By Catherine Bekunda

The Government is committed to rebuilding the north after two decades of insurgency, the minister in charge of the region has said.

“We are very keen that the Peace and Recovery Development Plan (PRDP), which is a comprehensive plan by the Government to improve the quality of services and life in this region, is well implemented,” said David Wakikona.

The minister was last week officiating at the opening of the Advocacy Week conference in Lira.

The European Union- funded event is organised by the civil society steering committee and the civil society capacity building programme.

Wakikona said previous programmes to develop the region had not been well implemented and appealed to all stakeholders to ensure that PRDP succeeds.

The retired Bishop of Kitgum, the Rt. Rev. Macleod Ochora, said the programmes should aim at developing the north.

“Focus should be on industrialisation and electrification. Instead of increasing the number of law enforcers, counsel the traumatised people,” he appealed.

The conference drew participants from civil society organisations in northern and north eastern Uganda.

The theme of the event was “From rhetoric to action: A people centred reconstruction of Northern Uganda”.

It focused on the sub-themes of food and nutrition security, increasing access to services for children and peoples’ participation in peace building and reconciliation in the north and north east.