Zahra Abigaba
6 August 2008
LRA rebel leader Joseph Kony's former peace negotiator, James Obita, yesterday received his amnesty certificate, completing a process he says constituted no betrayal of the rebel leader.
Seven other former rebels received their certificates during a ceremony at the Amnesty Commission country headquarters in Kampala yesterday.
They each received an "acknowledgement package" worth Shs263,000. The package included a mattress, jerricans, basins, saucepans and blankets. The Amnesty Commission is a statutory body set up by the government in 2000 to give blanket amnesty to surrendering rebels.
The period for granting amnesty expired in May 2008. The government, optimistic that more rebels would come out to seek amnesty for past crimes, has now extended the period to two years.
The chairman of the Amnesty Commission, Justice Peter Onega said: "The recipients of the certificates will be fully integrated in their communities."
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