The United Nations Mission in the DR Congo (MONUC) facilitated the return. They were received by the in-charge of West Nile region Amnesty Commissioner Bruhane Ganyanna Miiro.
Present were MONUC political affairs officers, Phillipe De Bard and Samuel Muganda who thanked the Amnesty commission for the tireless effort to make the return a reality.
Leading the group was Col. Jacob Olema, WNBF spokesman Maj. Frank Cajetan and Lt. Col. Modesta Ajura.
Miiro said the Amnesty Commission would undertake to transport them to their homes, give them a resettlement package, education on the political situation and sensitisation on HIV/AIDS.
He said the community would also be sensitised to receive them warmly and forget the old scores.
“We shall tell the returnees not to claim wives they left behind if they had married other men. We shall advise them to get fresh ones who are free of AIDS,†Miiro said.
The group publicist, Maj. Cajetan, said some fighters had spent about 25 years in exile, since the late former president, Idi Amin was deposed.
He said the original exiles belonged to the then Uganda Army that existed at Independence but was exiled when Amin was deposed.
Cajetan said part of the former fighters were in Kinshasa while others were Kitona where the DRC government had quarantined them, adding that they were happy to return.Ends