Acholi, have a conscience!

SIR-I am a true Acholi from Koch Goma but now exiled in Masindi. I must say there is a problem with the Acholi. I know this will annoy but before the Acholi start hurling insults at me, I am shocked that none of our top politicians, especially the parliamentarians, have come out to condemn the deliberate falsehoods and misrepresentations of the northern Uganda situation presented by our own kith and kin Olara Otunnu in his April 10 statement. In his article, "What shall I tell the children of Uganda?", Otunnu lambasts the government of Uganda and yet he knows very well the origin of the Kony problem but is trying to confuse the international community from his perch in New York. He knows that Kony's LRA and not the UPDF, is the one abducting, raping and mutilating children and adults alike. He has the cheek to put all the blame on the Uganda government. Surely, do we Acholi have to be such blatant liars on top of killing our own kindred? Our honourable members have as usual kept quiet. They are waiting for the chance to travel to Toronto, London or Nairobi to 'represent' us at the Kacoke Madit. The few voices of reason are recently-elected Lamwo's Hilary Onek and the late Tito Okello's son in Chua who has urged the Acholi to back the Movement government which was elected by the majority of Ugandans. Bravo! Compare the Acholi MPs' silence with the message from Mumbere Iremangoma of Bukonzo where he condemns the ADF and appreciates the peace, security and stability in Uganda (The New Vision, July 3). I was also encouraged by your columnist Opiyo Oloya's piece of July 4. He says that the "biggest breakthrough for the Kansas gathering was the recognition that to bring about change, one must be prepared to work with the government of the day." Pierino Obita Kigumba, Masindi