Today in history: Lakwena attacks Magamaga
She was popularly referred to as Lakwena because she is believed to have channelled a spirit called Lakwena that means Messenger in Acholi.
The Holy Spirit Group of Alice Lakwena born Alice Auma launched a futile attack on Magamaga Ordinance Depot and lost about 100 warriors.
They launched the attack from the Jinja side of the barracks, after approaching it via Magamaga Railway Station, while Lakwena commanded from one of the Kakira Sugar Works labour quarters, where she entered with Lt Col John Kilama.
Who is Lakwena
Alice Auma in 1956 to Severino Lukoya and Ibarina Ayaa in Bungatira Sub-county in Gulu district. She was a fishmonger and flour trader at Opit railway station.
After two failed marriages, she fled and reappeared after four weeks claiming to have been possessed by a spirit.
Alice Lakwena (centre) with two of followers. File Photo
As a spirit-medium who, she constituted, headed the Holy Spirit Movement and led a millennial rebellion against the Ugandan government forces of President Yoweri Museveni from August 1986 until November 1987.
She was popularly referred to as Lakwena because she is believed to have channelled a spirit called Lakwena that means Messenger in Acholi.
She claimed the spirit could make her poorly armed Holy Spirit Movement fighters invulnerable in battle.
After the Holy Spirit Movement forces were defeated by Museveni's troops in 1987, Lakwena fled to Kenya. Many of her followers joined the insurgent Lord's Resistance Army under Joseph Kony, who was reported to be her cousin.
She died on January 17, 2007, in the Ifo refugee camp, Garissa district, in Kenya.
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