Face the music
Oct 09, 2002
Government has slashed all expenditure by 23% except on health, education and poverty alleviation to sustain the offensive against Kony rebels in northern Uganda
Government has slashed all expenditure by 23% except on health, education and poverty alleviation to sustain the offensive against Kony rebels in northern Uganda.
Simultaneously, Acholi MPs have requested government to continue seeking a peaceful end to the war as well as a military solution.
Certainly the dream scenario is for the LRA rebels to take advantage of the amnesty offer and come out of the bush for good.
The ‘carrot and stick’ approach was effective during the Rwenzori offensive with ADF rebels like Commander Benz being hospitably received when they quit the bush.
Similarly some LRA commanders and soldiers are already leaving the bush to take advantage of the amnesty.
Moreover, while President Museveni advised the northern bishops that it was not safe to visit Kony, he did not categorically instruct them not to. Nor did he say that they should give up their peace mission through intermediaries or outside the bush.
So in effect, government is still pursuing both the peaceful and military solutions as recommended by the MPs.
It would, however, be unwise to backtrack on the military operation having coming this far down the road. A huge amount of time and money has been invested in finally defeating the LRA. That investment should not now be squandered by taking the eye off the ball and looking for a peaceful solution that Kony does not seem to be interested in.
Let’s intensify the military operation and protect the civilians of the north while keeping channels of communication open with the LRA. If they want to come out, fine. If they don’t want to come out, let them face the music.
Simultaneously, Acholi MPs have requested government to continue seeking a peaceful end to the war as well as a military solution.
Certainly the dream scenario is for the LRA rebels to take advantage of the amnesty offer and come out of the bush for good.
The ‘carrot and stick’ approach was effective during the Rwenzori offensive with ADF rebels like Commander Benz being hospitably received when they quit the bush.
Similarly some LRA commanders and soldiers are already leaving the bush to take advantage of the amnesty.
Moreover, while President Museveni advised the northern bishops that it was not safe to visit Kony, he did not categorically instruct them not to. Nor did he say that they should give up their peace mission through intermediaries or outside the bush.
So in effect, government is still pursuing both the peaceful and military solutions as recommended by the MPs.
It would, however, be unwise to backtrack on the military operation having coming this far down the road. A huge amount of time and money has been invested in finally defeating the LRA. That investment should not now be squandered by taking the eye off the ball and looking for a peaceful solution that Kony does not seem to be interested in.
Let’s intensify the military operation and protect the civilians of the north while keeping channels of communication open with the LRA. If they want to come out, fine. If they don’t want to come out, let them face the music.