Northern Uganda must unite and prosper—Gen Busizoori

________________

The 4th Division Infantry Commander, Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori has called on people in northern Uganda to unite, avoid tribalism, and use the peace in the region to transform their lives.

He emphasised the need for love for one another if they are to prosper, adding that he is pushing for unity, especially in Apaa, between the Acholi and Madi communities, where they have been killing each other over land.

“We need to do away with issues that divide us and use cultural leaders to teach us culture. Let us use the peace to transform our region, and as leaders, we need to sensitize the people so that we become productive and do away with poverty,” Busizoori said.

Busizoori thanked the people for welcoming and loving him, citing that in the short time he has been at the 4th Division, almost everyone has become his friend.

UPDF officers seated during 4th division Infantry Commander, Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori's thanksgiving prayer. (Photo by Jackson Kitara)

He also thanked the people in the region for embracing peace by supporting the UPDF in chasing away the LRA from northern Uganda.

Busizoori said he will train street kids in Gulu City, who are terrorising the people, in ideological mindset change and take them to join skill training at the Presidential Hub in Gulu District so they can train and create their own jobs.

He said he will start giving out all impounded charcoal to vulnerable communities instead of selling it so that the vice can be stopped.

Busizoori made the remarks during his thanksgiving prayer for his promotion to Major General, held at Watoto Church in Gulu City on Saturday.

He was promoted to the rank of Major General last year and replaced Brig. Michael Kabango, who became the Chief of Staff Land Forces in the UPDF.

Busizoori previously served as Deputy Commander for the Third Division Infantry.

Ismail Mohammed, the Mayor of Moroto Municipality, said Busizoori was promoted due to his hard work in the Karamoja region, where he quelled gun violence and attacks by notorious warriors.

“His dedication to duty has earned him recognition and respect from the community. He is an approachable, flexible, and humble UPDF commander who is down to earth,” Mohammed described.

Mohammed advised people in northern Uganda and West Nile to make the best use of Busizoori for peace and development.

Bishop Godfrey Loum, the Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Uganda, in his sermon, said he is privileged that a soldier at the rank of Major General recognizes God in his progress, citing that many soldiers see their guns as their God.

He said people must work to eradicate poverty at the household level as the government is providing other services to them.

4th division infantry Commander, Maj. Gen. Felix Busizoori handing over a tray of eggs to Bishop Godfrey Loum, the Bishop of the Diocese of northern Uganda. (Photo by Jackson Kitara)

Loum said that although the guns are silent, people still have children born in captivity, trauma as a result of the war, and poverty, while GBV is still rampant among the people.

“There is a need to rebuild and reconcile broken relationships so that people live as one, just like the Israelites who were liberated from Egypt by Moses,” he said.

Peter Banya, the deputy resident city commissioner for Laroo-Pece Division, said there is insecurity in the city as street gangs are terrorizing the people.

“We need to work hard and fight the new gangs in the city because people in Gulu City are not at peace, and the army has supported us well since police officers are few, with only one vehicle to conduct operations in the entire city,” he said.

Okwonga Yusuf Adek, the clan chief of the Pageya clan, said people need to work hard and fight alcoholism and laziness so the region can recover from the war.

He said fighting trauma is hard when people are in poverty.