It is not a game of us and them
Mar 08, 2006
SIR – In the widening spiral of discussions about the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections, one of the first things you notice when you read between the lines is the creepily amateurish and cheesy way in which the usual opportunists are now condemning and castigating the nor
SIR – In the widening spiral of discussions about the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections, one of the first things you notice when you read between the lines is the creepily amateurish and cheesy way in which the usual opportunists are now condemning and castigating the northerners for voting FDC and not NRM.
I read with disgust Charles K Otim’s letter of March 4, in which he asserts that “in Ugandan history, we have never had a leader who served Uganda, especially the north, Teso and part of the west like President Museveni has.â€
Otim’s comments follow those of John Nagenda: “Museveni must have been greatly disappointed because he has sincerely given of himself to this region and not just at these elections.
He will not turn his back on these people, who remain part and parcel of Uganda, but in the human way, they should not pretend to huge surprise if his warmth wanes,†and Gen Salim Saleh’s “We need to work hard on the attitude of the people of northern Uganda.†With such views at the engine of Uganda’s leadership, it is not surprising that the Acholi have already started paying the price. On March 1, several wanainchi in a bus from Kitgum to Gulu were forced out and ordered to walk on the road by the UPDF.
Feeling like a social outsider is one thing, and always worth discussing empathetically, as a human concern for one’s fellow humans. The people of northern Uganda have been isolated for the last 20 years from the rest of Uganda. They are abused and are suffering at the hands of both the LRA and UPDF.
Therefore they voted against the policies of the NRM that is controlling and isolating them in the displaced people’s camps. Our sons (LDUs and militias) have fought not only the LRA but ADF in Western Uganda, Congo and are pursuing Kony in the Sudan, or is it now back to Congo; in the pursuit of peace.
But how has the NRM repaid them? It took away their freedom, property, livestock, education, land and culture. Indeed the people of northern Uganda are dying a very systematic, slow, painful and certain death under the watchful eyes of those who swore to protect their lives.
Any democratic and subjective observer worth his salt would condemn the Otims, Nagendas and Salehs for their arrogant and diversionary remarks. It is not a game of us and them, it is democracy and in a democracy, the one mandated to do the job does it without favouritism.
These remarks serve as a confirmation that the NRM administration holds the view that we are different Ugandans. So why not declare a border at the Karuma Falls?
Michael Ocen
Gulu
I read with disgust Charles K Otim’s letter of March 4, in which he asserts that “in Ugandan history, we have never had a leader who served Uganda, especially the north, Teso and part of the west like President Museveni has.â€
Otim’s comments follow those of John Nagenda: “Museveni must have been greatly disappointed because he has sincerely given of himself to this region and not just at these elections.
He will not turn his back on these people, who remain part and parcel of Uganda, but in the human way, they should not pretend to huge surprise if his warmth wanes,†and Gen Salim Saleh’s “We need to work hard on the attitude of the people of northern Uganda.†With such views at the engine of Uganda’s leadership, it is not surprising that the Acholi have already started paying the price. On March 1, several wanainchi in a bus from Kitgum to Gulu were forced out and ordered to walk on the road by the UPDF.
Feeling like a social outsider is one thing, and always worth discussing empathetically, as a human concern for one’s fellow humans. The people of northern Uganda have been isolated for the last 20 years from the rest of Uganda. They are abused and are suffering at the hands of both the LRA and UPDF.
Therefore they voted against the policies of the NRM that is controlling and isolating them in the displaced people’s camps. Our sons (LDUs and militias) have fought not only the LRA but ADF in Western Uganda, Congo and are pursuing Kony in the Sudan, or is it now back to Congo; in the pursuit of peace.
But how has the NRM repaid them? It took away their freedom, property, livestock, education, land and culture. Indeed the people of northern Uganda are dying a very systematic, slow, painful and certain death under the watchful eyes of those who swore to protect their lives.
Any democratic and subjective observer worth his salt would condemn the Otims, Nagendas and Salehs for their arrogant and diversionary remarks. It is not a game of us and them, it is democracy and in a democracy, the one mandated to do the job does it without favouritism.
These remarks serve as a confirmation that the NRM administration holds the view that we are different Ugandans. So why not declare a border at the Karuma Falls?
Michael Ocen
Gulu