Rebel surrenders indicate end of Ugandan war is near, observers say

Published: 2004-12-08

KAMPALA, Uganda (CNS) -- More than 1,000 Ugandan rebels have laid down their arms and sought reintegration into Ugandan society in 2004, a tangible sign that the end of the country's 18-year war is near, church leaders said. "It is something totally unexpected, especially (since) the first months of this year witnessed one of the worst massacres this conflict has ever witnessed," said Comboni Father Carlos Rodriguez Soto, secretary of the Acholi Religious Leaders' Peace Initiative. "Almost every week or two weeks we have had a lot of attacks on displaced camps, but all of a sudden rebels began surrendering," Father Rodriguez said. Rebels started surrendering in January, he added. "What started as a trickle soon became a flow and a trend," he said. Many rebels have been resettled after being issued amnesty certificates from the government; others have been integrated into the Ugandan army. Uganda passed an amnesty law in 2000, pardoning all rebels who surrender. However, many rebels in the bush feared the amnesty program was government propaganda; rumors spread among rebel camps that they would be executed or poisoned if they returned home. Some rebels feared retribution from residents of the villages they once pillaged. Radio programs across Uganda have urged rebels to turn in their weapons and rejoin society. Among the stations was the "Karibu" or "Welcome" program on the rebuilt Catholic-run Radio Wa, a station rebels burned in 2002. As part of the program, reintegrated rebels broadcast messages to their former colleagues, urging them to leave the guerrillas and return to their families.

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