Anger is a terrible demon it causes crime without thought. Forgiveness is a powerful angel it soothes the scalding left by the flames of anger.
When the human law would lie the spiritual law never lies and so at one time a knee is bent and justice is served. Linda Lilian, a Ugandan scholar posted on her Facebook in response to Mathew Kanyamunyu's traditional trial in an Acholi court process.
The death of Kenneth Watom Akena, the violent manner in which it happened, the actions of his alleged killer, Matthew Kanyamunyu, and the actions of both families in seeking to explore all avenues of justice including Mato Oput, the Acholi traditional court is humbling.
'The biggest lesson here is forgiveness. A deeper quest for God to break the hardened hearts and enough love to ensure the orphans are well-loved.' Someone shared his thoughts on a video posted in a Whatsapp group.
The grainy cameraphone video appears to show Kanyamunyu kneeling before traditional Acholi chiefs. Nicholas Opiyo standing humbly by his side and translating the Luo proceedings into English for the perpetrator.
Many of us may not fathom the basic principles of Mato Oput. In Acholiland, this ceremony dates time immemorial, a rare process that is undertaken in case of the intentional or accidental killing of an individual.
Mato Oput begins by mediation to establish the truth, then compensation is determined by the village court. The final ritual, 'drinking the bitter root' is a day-long ceremony involving symbolic acts such as offering sacrifices, exchange of livestock by both parties to reunite the gruelling parties.
Lastly, the mixing of the bitter Oput root with Kwete and blood to be drunk by both parties as a symbol of washing away the bitterness; and the eating of the liver, to restore good relations.
Mato Oput is a restorative process of administering justice. Because justice can be a difficult task to define, the people of Acholi in the case, are seeking all avenues in their quest for justice to restore, rehabilitate and build reconciliation.
The mediation in the matter by Chapter Four Uganda's Nicholas Opiyo, a seasoned advocate, bridges possible options to consider in serving justice between traditional and modern judicial practices.
Even if Mr Kanyamunyu goes to jail, he will come out happier when he knows that he made peace with the family of someone whose life he ended.
Mathew Kanyamunyu, a prime suspect in the shooting of child rights activist Kenneth Akena Watmon, confessed to the crime during the Mato Oput ceremony and agreed to pay reparation for the offence.
In 2016, he was arrested on suspicion that he drew a gun at Akena after he reportedly scratched his car while reversing in a parking lot in Lugogo, Kampala.
It is reported that Akena went to apologise to Kanyamunyu after the accident, but Kanyamunyu instead lowered the window of his car and shot him twice in the stomach.
Akena died a few hours later at Norvic hospital along Bombo Road where he had been taken by the accused.
Kanyamunyu has since been on trial together with his Burundian girlfriend Cynthia Munwangari and sibling Joseph Kanyamunyu who allegedly hid the killer gun.
Throughout the trial, Kanyamunyu and his girlfriend insisted that they only took Akena to hospital as good Samaritans.
Dying Akena allegedly told relatives that he was shot by the same people who took him to the hospital.
According to the Observer, Kanyamunyu’s family sought the intervention of Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI) and Acholi Cultural Institution to broker a reconciliation agreement between them and Akena’s family to find a closure to the case.
Dr John Baptist Odama, the Gulu Archbishop backed by Rwot David Onena Acana II, the paramount chief of Acholi persuaded Akena’s family who in turn opened up to the negotiations.
The meeting was held on Saturday, 13, September 2020 under tents at Ker Kwaro Acholi compound was presided over by Rwot Acana II as a chief witness.
A council of six elders cross-examined Kanyamunyu as a prerequisite step to Mato Oput - a traditional reconciliation practice.
Kanyamunyu recounted step by step what happened between him and Akena on November 12, 2016, at the Forest mall in Lugogo before he pleaded for clemency from the elders.
"To be honest I would be lying to you if I told you that I have fully comprehended the tragedy of that day to date. The stupidity, the foolishness, the evil that I exhibited on that day is not something I knew was in. But now I recognize, now I recognize within me, deep within me, there is evil that I did not know about." Kanyamunyu said.
Asked what drove him to pull a trigger on an innocent man, Kanyamunyu pleaded, "I can never comprehend ever the magnitude of what is inside me and that is the reason that I’m remorseful, that I’m sorry and that is the reason I ask for your forgiveness, I ask for your understanding and for time for this healing process to begin and for time for me to comprehend the magnitude of the tragedy."
Elders then made an assessment of 10 cows and three goats to be paid by Kanyamunyu’s family to the aggrieved.
At the time of his death, Akena was working with ACODEV as a child protection specialist under a USAID project.
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