Abductions by Joseph Kony’s rebel army have contributed to thousands of missing children throughout East and central Africa. This is a story of one still missing.
James, known by the nickname Ojee Ojok, would be 24-years-old today. He was abducted from his home in 2002 at the age of 12.
“On that fateful day, we heard news that the rebels were around so the children, including James, hid in the bush,” James’ father Ojok Milton recounted. “Because of hunger, he came home around 4 PM. He was eating inside the home when the rebels came.”
James tried to run but was chased by members of the Lord’s Resistance Army while trying to flee. At the time, James’ mother had been at home. Because she was pregnant, she was unable to run and hide with the rest of the group. So the LRA members took both James and his mother to where the main group of rebels was staying. They released his mother the following morning, but James was taken by the combatants. She did not know where they took him.
Ojok Milton, Okello James’ father, speaks about his son’s abductions and hopes for James’ safe return to Uganda.
Milton learned the news about James’ abduction the next day.
“He was such a clever boy and was doing well in school. He had such a bright future,” Milton said.
At the time of his abduction, James was a student in Primary 6 at Atece Primary School.
“I still always worry. I am still not myself when I think about James,” Milton said.
According to Milton, all of the others abducted with James, including neighbors, one of James’ teachers and his former commander, have since returned home. When asked what he would say to James and other members of the Lord’s Resistance Army, Milton pleaded with them to “stop roaming around the bush” and return to Uganda.
He recorded a Come Home Radio Message emphasizing that James should not listen to the indoctrination used by LRA commanders to tell combatants that Come Home Messages are fake. 
“Nobody ever thinks of luring his own child to be killed. If you come back home, nobody will do any harm to you, be strong-hearted, nothing will harm you because we, your parents will be behind you,” Milton said.
A woman who lives close by the family returned from captivity in 2011. She brought news that James was alive and still with the LRA in Central African Republic. She escaped not long after seeing him, but had no further news.
Milton says that was the last they have heard about him.
“We are preparing everything to wait for your return. You will stay in the bush in vain; nothing will benefit you other than wasting your time,” Milton said in his message to James.
Many families of recent returnees from the LRA hear nothing of their sons and daughters for years until they return. Milton holds out hope that this case is the same and James will return home soon.
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