Editorial
Gulu city council on Friday held a special sitting to pay tribute to the late 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 at his home in Laliya, Bar-dege/Layibi division.
Lacambel, a renowned broadcaster with Mega FM, died on May 31, 2026 at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor after a prolonged illness. He was 73 years old.
The veteran journalist worked at Mega FM between 2002 and 2023 before his health deteriorated.
The full council meeting was instituted to honor him because he served as the interim Mayor of by then Gulu urban council in 1986. This was shortly after by then the urban chair Mr Okot Tar was out of office after being shot and injured.
During the full council meeting, speaker after speaker paid tributes to the Late Lacembal who had been credited for playing a pivotal role in promoting peace, reconciliation, and the return of thousands of war victims to their communities.
The council resolved that his patriot to be hanged in the respective district council halls in Acholi sub region, a road and a stand at Pece stadium be named after him.
LCV chairpersons across Acholi sub region who attended the council meeting all promised to pass a resolution in honor of the Late Lacembal.
The Kilak county Member of Parliament Gilbert Olanya promised to push for the recognition of Lacembal by the government for championing for peace.
Gulu City Mayor Julius Labeja also promised to lobby the UPDF to construct a house in memory of Lacambel.
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.
