Lakwena sets new conditions
Apr 14, 2006
ALICE Auma Lakwena, the leader of the Holy Spirit Movement, has set new conditions for her return from exile in Kenya. <br>
By Emmy Allio
ALICE Auma Lakwena, the leader of the Holy Spirit Movement, has set new conditions for her return from exile in Kenya.
She wants the Government to pay her Ksh12m (about sh312m) in damages for her 3,000 head of cattle that the LRA soldiers ate and several of her houses razed in Gulu town.
Lakwena, an Acholi spirit-medium who, as the head of the Holy Spirit Movement and led a rebellion against the Government from August 1986 to November 1987.
Lakwena had earlier demanded $50,000 (about sh90m), which the Government fulfilled.
“I am Alice Lakwena, calling from Ifo refugee camp in northern Kenya. I am calling you (The New Vision) to tell the Government that I want to return home as quickly as possible,†she said yesterday in a telephone conversation.
She spoke fluent English with Luo accent.
She added, “I am C-24 block of the camp. I am a former rebel commander. I am happy to hear that my people (the Acholi) are now being sent home from the IDP camps.â€
Security minister Betty Akech, one of the negotiaters for her return, said the new conditions were unreasonable.
“Compensating her for what? People will get angry if such an amount is paid to her. Will Lakwena also compensate the lives of the people she killed and property she destroyed?†she queried.
She said the population in the north was angered when the Government gave her $50,000. “She has no capacity to do anything. She cannot stop anything in the north,†she said.
Asked if the Government would provide air tickets for Lakwena, Akech said, “These are reasonable demands which we are willing to offer whenever she is ready to return.â€
Lakwena said, “Me and my 46 fighters in exile also deserve to return home. But I want the Government to pay for the destruction Kony did to my property. Those Kony killers destroyed my 3,000 head of cattle and many houses along Opit railway station,†she said. Kony and Lakwena are related.
She said the Government gave her $50,000 for setting up an ‘AIDs drug’ industry and a ‘hospital’ for AIDs patients.
She stated, “I produced 100 litres of the AIDs drug and it was taken and transported by UAC people for administering to patients on Gulu-Patiko road in northern Uganda. My drugs are strong and are helping people dying of the disease.†She attacked ministers Akech and Grace Akello for blocking her from speaking to President Yoweri Museveni.
She said when her delegation, led Baptist Okidi and Mark Okello Oyat, met Museveni, they were given a satellite telephone for her to speak to the President. “But, this phone had no airtime and no telephone number of Museveni. I am yet to speak to the President.â€
Asked whether she does not fear Kony rebels, she said, “If I come back, there will be total peace in northern Uganda. There will never be war again.
“Kony will not disturb me. He knows me. He knows that I am a fighter and commander. I will handle Kony.â€
Lakwena was born in 1956.
ALICE Auma Lakwena, the leader of the Holy Spirit Movement, has set new conditions for her return from exile in Kenya.
She wants the Government to pay her Ksh12m (about sh312m) in damages for her 3,000 head of cattle that the LRA soldiers ate and several of her houses razed in Gulu town.
Lakwena, an Acholi spirit-medium who, as the head of the Holy Spirit Movement and led a rebellion against the Government from August 1986 to November 1987.
Lakwena had earlier demanded $50,000 (about sh90m), which the Government fulfilled.
“I am Alice Lakwena, calling from Ifo refugee camp in northern Kenya. I am calling you (The New Vision) to tell the Government that I want to return home as quickly as possible,†she said yesterday in a telephone conversation.
She spoke fluent English with Luo accent.
She added, “I am C-24 block of the camp. I am a former rebel commander. I am happy to hear that my people (the Acholi) are now being sent home from the IDP camps.â€
Security minister Betty Akech, one of the negotiaters for her return, said the new conditions were unreasonable.
“Compensating her for what? People will get angry if such an amount is paid to her. Will Lakwena also compensate the lives of the people she killed and property she destroyed?†she queried.
She said the population in the north was angered when the Government gave her $50,000. “She has no capacity to do anything. She cannot stop anything in the north,†she said.
Asked if the Government would provide air tickets for Lakwena, Akech said, “These are reasonable demands which we are willing to offer whenever she is ready to return.â€
Lakwena said, “Me and my 46 fighters in exile also deserve to return home. But I want the Government to pay for the destruction Kony did to my property. Those Kony killers destroyed my 3,000 head of cattle and many houses along Opit railway station,†she said. Kony and Lakwena are related.
She said the Government gave her $50,000 for setting up an ‘AIDs drug’ industry and a ‘hospital’ for AIDs patients.
She stated, “I produced 100 litres of the AIDs drug and it was taken and transported by UAC people for administering to patients on Gulu-Patiko road in northern Uganda. My drugs are strong and are helping people dying of the disease.†She attacked ministers Akech and Grace Akello for blocking her from speaking to President Yoweri Museveni.
She said when her delegation, led Baptist Okidi and Mark Okello Oyat, met Museveni, they were given a satellite telephone for her to speak to the President. “But, this phone had no airtime and no telephone number of Museveni. I am yet to speak to the President.â€
Asked whether she does not fear Kony rebels, she said, “If I come back, there will be total peace in northern Uganda. There will never be war again.
“Kony will not disturb me. He knows me. He knows that I am a fighter and commander. I will handle Kony.â€
Lakwena was born in 1956.