‘Remove Kitgum Landmines’

Interfaith Peace Initiatives (IFPI) has advised the Government to remove landmines from Kitgum and allow the people in protected camps to return to their homes, reports Richard Mutumba.IFPI, a voluntary group with members from various religions recently visited Gulu to see the conditions under which the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) live.Sister Nichola Lovett, Margaret Convoy, Specioza Babikinamu and Wes Baker told The New Vision on Monday that their report is a follow up of their letter to the Speaker and MPs on the World Peace Day.“In the report, we asked the Government to close the protected camps for IDPs,” the team members said.The group said the life in the camps is tearing the fabric of family life apart. They said what is taking place in the camps is a real threat to the future wellbeing of the Acholi and the nation.Lovett said life in the camps seems to encourage dependency and idleness. She said, “Families of eight to ten people live in small grass-roofed houses very close to each other. This is not the usual way the Acholi people live. The result is that children are undisciplined and very often refuse to go to school.”Ends