Abok Sub county LCIII Chairperson appeals for budget for massacre commemoration

9 June 2026, 8:04 am

By Eman Yonah Oruk

The LCIII Chairperson of Abok Sub county, Mr Moses Oboke Apuro, has appealed to Oyam District to allocate a budget for next year’s Abok Massacre commemoration.

During the 5th commemoration prayers at the Abok massacre site, Mr Apuro called on the district to provide financial support for the annual event. He stressed that no development support has been extended to victims’ families since the incident. He also pledged to invite officials from various government offices to respond directly to survivors’ concerns and ensure they benefit from government development programmes.

The Sub county Senior Assistant Secretary (SAS), Ms Joy Kandy Acen, pledged to work closely with the Chairperson to ensure that victims’ families access government initiatives, including the Parish Development Model and restocking programmes.

Representing the chief guest, the Lango Paramount Chief, Mr Francis Odong Ali — who is also the clan head of Okii Ojol — urged stakeholders to unite and transform the commemoration into a development-oriented event.

He called on district and sub county officials to review their plans so that next year’s commemoration becomes a landmark occasion for progress.

Mr Julious Peter Atim, speaking on behalf of the victims’ families, renewed calls for compensation from the Government of Uganda. He noted that survivors have waited for 20 years without support, despite what he described as a failure by the government to protect them during the attack.

About 100 Lord’s Resistance Army rebels, led by Dominic Ongwen, attacked an internally displaced persons’ camp in Abok, Ngai Sub-county. The attack killed 28 people, including five children, abducted 26 others, and burned more than 600 huts.

Two decades later, survivors continue to demand justice and assistance.