War and poverty are different
Feb 03, 2006
SIR – I am responding to the recent deliberations in the press about poverty in northern Uganda and the LRA rebellion.
SIR – I am responding to the recent deliberations in the press about poverty in northern Uganda and the LRA rebellion.
Kintu Nyago wrote in Sunday Vision that in his recent appearence on KFM, Dr Otunnu did not blame the LRA for the atrocities in Acholi and that Otunnu’s genocide talk is an exaggeration. He agreed, however, that the Government has tried to end the war, and I agree with him that the situation in northern Uganda is bad, but not genocide.
My problem is that Nyago, and many others, have failed to separate the war from the raging poverty in northern Uganda. While I believe that the Government has tried to end the war, I think it has done little about the poverty, with all national statistics showing that the north tails in everything – public/private sector jobs, education and health, which I think the Government should urgently address, as well as fighting the war.
There are areas in Teso, Lango and West Nile that have never seen war but are very poor and there is no sign that they have ever benefited from the Government. I think the poverty should not be blamed on the war entirely; Government should accept the socio-economic neglect of the north and address it.
All Ugandans, including the opposition, should join hands with the Government and help our brothers in the north overcome this tragedy.
Ssendaula Anthony
China
Kintu Nyago wrote in Sunday Vision that in his recent appearence on KFM, Dr Otunnu did not blame the LRA for the atrocities in Acholi and that Otunnu’s genocide talk is an exaggeration. He agreed, however, that the Government has tried to end the war, and I agree with him that the situation in northern Uganda is bad, but not genocide.
My problem is that Nyago, and many others, have failed to separate the war from the raging poverty in northern Uganda. While I believe that the Government has tried to end the war, I think it has done little about the poverty, with all national statistics showing that the north tails in everything – public/private sector jobs, education and health, which I think the Government should urgently address, as well as fighting the war.
There are areas in Teso, Lango and West Nile that have never seen war but are very poor and there is no sign that they have ever benefited from the Government. I think the poverty should not be blamed on the war entirely; Government should accept the socio-economic neglect of the north and address it.
All Ugandans, including the opposition, should join hands with the Government and help our brothers in the north overcome this tragedy.
Ssendaula Anthony
China