Olara Otunnu, why think like that?

SIR—I was surprised to read an article attributed to Olara Otunnu accusing the Government of fanning war in northern Uganda. The war in Acholi has gone on for the last 15 years. Over the years, several attempts or efforts have been made by the Government civic organisations and individuals to bring the war to an end. Uganda and Sudan are normalising diplomatic relations. The LRA field commanders are talking peace with civil leaders in Gulu and Kitgum. The kind of talk attributed to Otunnu, therefore, becomes redundant and takes the peace process backwards. Otunnu does not know (rightly) the number of soldiers, coming from different parts of Uganda, killed and maimed in battles to protect innocent Acholi from LRA led by Joseph Kony (himself an Acholi). Otunnu’s utterances can only fan hatred between the people of Acholi, the Government and the families of those soldiers who lost their lives or were disabled fighting to protect our brothers and sisters from Kony. Otunnu can accuse the Government of blocking his bid to become UN secretary-general. But I am sure he knows that such positions are political. There is no individual merit to access such positions. One needs political support from his home country. If Otunnu is a Namibian citizen now, as we hear, then he has no reason to blame the Uganda government. As politicians , our permanent interest should be to see to peace and development in our area under any government of the day. It is in this context that I thank the Acholi in the diaspora for initiating the Kacoke Madit, (grand meeting) which forced Nyekorach Matsanga to resign from LRA in 1999. I also thank the Acholi community in Canada and America for their resolution to work with the Uganda government of the day. The step taken by Hon Henry Oryem Okello who left all the easy life (in UK) to come and lead his people behind the Government should be commended. There are many Acholi out there who visit home and are investing in Uganda. I encourage many more to join them in developing Uganda and Acholi in particular. Dr. Pen-Mogi-Nyeko Kampala