Former Ugandan Child Solider "Dominic Ongwen" is a victim of the state

 UGANDA TODAY!

Charles Tolit, a Ugandan human rights lawyer and journalist recently stated that when it comes to the justice for the people in Northern Uganda, "the choices for justice should not be cheap." Meaning that Dominic Ongwen's case should not be used as to settle all the layers of responsibility that occurred in a war that lasted over twenty years in Northern Uganda. 

There are many "Dominic Ongwens" in Uganda. There are lots of adults now who as children; ( 14 yrs. old Dominic was) were abducted, brain-washed, stripped of all understanding of humanity and turned into monsters, as in trained to kill other humans in cold blood by men who wanted power and control of the state at all cost. 

 The core of Uganda sits at a history that makes Uganda more like all the other African countries in Africa. Especially her history of war and child-soilders. I mean until recently...children in Africa always fought in battle, as far as history dates, there has always been child soldiers in (Africa) Uganda.

I am neither the judge nor the author of moral laws and I stand for the motion that Dominic should be tried by his people. Seeing Dominic appear at the Hague is not in line with what the leaders of (Africa) Uganda preach about the Hague. 

In Uganda's History; the only peaceful exchange of Head of State happened in 1960s when the British's Union Jack came down and the Ugandan Flag rose under the African skies to birth of a new nation.

Right from the start; Uganda faced many rebel groups who were all men fighting to gain power of the country's resources and the position as Head of State.

There were many rebel groups I said, all formed to overthrow all the government/s that ruled Uganda at that time, basically from formation all the way to 1986 when a rebel group, not the LRA...but the NRA (National Resistance Army) seized power by the gun and has ruled our nation since then. So if you ask me, Uganda is ruled by former rebels some who came into the country from other African countries like Rwanda.

The President of Uganda and the President of Rwanda were once upon a time rebels fighting the governments of those two countries.

The NRA, a rebel group...rebranded themselves as the NRM (National Resistance Movement) created a sense of democratic and constitution rule that has made them some of the longest ruling rebel group turned into government in the entire world.

They can not tell their history without mentioning how they fought for their peace, almost prompting a series of questions, such as...what else can you do to overthrow the NRA/M without using the same force they used, the power of the gun!

 

"In Africa now days those that came by the gun still rule by it.." 

Although "Dominic Ongwen's group, the Lord's Resistance Army, led by Joseph Konyi is well known for it's contribution to  the Northern Uganda twenty plus year civil war.

For facts, it is not the only rebel group in Uganda to ever wage a civil war against the people of Uganda using child soldiers. And Uganda has found a way to move on from gun to gun...from boy to man...from girl to woman, Uganda has moved on like the waters of her Nile River/s.

It is well document that the NRA/M now in power had similar practices earlier in their coups that led them to power, child-soliders

 in fact were at the front end of the war in the 1980s, some of those former child-soilders have been forgiven by Ugandans their war hurt, and now, for the generation that fought and won, should clearly understand that the losers like "Dominic Ongwens" deserve a chance to all moral arcs of the law. 

"Dominic Ongwen" represents hundreds of former/children in this generation who were taken against their will and were trained to rape and kill their friends, families and neighbors.

I am for the motion that his trail should not serve as the highest order of justice the people of Northern Uganda can have.

 I am for the motion that his trail should be handled carefully because we know that "Dominic Ongwen" has a resume worth noting.

Taken against his will at age 14. He has managed to survive the bush for so long that he gave up himself peaceful.

With his wives and children still on the run. With comrades and other sources. The trail express many things, among these, that former child solders won't be surrendering and coming home, afraid of such treatment. And that my friends, leaves a sour test across the hills and valleys of The Pearl of the African Crown, Uganda.

And finally I cannot defend "Dominic Ongwen's" criminal record because I am not a lawyer. But those representing him should not fail to prove his case as a child the Ugandan state could not protect. Not just him but for the many others  still on the run.

For God!  For my Country!"

I am Jeremy Jjemba

www.trueinitiative.org