Norbert Mao warns against fresh rebellion in northern Uganda
Jul 07, 2009
People in the north and the east have been advised to denounce violence and insurgency.
By Milton Olupot and Isabel Pike
People in the north and the east have been advised to denounce violence and insurgency.
Gulu district chairperson Norbert Mao said violence was not the right way to change governments.
Mao, who was recently accused by security agencies of having a link to a newly-formed rebel group in northern Uganda, yesterday said there were more civilised ways of solving governance problems.
He was speaking at a peace and development workshop at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
The meeting attracted donors, MPs and leaders from the 40 districts of the north.
“We have problems with the Government, but we shall sort them out without resorting to insurgency,†he said.
Mao also called for transparency in the implementation of the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan.
The implementation of the $606m (over sh1,000b) plan begins next month.
The Government is expected to contribute 30% of the budget and donors, 70%.
State minister for northern Uganda rehabilitation David Wakikona said the Government had set aside sh100b for the programme.
“The allocation of the funds will be published in local newspapers to show that what we are doing is not a lie,†the minister said.
The representative of the donors at the meeting, Randolph Harris of USAID, said the programme for the release of the donor funds would be ready by December this year.
“The plan is a promise to the people of northern Uganda that their lives will be better,†he said.
He called for urgent provision of food and security to the people returning from the internally displaced persons’ camps.
The permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Pius Bigirimana, warned district leaders against corruption.
“Anybody who is nursing an appetite for this money, I warn you, you will be in trouble,†he warned.
The Greater North Parliamentary Association chairperson, Felix Okot Ogong, said the northern region was marginalised by the Government.
He said the problems in the region were increased by loss of lives and property during the insurgency, high HIV/AIDS prevalence, low agricultural productivity and environmental degradation.
People in the north and the east have been advised to denounce violence and insurgency.
Gulu district chairperson Norbert Mao said violence was not the right way to change governments.
Mao, who was recently accused by security agencies of having a link to a newly-formed rebel group in northern Uganda, yesterday said there were more civilised ways of solving governance problems.
He was speaking at a peace and development workshop at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
The meeting attracted donors, MPs and leaders from the 40 districts of the north.
“We have problems with the Government, but we shall sort them out without resorting to insurgency,†he said.
Mao also called for transparency in the implementation of the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan.
The implementation of the $606m (over sh1,000b) plan begins next month.
The Government is expected to contribute 30% of the budget and donors, 70%.
State minister for northern Uganda rehabilitation David Wakikona said the Government had set aside sh100b for the programme.
“The allocation of the funds will be published in local newspapers to show that what we are doing is not a lie,†the minister said.
The representative of the donors at the meeting, Randolph Harris of USAID, said the programme for the release of the donor funds would be ready by December this year.
“The plan is a promise to the people of northern Uganda that their lives will be better,†he said.
He called for urgent provision of food and security to the people returning from the internally displaced persons’ camps.
The permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Pius Bigirimana, warned district leaders against corruption.
“Anybody who is nursing an appetite for this money, I warn you, you will be in trouble,†he warned.
The Greater North Parliamentary Association chairperson, Felix Okot Ogong, said the northern region was marginalised by the Government.
He said the problems in the region were increased by loss of lives and property during the insurgency, high HIV/AIDS prevalence, low agricultural productivity and environmental degradation.