Arrow Boys monument is also known as Obalanga Massacre Memorial and the Arrow group monument is the largest mass grave located in the Obalanga county in Amuria district. It contains 365 remains of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) victims. Annually on June 15, Teso leaders organize memorial prayers at the mass grave to remember the people who were killed and this started from 15 June 2003 to 2004.
Location
The Arrow boys monument is located in Obalanga town council in Kapelebyong district which was cut off from Amuria District in Eastern Uganda.
History
The arrow boys monument was erected in remembrance of over 300 people who were killed during the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) attack in Teso in 2003.
After the initial attack on 15 June 2003, Obalanga county in Amuria district was heavily affected by the LRA Rebels attack and was used as the entry point by the LRA rebels in Teso. Many people were killed and others abducted including children, and also property destroyed. Up to 100,000 people were displaced into camps.
Under the command of Ecweru Musa, the Arrows boys rescued over 9,000 children who were captured by LRA and also killed 43 top LRA commanders.
Annually on June 15, Teso leaders organize a memorial prayers at the mass grave to remember the people who were killed between 15 June 2003 and 2004.
About the Arrow Boys
The arrow boys were local militia who were mobilized by Teso leaders to drive out the LRA out of the region. They used rudimentary tools like axes, machete, arrows and bows to defend themselves from the LRA attack.
These were ex-soldiers of the Uganda's People's Army (UPA) who had fought against the government in late 1980s and early 1990s and had been out of action for at least 10 years. The ambushing of LRA led to their counter-insurgency.
See also
List of National Cultural Sites in Eastern Region, Uganda
Uganda martyrs shrine
Joseph Kibwetere
Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) Aboke abductions