The death of fallen radio Personality Johnny Baptist Oryema, popularly known as Lacambel, has sparked criticism from a wider section of the community in the Acholi subregion over what they describe as the government and Acholi sub-region’s leaders’ failures to recognize him. Lacambel, a pioneer media veteran, died on May 31 in Gulu City after a long battle with illness. He was 73 years old and had previously co-owned Freedom FM before he retired from Mega FM in 2023.
During a special council sitting convened by Gulu City Council on Friday, several speakers criticized how Lacambel was neglected despite his enormous roles as a media peace advocate at the peak of the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency (LRA). The special council sitting was held at the deceased’s home in Laliya Ariaga in Laroo-Pece Division in recognition of his contribution towards reconciliation, peace building, and community healing in Northern Uganda.
Speaking during the special council sitting, Alfred Oluba, the former LCIII Chairperson of Layibi Division, said Lacambel’s contribution to peace in the subregion wouldn’t have warranted the state in which he died. Oluba and Lacambel were part of the first Acholi delegates who travelled to South Sudan to negotiate for peace with Joseph Kony, the elusive leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in December 2008.
“Lacambel was the first person to speak with Kony when we went to the bush. What he spoke with Kony, I’m sure and believe it is a result of the current peace we are enjoying,” Oluba told stakeholders. Oluba said that despite Lacambel’s efforts, the rewards for the peace currently in Northern Uganda are never attributed to him but rather to other people.
“Lacambel struggled for peace left and right. He didn’t receive anything in the peace process; he never got even 50 shillings,” he said.
Richard Okwera Ojara, the Kitgum Municipality Mayor, said Lacambel has died a poor man without genuine recognition from the government over his role in peacebuilding.
Ojara proposed that the government should take a bold step in compensating Lacambel’s contribution and offer great support for the family members in his honor. “The contribution he made is invaluable, and yet he died a poor man from what I am seeing at his home here. Lacambel deserves great recognition from the government and support for the family,” said Ojara.
During the council sitting, leaders from parts of the Acholi subregion and Gulu City Council made several resolutions aimed at recognizing Lacambel. Among the resolutions were renaming a road in Gulu city and in Kitgum Municipality, having his portraits in Gulu City Council Hall, and other district and municipal council halls in the Acholi.
Others are the construction of a hall of fame in Gulu city to recognize those who made impacts in the society, not only in Gulu City but the Acholi Subregion, having a statue of Lacambel in Gulu City, and naming a stand at Pece Stadium in honor of him.
Gulu City Council Mayor Julius Acire Labeja commended the Gulu City Council and leaders from sister districts in Acholi for passing resolutions aimed at recognizing Lacambel’s contribution to peace efforts.
Labeja, however, urged the leaders to ensure that the resolutions are implemented and not abandoned like previous commitments.
The Mayor described Lacambel as a selfless individual who dedicated his life to pursuing peace during one of the most difficult periods in Acholi’s history.
“If Lacambel and his colleagues, who tirelessly searched for peace, were to be paid, there would be no currency in this land enough to pay them,” he said.
Labeja said all the proposals made by the leaders will be discussed further, while formal letters will be written to respective districts and government officials to follow up on implementation and commitments.
Lacambel’s journey into media started in 1996 when he co-founded Freedom FM in the then Gulu Municipality, from were engaged in messages of peace at the height of the LRA war.
He further amplified the peace messages while working at Mega FM between 2002 and 2021 with his programme Dwog Cen Paco (literally come back home), which was focused on calling LRA fighters and abductees to return home. The radio program is credited with enabling the return of thousands of LRA fighters, reconnecting them with their family members-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
