By Owich James
Joseph Kony, the leader of the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels’ group wanted to declare Acholi as a national language, new study reveals.
The research says Kony had a dream that Acholi will be proclaimed a national language once he shoots himself to power.
Former LRA fighters told the researchers that the LRA leader hoped that once he took over Uganda, everybody will be taught the language (Acholi).
The study title: ‘Communication inside LRA: Militarization of Acoli Language, a cultural Patriotism or mere rebel indoctrination also pains how Kony forced children abducted from the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo to learn Acholi (language).
Kony also instructed his fighters to strictly speak in Acholi.
The LRA leader was strongly against his fighter speaking other languages despite the fact that he speaks Arabic fluently. This, according to the study will ensure that the rebel group remains intact.
The refusal of Kony for the rebel’s combatants to speak other languages was based on suspicion that the Ugandan government intelligence agency would eavesdrop and tap on his communications with his field commanders.
Kony waged a brutal war against the civilians in northern Uganda between 1987 and 2006.
