President Museveni Pledges Support for Family of LRA Rebel Leader Joseph Konyi

Entebbe, August 25, 2023 - President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda has made a surprising announcement, promising his support to the family of Joseph Kony, the notorious leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group. The President's commitment was voiced during a meeting with the family at the state house in Entebbe.

Leading the family delegation was Brig. Ali Ssalongo Kony, the son of Joseph Kony, along with his mother, children, and his father's uncle, Kony Otim Thomas. Expressing gratitude, Ali Kony stated that the family is appreciative of the opportunity to reunite with their community and is prepared to become productive citizens.

The Chief of Pageya Chiefdom, Rwot Yusuf Okwonga Adek III, also attended the meeting and extended his gratitude to President Museveni for the current state of peace in Northern Uganda, which has allowed displaced individuals to return home. Rwot Yusuf Okwonga Adek III emphasized the need to focus on rehabilitating and supporting Joseph Kony's family in constructive endeavors, particularly in agriculture.

“Your Excellency, Kony’s children are now your children. The family needs help from you as their father,” Rwot Yusuf Okwonga Adek asserted.

President Museveni vowed to provide assistance by allocating land for the family's collective agricultural activities, thereby integrating them into the monetary economy. He advised the family to consider the concept of a family company, wherein they operate collaboratively rather than dividing their resources individually.

“We can help them set up a farm there so that they work together as a company and then share what comes out. All the children and the wives should be shareholders. What I’m telling you is what I have been telling other Ugandans. So, I can use you as an example and become a model for other people to see,” President Museveni explained.

Moreover, President Museveni assured that his support would extend to victims of the conflict involving Joseph Kony's LRA rebel group across the nation.

The meeting witnessed the presence of Mr. Odoch Bosco Olak, the Presidential Coordinator for Northern Uganda, along with other officials.

This unexpected gesture from President Museveni raises questions about the path of reconciliation and reintegration being taken in the aftermath of the LRA insurgency, as the nation navigates the complexities of moving forward from a deeply troubled past.