What is the real cause of the war?
Many Ugandans are aware that some elements in Acholi started waging war against the NRM government way back in 1986 when the NRM took power after a protracted war in the Luwero Triangle which toppled the Okello regime.
Many Ugandans are aware that some elements in Acholi started waging war against the NRM government way back in 1986 when the NRM took power after a protracted war in the Luwero Triangle which toppled the Okello regime.
When one looks at the LRA demands, one can readily see things of yesterday when the NRM was already in power. Prior to 1986, the NRM /NRA was also in the bush and there is no way those complaining can rightly peg their grievances and anguish on president Yoweri Museveni’s government which at the time was non-existent.
The LRA complain about ‘imbalance in the national army (UPDF) and therefore demand that be disbanded. But it is common knowledge that during the Obote 1 and II regimes the national Army was mainly dominated by two or three ethnic groups. Why didn’t they complain to Obote about this glaring imbalance?
They complain about IDP camps. During Obote’s regime, the camps one could talk about were in the Luwero Triangle. The camps in the north were a creation of the LRA rebels who killed, raped, maimed and tortured civilians and forced them into those camps for protection by the UPDF.
There are other demands being floated but which cannot be related to the real and proximate cause for the insurgents to take up arms to fight the government since 1986.
In the absence of the real causes of the war in the north, one would be justified to conclude that the insurgents waged the senseless war for other reasons which some notable politicians from the north have started advancing.
As the peace talks have been hijacked by prominent politicians who in the past distanced themselves from Kony it is doubtful whether they will this time succeed.
Kulumba –Kiingi
Kampala
When one looks at the LRA demands, one can readily see things of yesterday when the NRM was already in power. Prior to 1986, the NRM /NRA was also in the bush and there is no way those complaining can rightly peg their grievances and anguish on president Yoweri Museveni’s government which at the time was non-existent.
The LRA complain about ‘imbalance in the national army (UPDF) and therefore demand that be disbanded. But it is common knowledge that during the Obote 1 and II regimes the national Army was mainly dominated by two or three ethnic groups. Why didn’t they complain to Obote about this glaring imbalance?
They complain about IDP camps. During Obote’s regime, the camps one could talk about were in the Luwero Triangle. The camps in the north were a creation of the LRA rebels who killed, raped, maimed and tortured civilians and forced them into those camps for protection by the UPDF.
There are other demands being floated but which cannot be related to the real and proximate cause for the insurgents to take up arms to fight the government since 1986.
In the absence of the real causes of the war in the north, one would be justified to conclude that the insurgents waged the senseless war for other reasons which some notable politicians from the north have started advancing.
As the peace talks have been hijacked by prominent politicians who in the past distanced themselves from Kony it is doubtful whether they will this time succeed.
Kulumba –Kiingi
Kampala