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KAMPALA. — Over 3,500 people who suffered the wrath of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have signed a petition to the Ugandan Parliament seeking to renew efforts of ending the rebellion that has affected Africa’s Great Lakes Region. Invisible Children, a non-governmental organisation in a statement issued on Saturday said the petitioners comprise of formerly-abducted children and people affected by the 26-year-old LRA rebellion.
The petitioners are from LRA affected communities in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Central African Republic.
“The petition is part of the activities planned under Invisible Children’s ‘Come Home’ campaign that seeks to revive debate in Uganda and amongst Ugandan authorities about the continued LRA threat to regional stability with a view of permanently ending the LRA and addressing its immediate and long-term effects,” the statement said.
The petition seeks to highlight the plight and challenges facing LRA returnees, obstacles to successful defection, rehabilitation, reintegration, development and effective recovery of LRA affected communities.
The petitioners want the Ugandan Parliament to lobby and take practical measures in favour of the return of all children and people still in LRA captivity including engaging the international community and regional governments. The petition is due to be presented to the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga on November 20. — Xinhua.
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