Obalanga Massacre, 16 June 2003 Kapelbyong District

Author: Okot komakech Deo

The infiltration of LRA into Teso Region left a legacy whose story is yet to be told. Obalanga is one Amurias district sub county Teso sub-region in eastern Uganda Amuria is a town in the Eastern Region of Uganda. In June 2003, the LRA infiltrated Teso sub-region in eastern Uganda for the first time. The civilian population and the government army were caught unaware, a factor which had disastrous humanitarian implications. The first village that fell victim to the LRA attacks was Angica A village in Alito Parish, 30 kilometers north of Obalanga. In line with their trademark pattern of atrocities, the rebel soldiers carried out killings, abductions, maiming, looting, rape burning and pillaging. By the time the UPDF repulsed them almost 8 months later, approximately 90% of the population in Teso sub-region had been displaced into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, several thousand children had been abducted and thousands of people had lost their lives and property. Obalanga sub ‐ county is located about 27 kilometers north of Amuria town and is one of the sub ‐ counties that was arguably most affected by the LRA incursion. Given its location on the border with Lango sub ‐ region, it was used as strategic point of entry for the LRA. The sub-county headquarters later became the largest IDP camp in Teso sub‐ region, sheltering over 40,000 internally displaced persons. Obalanga is also home to one of the largest mass graves in Teso, with approximately 365 remains of victims buried in it.