Opio Caesar Makasi, the LRA Operations Director, has today applied for amnesty through the amnesty commission.
Makasi was captured by the Democratic Republic of Congo government forces and later handed to government through the UN mission in eastern Congo (MONUC). He agreed to denounce rebellion against the government of Uganda and to resettle into normal life.
Today morning, Makasi accompanied by heavy UPDF military escorts arrived at the amnesty commission's office in Wandegeya to apply for amnesty.
Dressed casually, a relaxed but weak Makasi, accompanied by his young wife was immediately taken inside the boardroom from where officials of the commission explained to him through an Acholi translator the benefit of denouncing rebellion.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source who attended the meeting said that Makasi told the commission that he was coerced into the LRA rebellion following his abduction in the late 1980s. He however said that he was happy to be home after 20 years of rebellion.
Makasi however did not get the amnesty certificate because the commission's chairperson, Justice Peter Onega is out of the country.
Moses Draku, the Amnesty commission's spokesperson explained that the mandate to grant a certificate of amnesty is by law given to the chairperson.
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Makasi who until recent was a top commander of the LRA is believed to be in possession of critical information on the military strength of the LRA.
