Survivors of the 1995 Attiak Massacre are demanding the construction of a monument at the massacre site.
On April 20, 1995 rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) attacked Attiak Sub County in Amuru district and the neighboring areas and massacred 350 civilians.
Among those killed were also students and staff of Attiak technical School in Attiak Sub County.
To date, what remains are the names of 301 victims engraved on a wall in Attiak Trading Centre where a memorial prayer is held annually to remember the tragic incident.
The victims, their families, and survivors want the government to construct a monument near Kitang stream in Otorukume Village, Pogo Sub County Amuru district where the first attack which left at least 350 people was staged.
Fred Okot, the Chairperson Attiak Memorial Site says that the monument will keep the memories of the incident fresh, remember the departed souls, and also act as a symbol to denounce gun violence and also be developed into a permanent historical site and a museum for the next generation.
Okot adds that the monument once established, will also facilitate the path to forgiveness, reparation of victims, and consequent everlasting peace.
Paska Aketo, the Chairperson Attiak Massacre Survivors Association (AMSA) who survived death on the day of the massacre added that the monument will be a symbol of love, affection, and remembrance.
She believes that some bodies were abandoned at that site and no one has given them decent burials to date.
Sarah Nkayimbi, the Programs Manager for Foundation for Justice and Development Initiative (FJDI) says that they will consider erecting a monument at the massacre site since it is key in the peace and recovery process.
FJDI has also been supporting the victims and survivors in organizing memorial prayers annually to keep the memories of the event alive as well as seeking justice and compensation for the victims and survivors.
FJDI seeks solutions to the long-term impacts of the conflict which ravaged northern Uganda by advocating for redress of human rights violations and atrocities committed during the conflict, implementation of sustainable development initiatives, and promotion of economic empowerment through livelihood programs.
Michael Lakony, the Amuru LCV Chairperson says the district is incapacitated to facilitate the construction of the monument but promised to engage development partners and the government to take up the construction.
On Wednesday, hundreds of victims, families of the deceased, and survivors of the massacre converged in Attiak Town Council and held a memorial prayer for the departed souls.
This year`s memorial prayer was held under the theme; ‘’We Are There. The Forgotten Victims and Survivors.’’
The theme reflects on the denial of the world in remembering those who lost their lives, those that survived, and the impact of the massacre.
It is also a reflection and calls for forgiveness, repentance, preaching love, engaging those who lost their lives, denouncing violence as well as war, and a call for peace in the world.
Justo Okot Gwanga, the Prime Minister for Attiak Chiefdom says he lost eight family members including his father during the massacre, a memory he says keeps tormenting him to date.
Peter Lukwiya, the Chairperson of Opara Sub County says his father still carries the trauma and can`t stop smoking cigarettes after burying sixteen family members killed during the massacre in a mass grave.
Kenneth Okot, the Attiak Town Council Chairperson says the massacre has negatively impacted the development, leadership, economy, and administration of Attiak Sub County and neighboring areas.
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