Atiak is a town in Northern Uganda

Northern Region, Uganda

Northern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...

. It is one if the municipalities in Amuru District

Amuru District

Amuru District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Amuru, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...

, the others being:

• Amuru Municipality
  Amuru
  Amuru is a town in Northern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial centre of Amuru District. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
  
  
• Bibia Municipality
  Bibia
  Bibia is a town in Northern Uganda. It is one if the municipalities in Amuru District, the others being:* Amuru Municipality* Atiak Municipality* Pabbo Municipality-Location:...
  
  
• Pabbo Municipality
  Pabbo
  Pabbo, sometimes spelled as Pabo is a town in Northern Uganda. It is one if the municipalities in Amuru District, the others being:* Amuru Municipality* Atiak Municipality* Bibia Municipality-Location:...
  
  

Location

Atiak is situated in Kilak County, in Amuru District. It is located approximately 70 kilometres (43.5 mi), by road, north of Gulu

Gulu

Gulu is a city in Northern Uganda. It is the commercial and administrative centre of Gulu District. The city is located at 2˚46'48N 32˚18'00E, on the metre gauge railway from Tororo to Pakwach. Gulu is located approximately , by road, north of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...

, the largest city in the sub-region. The town is located only 50 kilometres (31.1 mi), south of the border with Southern Sudan at Nimule

Nimule

Nimule is a town in South Sudan, immediately north of the International border with Uganda.-Location:Nimule is located in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan, adjacent to the border with the Republic of Uganda. This location lies approximately , by road, southeast of Juba, the...

. The coordinates of the town are:3° 15' 54.00"N, 32° 7' 30.00"E (Latitude:3.2650; Longitude:32.1250).

Overview

The town was the location of the Atiak Massacre

Atiak massacre

The Atiak massacre occurred on April 20, 1995, when a group estimated at three hundred LRA soldiers entered the Northern Ugandan town of Atiak. It was the largest single massacre by the Lord's Resistance Army. Over 200 were killed in Atiak in April 1995. After routing the UPDF, the LRA announced,...

 in 1995. On April 20, 1995, the Lord's Resistance Army

Lord's Resistance Army

The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...

 (LRA

LRA

LRA may refer to:* the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group in Uganda* Local Registration Authority, relating to digital "keys"* Lake Ridge Academy, a school in North Ridgeville, Ohio, USA...

), marched into town. After defeating the Uganda People's Defence Force

Uganda People's Defence Force

The Uganda Peoples Defence Force , previously the National Resistance Army, is the armed forces of Uganda. The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates the UPDF has a total strength of 40–45,000, and consists of land forces and an Air Wing.The IISS Military Balance 2007 says there...

 (UPDF) soldiers who were guarding the town, the LRA rounded up an estimated three hundred (300) men, marched them to a nearby river and executed them by firing squad. They then handpicked young boys and young girls from the rest, to conscript into their ranks and to use as sex slaves. They then melted back into the bush.

Landmarks

The landmarks within the town limits or close to the edges of the town include:

• The offices of Atiak Town Council
• Atiak Central Market
• The Gulu-Nimule Road
  Gulu-Nimule Road
  Gulu-Nimule Road is a road in Northern Uganda, connecting the city of Gulu in Gulu District and the town of Nimule in Eastern Equatoria State, in South Sudan, just north of the International border between the two countries...
  
   - The road passes through the center of town in a general north to south direction

External links

• Location of Atiak At Google Maps

See also

• Amuru District
  Amuru District
  Amuru District is a district in Northern Uganda. Like most Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Amuru, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
  
  
• Acholi sub-region
• Acholi people
• Northern Region, Uganda
  Northern Region, Uganda
  Northern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...