Kampala — A total of 23,526 rebels from 28 rebel groups have denounced rebellion, and have received amnesty since 2000, the chairman of the Amnesty Commission has said.

According to the list submitted to the parliamentary committee on commissions and state enterprises yesterday, the largest number of rebels who got amnesty were from the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)â-àat 12, 645.

The second largest group were of the West Nile Bank Front (4,316).

The list submitted to the committee by Justice Peter Onega ranks the Uganda National Rescue Front II in the third position (3,115), followed by the Allied Democratic Forces (1,907) and the Uganda Peoples Army (420).

The Amnesty Commission was established by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to provide a framework under which forces fighting the Government could voluntarily denounce rebel activities and be forgiven.

"We have had successful reconciliation and the former rebels are now living in communities," Onega said.

He told the committee, chaired by Reagan Okumu (FDC), that although 28 rebel groups are officially known, there could be more because they "keep multiplying".

The list he submitted further indicates that 225 rebels were from the Force Obote Back Again, 198 from NALU, 162 from the Uganda National Freedom Movement and 188 from unspecified groups.

He noted that most of the rebel groups, except the LRA and the Allied Democratic Forces, are no longer active.

"LRA and ADF are still the most able, active and operational groups and they can be a threat to the country."

Onega revealed that ADF has called for a dialogue with the Government to end rebellion. Accordingly, the ADF has named a 10- man delegation to represent them in the talks, which will be held in Kinshasa, DRC.

The talks will take off when the Government has named its delegation, Onega added.

On denouncing rebel activities, a candidate is given an amnesty certificate, sh263,000 and household items.

Okumu asked the commission to put in place stringent mechanisms to be followed by deserters before they are cleared, to prevent 'crooks' from abusing the scheme.

"Some thugs from Nakivubo can group and claim they are rebels and take advantage of the money. Put in place strict procedures that must be followed," he said.

Onega appealed to the legislators to ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs to give them more staff. The commission has only 23 employees.

REBELS WHO HAVE GOT AMNESTY

Rebel Group Number

Action Restore Peace 20

Allied Democratic Forces 1,907

Anti-Dictatorship Forces 2

Citizen Army for Multi-Party Politics 6

FOBA/NOM 225

FOBA/UPA 70

FUNA 6

Holy Spirit Movement 41

Lord's Resistance Army 12,645

NALU 198

National Democratic Alliance 5

National Freedom Army 4

Not Specified 188

People's Redemption Army 68

UFDF 23

Uganda Freedom Front 1

Uganda Freedom Movement 21

Uganda National Freedom Movement 162

Uganda National Independence Liberation 1

Uganda National Rescue Front II 3,115

Uganda People's Army 420

Uganda Salvation Army 3

Uganda Democratic Alliance/Front 5

UNDA 2

UNLA 3

UNLF 32

UPDA 5 37

West Nile Bank Front 4,316

Total: 23,526