Kampala — The Justice and Peace Committee has petitioned the Uganda Human Rights Commission over the alleged conscription of war returnees into the army, reports Emmanuel Mulondo.

Fr. Carlos Rodriguez, the forum secretary, in an April 25 letter to the commission said the practice was "adding more trauma" to the returnees and making their parents "live in anguish." The forum is a Catholic grouping operating in the war-torn district of Kitgum.

Rodriguez said the returnees are detained in Gulu barracks where their parents are not allowed to see them.

He cited the case of 16-year-old Alex Okema, son of Fidensio Oloya and Dukulina Akulu of Akobi village, Palwo Parish in Namokora division, Kitgum.

Okema was abducted by the Kony rebels on January 31, 1999 and escaped captivity from Sudan on January 26.