Done with training, 133 ex-LRA returnees ready for fresh start
Faridah Dawa, one of the graduates and a DR Congo national, said that she is grateful to God for enabling her attain the training.
Graduates performing a folk song and drama skit during the graduation ceremony on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Photos by Pat Robert Larubi)
David Magere
Journalist @New Vision
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A total of 133 former Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) returnees have graduated after undertaking a one-year training in vocational skills.
They were trained in the areas of carpentry and joinery, saloon and cosmetology, tailoring and garment cutting.
The course was undertaken at their host centre at SOS Children’s Home in Uganda's northern city of Gulu.
The group returned between December 2023 and January 2024, and they included members from Central Africa Republic, DR Congo and South Sudan.
During Saturday's graduation, Dr Kenneth Omona, the Minister of State for Northern Uganda, commended the government and partners for skilling the returnees.
He said it was the effort of the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including Amnesty International and Netherlands-based PAX, that mobilized resources to allow for the rebuilding of the returnees’ lives.
In December 2023, PAX and DR Congo-based NGO APRU announced they would contribute $100,000 to support the returning ex-LRA members.
Omona urged district leaders to help the trained graduates get accommodated back in the communities for a smoother restart of their lives.
That way, they can get contracted by the locals to make furniture, school uniforms, etc as an income-generation channel, he said.
He also asked the Acholi Cultural Institution, led by Rwot David Onen Acana II, to spearhead efforts to re-settle the returnees into their original homelands.
Denis Nkwasibwee, the Amnesty Commission official in charge of Acholi, said instituting the commission enabled the group's return.
He said the skills they have acquired will offer them a firsthand means of earning a living since the majority of them lack the key means of production, especially land.
Rwot David Ocana II, the Acoli Paramount Chief(King) arriving for the ceremony as one of the guest of honors.
“Since land acquisition or reacquisition may be a challenge, having the vocational skills shall help them restart building their lives afresh," said Nkwasibwee.
He urged the Members of Parliament from the Acholi to help push for more funding from Amnesty International to help in supporting such endeavors of supporting persons who have been victims of war.
'I can now read and write'
Faridah Dawa, one of the graduates and a DR Congo national, said that she is grateful to God for enabling her attain the training.
“I thank President Yoweri Museveni for the amnesty extended to us, together with PAX and other partners who invested in us."
She said that thanks to the skills training, she can now read and write.
Ali Doctor Achaye, another graduate and leader of the returnees, thanked the parties who put mobilized the resources to have them skilled.
He said the skills attained will help them in starting small-scale entrepreneurship in line with their respective areas of study.