Editorial & Agency
Veteran radio broadcaster John Bosco Oryema, popularly known as Lacambel, for his outstanding contribution to peacebuilding during the two-decade Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency is dead.
Lacambel, a renowned broadcaster with Mega FM in Gulu City, died on Sunday at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor after a prolonged illness. He was over 70 years old.
The veteran journalist worked at Mega FM between 2002 and 2023 before his health deteriorated.
Lacambel rose to prominence through his radio programmes that advocated for the return of abductees and rebel fighters from LRA captivity during some of the most violent years of the conflict.
His death has triggered an outpouring of tributes from religious and political leaders, former colleagues, and former LRA abductees, who credit him with playing a pivotal role in promoting peace, reconciliation, and the return of thousands of war victims to their communities.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Mega FM on Monday, Archbishop Emeritus John Baptist Odama described Lacambel as a passionate peace advocate who harnessed the power of radio to unite communities and encourage dialogue between warring parties.
During the height of the LRA insurgency, Lacambel hosted the influential Dwog Cen Paco (“Come Back Home”) programme on Mega FM between 2002 and 2021, which provided a platform for former LRA combatants and abductees to communicate with their families and communities.
The programme is widely credited with encouraging the return of more than 20,000 former fighters and abductees from rebel captivity.
Sheikh Musa Khalil, the Regional Assistant to the Mufti in Northern Uganda and Vice Chairperson of ARLPI, also praised Lacambel for his role in encouraging thousands of former rebels and abductees to return home.
Irene Atek, the Station Manager of Mega FM, described Lacambel as a passionate, hardworking, and self-driven broadcaster whose impact extended beyond journalism to the preservation and promotion of Acholi culture.
Former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, in a statement posted on his official X account, described the late broadcaster as a distinguished journalist, patriot, and peace advocate whose voice became a beacon of hope during Northern Uganda’s darkest years.
Stella Lanam, a former LRA abductee who spent a decade in captivity before returning home, said Lacambel’s programmes gave hope to many abductees and convinced them that they would be welcomed back by their families and communities.
According to Lanam, messages aired through Mega FM reassured captives that they had not been forgotten and that religious, cultural, and political leaders were actively advocating for their safe return.
