[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 122 (Friday, July 27, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PRAISING PEACE MEDIATOR BETTY BIGOMBE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 27, 2007

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to praise the work of Ms. 
Betty Bigombe who has worked tirelessly on the Northern Uganda's peace 
process for over two decades. Ms. Betty Bigombe's story was featured in 
the Washington Post on July 11, 2007 in an article entitled, ``The 
Woman Behind Uganda's Peace Hopes.''
  Ms. Bigombe was the primary negotiator between Joseph Kony, the 
commander of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan President 
Yoweri Museveni. Ms. Bigombe first started working on the northern 
Ugandan peace process in 1988 when Museveni appointed her as the 
minister of state for the north. Ms. Bigombe was called to action again 
on Feb. 21, 2004 after reading news dispatches of a massacre at a 
displacement camp in Barloonyo.
  Ms. Bigombe contributed to the peace talks by meeting with Joseph 
Kony and his army and urged them to sign a peace agreement. While the 
peace talks in Northern Uganda are now being led by southern Sudanese 
mediators, Kampala officials and the LRA continue to regularly consult 
with Ms. Bigombe.
  Ms. Bigombe has my deepest respect and admiration. She has put her 
life on the line and became the voice of nearly 2 million displaced 
Ugandans and 25,000 children who were kidnapped and forced to serve as 
soldiers and sex slaves. The road towards peace in Northern Uganda has 
taken personal sacrifice on the behalf of Ms. Bigombe. For instance, 
she has personally financed her operations while in Uganda and lived 
off grants. She found herself bankrupt in 2005 as a result. In 
addition, working on the peace process demanded time away from her 
family and loved ones and she often found herself missing birthdays and 
other celebrations. These are life moments that she simply cannot get 
back.
  Ms. Bigombe and others like her should be celebrated for their 
bravery and contributions in bringing peace throughout the world.

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