Odhiambo to face court â€" Makubuya
Feb 17, 2009
The Attorney General, Dr. Khiddu Makubuya, on Monday said the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) second-in-command, Okot Odhiambo, would face the law once he surrenders or is captured.
By Steven Candia
The Attorney General, Dr. Khiddu Makubuya, on Monday said the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) second-in-command, Okot Odhiambo, would face the law once he surrenders or is captured.
In a statement yesterday, Makubuya dismissed reports that President Yoweri Museveni had promised amnesty to the rebel commander, saying it was necessary that the victims of Odhiambo’s heinous acts see him face the law.
Makubuya, who is also the justice and constitutional affairs minister, said Odhiambo would be subjected to what was agreed at the Juba talks.
“Throughout the peace negotiations, the Government made it clear that whatever the outcome of the peace talks, those responsible for the atrocities in northern Uganda would pay for their actions,†he said.
The Government’s unwavering stance against impunity, Makubuya said, was reflected in the Accountability and Reconciliation agreement.
The agreement provides for the application of criminal and civil justice measures against any individual who is said to have committed crimes or human rights violations in the course of the conflict.
“This position was further fortified in paragraph 7 of the agreement, which provides for the creation of a special division of the High Court to try implicated individuals,†he said.
Makubuya was reacting to an earlier story in the media, titled “Odhiambo won’t face world courtâ€.
He said after Uganda referred the situation in the north to the International Criminal Court, investigations determined that Odhiambo had committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“Ugandans will recall that Okot Odhiambo is one of those individuals suspected to be responsible for some of the gruesome atrocities committed during the conflict,†Makubuya said.
Last month, reports said Amnesty International accused the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) of being involved in secret amnesty negotiations with Odhiambo.
IOM is an agency that facilitates repatriation globally.
The Attorney General, Dr. Khiddu Makubuya, on Monday said the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) second-in-command, Okot Odhiambo, would face the law once he surrenders or is captured.
In a statement yesterday, Makubuya dismissed reports that President Yoweri Museveni had promised amnesty to the rebel commander, saying it was necessary that the victims of Odhiambo’s heinous acts see him face the law.
Makubuya, who is also the justice and constitutional affairs minister, said Odhiambo would be subjected to what was agreed at the Juba talks.
“Throughout the peace negotiations, the Government made it clear that whatever the outcome of the peace talks, those responsible for the atrocities in northern Uganda would pay for their actions,†he said.
The Government’s unwavering stance against impunity, Makubuya said, was reflected in the Accountability and Reconciliation agreement.
The agreement provides for the application of criminal and civil justice measures against any individual who is said to have committed crimes or human rights violations in the course of the conflict.
“This position was further fortified in paragraph 7 of the agreement, which provides for the creation of a special division of the High Court to try implicated individuals,†he said.
Makubuya was reacting to an earlier story in the media, titled “Odhiambo won’t face world courtâ€.
He said after Uganda referred the situation in the north to the International Criminal Court, investigations determined that Odhiambo had committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“Ugandans will recall that Okot Odhiambo is one of those individuals suspected to be responsible for some of the gruesome atrocities committed during the conflict,†Makubuya said.
Last month, reports said Amnesty International accused the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) of being involved in secret amnesty negotiations with Odhiambo.
IOM is an agency that facilitates repatriation globally.