Commission members meeting the deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah

The Amnesty commission plead to parliament to amend the law that established this commission so as there is no uncertainty of its existence. This was disclosed by the chairperson of the Amnesty commission Peter Onega while the commission members were meeting the deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah  at parliament over the issues affecting the Amnesty commission.

Justice Onega says that the commission faces a challenge about the life span of the amnesty process since its existence depends on extension by parliament. He says that since the current two year term of office extension of the Amnesty Act will end on 24th  May 2017, he fears that the amendment process is slow and likely to take a long time yet the commission’s existence will end in May 2017.

However, Justice Onega has revealed that new rebel groups have risen citing one in Kapchorwa known as Uganda saving force. He said that the commission plans to reintegrate 6000 former rebels who surrendered to the commission and victims at a cost 4.5 billion shilling and despite this Amnesty commission cry of under funding.

The Amnesty commission has since demobilized 27000 former rebels, 13100 from Lord’s Resistance Army and 2553 from ADF. 21213 rebels resettled and 8182 have been reintegrated through skill training and project undertaking.

The deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah observed the need for government to give enough funds to the Amnesty to avoid causing temptation among the returning rebels going back to rebel activities  due lack of funds for their resettling package.