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HONORABLE CHARLES B. RANGEL
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2007

PRAISING PEACE MEDIATOR BETTY BIGOMBE

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.