Arrow Boys Monument

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Coordinates: 2°12′10″N 33°35′31″E / 2.20265°N 33.59207°E / 2.20265; 33.59207
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Arrow Boys Monument
Obalanga Monument
Map
2°12′10″N 33°35′31″E / 2.20265°N 33.59207°E / 2.20265; 33.59207
LocationKapelebyong District
Dedicated toThe 365 victims of the 2003 Teso LRA attack

The Arrow Boys Monument is also known as the Obalanga Massacre Memorial and the Arrow Group Monument, is the largest mass grave in Uganda. Located in Obalanga County, Amuria, it contains the remains of the 265 victims of the 2003 Teso Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) attack.[1][2][3][4] Since 2003, Teso leaders have organized annual memorial prayers on June 15 to remember the people who were killed in the attack.[5][1]

Location[edit]

The Arrow Boys Monument is located in Obalanga town council in Kapelebyong district which was cut off from Amuria District in Eastern Uganda.[1][6]

History[edit]

Background[edit]

The Arrow Boys were local militia who were mobilized by Teso leaders to drive out the LRA out of the region. They used rudimentary tools like axes, machete, arrows and bows to defend themselves from the LRA attack.[7][2][8][9][10][5][11][12] These were ex-soldiers of the Uganda's People's Army (UPA) who had fought against the government in late 1980s and early 1990s and had been out of action for at least 10 years. The ambushing of LRA led to their counter-insurgency.[2][8]

Under the command of Ecweru Musa, the Arrows Boys killed 43 LRA commanders and rescued over 9,000 children captured by the LRA.[9]

After the initial attack on 15 June 2003, Obalanga County was heavily affected by the LRA Rebels attack and was used as the entry point by the LRA rebels in Teso.[4][3][1] Many people were killed and others abducted including children, and also property destroyed.[4][1][3] Up to 100,000 people were displaced into camps.[1][13][5]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Free at last: Nine years after living as a rebel". New Vision. 2012-06-18. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  2. ^ a b c "On the Trail of Uganda's Arrow Boys". www.crisisgroup.org. 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  3. ^ a b c "Arrow boys monument in Obalanga Town Council | Kapelebyong". kapelebyong.go.ug. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  4. ^ a b c "10 MPs oppose venue for Arrow Boys' party". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  5. ^ a b c "Teso attacks: Mukula, Ecweru seek Arrow Boys' safe hands". Monitor. 2022-04-08. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  6. ^ Salume, Among (2014-06-17). "Obalanga Massacre Memorial Day Passes Quietly". Uganda Radio Network.
  7. ^ "Arrow Boys want old pay before new fight". Daily Monitor. 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  8. ^ a b "Arrow Boys want monument". New Vision. 2010-09-09. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  9. ^ a b "Wednesday: Uganda news in pictures". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  10. ^ Ojore, Godfrey (2023-07-12). "Former Arrow boys militia member accused of murder, illegal possession of gun". New Vision. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  11. ^ "MPs want Arrow Boys to fight cattle rustlers". Monitor. 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  12. ^ "Capt Mukula attacks government over Arrow Boys". Monitor. 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  13. ^ Joseph Eigu, Onyango (2018-06-16). "Obalanga LRA War Victims Unhappy With Gov't". Uganda Radio Network. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
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