Officials in Ikwoto County say that a group of 32 youths have come in from the bush on Saturday as a result of the reconciliation conference held in the county from 11 to 13 February.
The young people had fled Ikwoto after the outbreak of violence in the region between the citizens and the army in Ikwoto last year. One of the youth leaders explained said they were not armed but had fled to the protection of cattle keepers because security forces were detaining intellectuals in the county.
Luwakh William Charles, one of the returnees, welcomed the reconciliation agreement, explaining that violence broke out last October when a trader who was going to Uganda was allegedly killed and his goods were taken by soldiers. This resulted in an exchange of gunfire and the burning of an army camp.
“Some of us decided to flee away from the town. So how we were surviving in the bush: we only feed on milk and also honey… Now coming to the peace, we are much excited by it because it has given us freedom of movement. Today I hope I will see my family, I will see my wife, I will see my children and I will eat good food,” said Luwakh.
The youth denied having taken up arms saying he was only a teacher who fled because security forces started taking down names of intellectuals and intimidating them. “I only ran due to the issue of intimidation… I was suspected because I attended a meeting about the issue of the flag of the county.”
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