More than 28,000 Ugandans who were previously engaged in rebel activities have benefited from the country’s amnesty programme since 1986.

Speaking at the Uganda Media Center Justice Onega Peter, Chairperson of the Amnesty Commission of Uganda, said a total of 28,340 ex-combatants involved in insurgent activities, collaborating with rebel groups, or supporting rebellion in various ways have been granted amnesty.

Justice Onega explained that the amnesty process allows former combatants to abandon armed rebellion and reintegrate into civilian life through the Commission’s demobilization programme.

The largest number of returnees comes from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), with 13,605 ex-combatants granted amnesty.

Other groups include the West Nile Bank Front with over 6,580 returnees, the Uganda National Rescue Front II (UNRF II) with over 3,250, the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) with 2,764, and 2,140 former fighters from 26 smaller rebel groups that are no longer active.

Justice Onega emphasized that the amnesty programme remains a crucial tool in encouraging former rebels to abandon armed conflict and contribute positively to Uganda’s development.

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