By Richard Todwong
Norbert Mao and Olara Otunnu are birds of the same feather. Just like Mao, Otunnu seems to appeal more to the civil society other than the peasant community. Their ideas are too utopian for Uganda today that they might end up as civil rights campaigners other than politicians who cause meaningful change. Both of men are Acholi.

Otunnu cannot reconcile UPC and Buganda before UPC re-organises and identifies the issues that they want to solve.

UPC should consider using DP to help them solve their problems with Buganda.

However, both DP and UPC should seek reconciliation not only with Buganda, but Uganda as well. This would require that UPC and DP first work out their differences before they rush to Mengo.

I feel sorry for Mao and Otunnu because they have inherited troubles in their respective parties.

I wonder whether Otunnu has one clear score he can point out other than blaming Museveni or the Government for his party’s troubles. Both Otunnu and Mao are ‘presidents’ in their own right, and it is time they owned all the mistakes of DP and UPC, just like President Museveni inherited the burden of previous regimes.

DP and UPC have found ground in Mao and Otunnnu, to propel their party’s agendas. However, these men are not a threat to the NRM.

Another Acholi, Reagan Okumu, at one point, wanted to head FDC, but his dreams never materialised. Maybe in future he will also come up as the president of FDC.

Otunnu and Mao should know the real work for the Acholi is at grassroot level, where they have pumped hatred among brothers, neighbours, and other tribes.

For sometime, Otunnu and Mao have refused to welcome and work under other Ugandans. The question is, how sure are they that other Ugandans will gladly work with them?

Not all those who hate President Museveni as a man are friends to the Acholi. Col Besigye is an example.

Otunnu and Mao are fighting to change President Museveni which I find strange because changing Museveni does not change their weaknesses. During the 2011 elections, we shall witness text book ideas from Otunnu and Mao contesting with the revolutionary ideas of NRM which have been tested and proven.

I feel Mao’s and Otunnu’s rush to leadership is, in itself, a sign of post-war trauma. Every period has its leadership that is why, those returning home from the IDP camps in Acholi have already made up their minds not to listen to the opposition.

DP, the oldest party, has the youngest president in Mao. On the other hand, UPC has maintained their historical trademark of working with old people with strange character. I have never come across a 60-year-old without children in Africa, but Otunnu is such a man.

Otunnu should know that in Uganda, a man of his age and status without a family cannot sit among elders because society considers him an irresponsible man. Such a man cannot run a country full of family issues.

The best Mao and Otunnu can do is to focus on the future of their parties, but not on the 2011 elections.

By now, a serious party should have come out with an alternative policy to counter those of the NRM, but many parties are still struggling with their internal power wrangles.

Do not tell Ugandans how bad Museveni or the NRM is because they will not respect you. Tell Ugandans the methods you will use to change the bad health, education and other systems.

Unfortunately for Mao, at his age he will only be good at workshops, press conferences and causing civil disobedience as a rights activist. DP has put a fullstop on his political life.
The writer is a presidential adviser on northern Uganda