The peace Icon.
Hon. Oyella Betty Bigombe who served as the Minister of State for Northern Uganda and Minister of State for Water Resources including other high diplomatic careers at the World Bank on January 29th,2024 would be honored by Makerere University with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law to appreciate her for contribution to the peace in Northern Uganda and her stand on human rights of the vulnerable that moved her to places in the world.
Greatly known as Atuku Betty Bigombe at the grassroots of the Acoli-sub region, she was one of the first officials of government to make contact with the Lord Resistance Army Commander Joseph Kony by the 1990s. Her involvement with Joseph Kony shaped various negotiations with the Lord Resistance Army that led to the Juba peace talks of 2006-2007.
Despite the failure of the negotiations, the courage of Betty Bigombe to follow the LRA in the bush was sung in songs in Acoli and very much known to the grassroots people in the region.
In 2014, Betty Bigombe accompanied Rwot David Onen Acana, the Paramount Chief to Obbo in the Central African Republic (CAR) to Apologies to the Central African Republic Nationals and traditional leaders who were killing Acoli LRA children defecting from captivity on grounds that the Acoli extended their war up to the CAR and affecting their communities.
Audio File One. David Onen Acana apologizing to CAR traditional leaders in Obbo-Eng
Audio File: David Onen Acana apologising to CAR tradional Leaders in Obbo-Luo
They were invited by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and then United States Operation to end Kony’s war headed by then Colonel Keven Leathy to send defection messages to the LRA. It might never be coincidental that the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) biggest harvest, Dominic Ongwen was obtained from CAR
The Recognition:
Hon. Betty Bigombe, who is current Uganda’s Ambassador to Malaysia told the Elephant in an exclusive interview that she has gotten over thirteen international awards from France, the United States of America, and many other countries for her contribution to peace and was wondering if her natives or the local governments in her region had not seen or followed her work that the international community were quick to see.
Indeed, Gulu City which is the central town for the Acoli-Sub region does not even have a street named after Betty Bigombe, and her statement could start pricking the current leadership. Betty Bigombe also acknowledged that many people contributed to the current peace in Northern Uganda and feels in the same vein they are represented through her recognition by Makerere.
She was also honest to note that as Minister of Northern Uganda, she had started the foundation of Gulu University and felt the University neglected her.
Audio File Two. Bigombe talking to the Elephant-Eng
Prof.Jack Nyeko Penmogi, the founding Vice-Chancellor of Gulu University acknowledged the contribution of Atuku Betty Bigombe in laying plans for Gulu University but said the University does such recognition gradually and can’t do it all at once.
“Betty Bigombe should know it has started on the right track for her because Makerere is the mother of all Universities in Uganda and the fact that they have started means would come down to other Universities”. Penmogi noted.
Prof.Penmogi said Gulu University has never forgotten Betty Bigombe but started with Archbishop Dr. John Baptist Odama who was given Peace Honorary Doctor of Philosophy for the same role.
Penmogi also called upon the Gulu City authority to start naming roads after people whom they have evaluated and vetted their contribution to the region or district.
According to Prof. Penmogi, there is no other rating that could have stopped a street being given to Betty Bigombe.
Prof. Openjuru, George Ladaah, the Gulu University Current Vice-Chancellor who succeeded Prof. Nyeko Penmogi as the second Vice-Chancellor in the history of the university said the University has a holistic approach to recognizing people with immense contributions to the development of the region.
“We shall name halls and buildings in the name of outstanding people in this area, like currently we are planning to name Jacob Oulanya the former speaker of Parliament of Uganda in the Faculty of Law and Betty Bigombe in the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies including recognition of people like Alphonse Owiny Dollo the current Chief Justice and other national outstanding leaders”. Prof.Openjuru submitted.
Prof. Openjuru added that the public also needs to document and petition the University for their demands because at times the University would decide to give honorary degrees based on strong background profiling and a petition from the public as the University might get taken away by the normal university academic process and needs the public to awaken them on individuals that need such honours.
Okwonga Alfred, the Gulu City mayor said he is happy the matter was brought to his attention and would convince the council that soon a suitable road should be named after Bigombe.
“This is a good observation, indeed I would work around with both political and technocrats of the city to attend to this matter”. Okwonga said.
With all these promises, Ambassador Oyella Betty Bigombe can now start reading and revising Charles Dicken’s book ‘Oliver Twist’ while asking God for good health and peace since ‘some more’ is coming her way.
Ends
