Akena's Murder: Healing Through Acholi Mato Oput’s Reconciliatory Process

Mathew Kanyamunyu kneels before Acholi elders, Nicholas Opio and Rwot Acana II. Courtsey Photo

Anger, a destructive force, fuels crimes like Akena's murder without thought. Forgiveness, a healing power, eases the deep pain left by anger, promoting reconciliation between families and the community through Acholi Mato Oput’s restorative process.

"Human law may falter, but spiritual law remains true. In time, a knee bends, and justice prevails." – Linda Lilian, Ugandan scholar, reflecting on Mathew Kanyamunyu’s traditional Acholi Mato Oput trial in a Facebook post.

The tragic loss of Kenneth Watom Akena, marked by the violent circumstances of his death, the actions of his alleged killer, Matthew Kanyamunyu, and the efforts of both families to pursue justice through avenues like Mato Oput, the Acholi traditional court, carries a profound sense of humility and reflection.

A voice in a WhatsApp group, reflecting on a shared video, offered this insight: “The greatest lesson here is forgiveness—a deep yearning for divine grace to soften hardened hearts and for love to envelop the orphans, ensuring they are cherished.”

In the grainy cellphone footage, Matthew Kanyamunyu is seen kneeling before Acholi traditional chiefs, with Nicholas Opiyo standing quietly by his side, translating the Luo proceedings into English for him. The scene unfolds with a quiet dignity, embodying a search for reconciliation and understanding.

The intricacies of Mato Oput may elude many, yet in Acholiland, this ancient ceremony, rooted in time immemorial, serves as a rare and sacred process to address the intentional or accidental loss of life.

The journey of Mato Oput unfolds gently: it begins with mediation to uncover the truth, followed by the village court determining appropriate compensation.

The culmination, known as "drinking the bitter root," is a day-long ritual woven with symbolic acts—sacrifices offered, livestock exchanged—bringing together the grieving parties in a quiet, unifying step toward reconciliation.

Mathew Kanyamunyu participates in Acholi Mato Oput rituals, including sheep slaughter and communal drinking from gourds, at a traditional court. Courtesy Photo.

In the quiet culmination of Mato Oput, the bitter root is blended with kwete and blood, shared between the parties as a gentle emblem of dissolving resentment.

This is followed by the symbolic sharing of the liver, a step toward mending bonds and fostering harmony.

At its core, Mato Oput represents a restorative approach to justice—one that seeks to heal rather than merely punish.

In a world where justice often defies simple definition, the Acholi community here pursues every path available, aiming to restore balance, nurture rehabilitation, and cultivate lasting reconciliation.

The thoughtful mediation led by Nicholas Opiyo of Chapter Four Uganda, a dedicated advocate with deep experience, gently connects the threads of traditional wisdom and contemporary legal frameworks, offering a bridge for considering varied forms of resolution.

Even should Mr. Kanyamunyu face imprisonment, his spirit might find greater peace in knowing he has sought harmony with the family of the life he took.

Kanyamunyu seeks reconciliation with Akena family through Mato Oput. Courtsey Photo

Matthew Kanyamunyu, long regarded as the primary figure in the shooting of child rights activist Kenneth Akena Watmon, offered his confession during the Mato Oput ceremony, committing to reparations for the act.

The incident unfolded in 2016, when he was detained on suspicions of drawing a firearm after Akena reportedly grazed his vehicle while reversing in a Kampala parking lot at Lugogo.

Reports suggest Akena approached to offer an apology, only for Kanyamunyu to lower his car window and fire two shots into his abdomen.

Akena passed away hours later at Norvik Hospital along Bombo Road, where the accused had transported him for care.riend insisted that they only took Akena to hospital as good Samaritans.

Kanyamunyu stood trial alongside his Burundian companion, Cynthia Munwangari, and his brother Joseph, who was accused of concealing the weapon. Throughout the proceedings, Kanyamunyu and Munwangari maintained they had acted solely as compassionate aides in rushing Akena to the hospital. Yet, in his final moments, Akena reportedly confided to kin that his assailants were the very ones who brought him there.

As recounted by The Observer, Kanyamunyu's family turned to the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI) and the Acholi Cultural Institution to facilitate dialogue, seeking a way to close the chapter with Akena's family. observer.ug

Guided by Dr. John Baptist Odama, the Archbishop of Gulu, and supported by Rwot David Onen Acana II, the paramount chief of Acholi, Akena's family gradually embraced the possibility of negotiation.

The gathering took place on September 13, 2020, beneath tents at the Ker Kwaro Acholi compound, with Rwot Acana II serving as the principal witness. newvision.co.ug

Kanyamunyu as an essential prelude to Mato Oput. He recounted the events of November 12, 2016, at Forest Mall in Lugogo, before humbly seeking mercy 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 me. But now I recognize, deep within me, there is evil that I did not know about," Kanyamunyu reflected.

When pressed on what compelled him to act, he responded with quiet remorse: "I can never comprehend the magnitude of what is inside me, and that is the reason 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."

The elders, in their wisdom, assessed compensation at ten cows and three goats, to be provided by Kanyamunyu's family to those grieving.

At the time of his passing, Akena served with ACODEV as a specialist in child protection under a USAID initiative.

In the years that followed, the legal process continued its measured course. By late 2020, Kanyamunyu pleaded guilty to manslaughter in court, leading to a sentence of five years and one month.

His companion, Cynthia Munwangari, was acquitted, while the path of reconciliation woven through Mato Oput appeared to influence the proceedings. Accounting for time already served and remission, he completed three years and five months in custody, emerging free in April 2024—a quiet closure to a chapter marked by loss and reflection.

The Acholi Mato Oput ritual quietly embodies the enduring power of traditional justice, drawing families and communities into a shared embrace. Through its restorative essence, it eases tensions and nurtures peace, paving a serene way forward that respects both history and hope.