ONAPITO EKOMOLOIT to the point.
Jan 09, 2003
NO doubt, terrorist Joseph Kony’s mission — in sowing death, sorrow and mayhem — has been to wipe smiles from the faces of the people in Acholi.
Smiles Slowly Return To Gulu
NO doubt, terrorist Joseph Kony’s mission — in sowing death, sorrow and mayhem — has been to wipe smiles from the faces of the people in Acholi. But as 2003 breaks here in Gulu, the leader of the so called Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) must be a very disappointed man.
Reason? You couldn’t find a more smile-laden welcome for the new year anywhere in Uganda than among the people of Gulu town. As if calling a bluff of Kony’s December 28, 2002 ranting on the local FM radio here, the folks seem determined to smile away their tears this year.
With Kampala fast attaining reputation as Uganda’s place that never sleeps, Gulu is running a close second. The festive new year season as he particularly seen the town put on its best defiance of war weariness.
The bustling town is still bursting at the seams with excited talk after hosting two music kids of the soil in a space of five days. On New Year Day, London-based Acholi girl, Roselyn Storm Otim brought back life into the hitherto decaying Pece Stadium, in a packed music show.
Close on Roselyn’s heels came home boy Tempra Omona, one of the favourites of Uganda’s hip-hop music scene. Like storm’s, Tempra’s January 5, 2003 do — with a fashion sideshow — at Diana Gardens, in the center of town, ran into the wee hours.
The folks (largely in the youth bracket) savoured every bit of the two shows — like there was no Kony. Alone vagabond who was suspected to have planned havoc at Roselyn’s show, by hurling a missile of explosive nature into the crowd, was stopped in his tracks and safely put away.
The end/beginning of year excitement is the Gulu peoples’ own testimony that President Yoweri Museveni’s last six months of pitching of camp here have not been in vain.
Before the President “shifted State House to Gulu,†the LRA — it may have been petty criminals masquerading as rebels — had had run rings around the people of Gulu town and its suburbs, leaving them in total fear.
The thugs had run riot so much that even hotels in the middle town, such as Kakanyero and Acholi Inn, were thought unsafe for a night’s sleep, especially for those associated with the president.
The scare-mongers, who had acquired notoriety for torching houses in the environs of the town, even had the audacity to try and scare the President the first time he settled in Gulu by firing in the direction of his base from a distance. Proverbial rats who play only while the cat is away. With the President in town, the killing and robbing arsonists scurried to safety.
Little wonder that the Gulu peoples’ demeanour towards the President has since changed dramatically. The last time the President drove into town, after a break for other duties in Kampala, the folks gave him a liberator’s welcome.
This was in sharp contrast with the first time. He arrived in the town to a muted welcome by people who stood by the shop verandahs, blankly staring, with awe written allover their faces, as if to say,†how can he dare step here?â€
Meanwhile, wherever the LRA killers retreated from near Gulu, they have been getting a deadly message from the hot pursuing Uganda Peoples Defence Forces(UPDF) : You may run but you can not hide.
Hope for Gulu, and by extension the entire Acholi region, though is not just about dancing. A lot more is happening is the region, and other areas seeking to race away in development better watch they backs. Acholi is coming and coming fast!
For example, with the MTN network now in Kitgum, the dot.com era is here too. Talking communication, Acholi boasts perhaps the most sophisticated FM radio station in the whole country: Mega FM in Gulu town. Quite a name for a station; Big FM (English), My FM (Acholi).
When Kony — or is it a man claiming to be him—called to the station recently, it was no surprise. Its signal is picked from as far as southern Sudan, where Kony is hiding. And if you are crazed by the English Premier League soccer, like most Kamplans are, you are at home in Gulu. Every bar worth its name has DSTV connection. Champions Arsenal is the crowd favourite here. Sorry, Man U guys!
Of course, on more serious development stuff, we should not forget that Gulu University is now up and running. The fuss? It’s the only other government university outside Kampala; the first being Mbarara University of Science and Technology a.k.a. MUST.
The next time you think of Acholi, do not think like Kony: That it is not part of Uganda.
NO doubt, terrorist Joseph Kony’s mission — in sowing death, sorrow and mayhem — has been to wipe smiles from the faces of the people in Acholi. But as 2003 breaks here in Gulu, the leader of the so called Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) must be a very disappointed man.
Reason? You couldn’t find a more smile-laden welcome for the new year anywhere in Uganda than among the people of Gulu town. As if calling a bluff of Kony’s December 28, 2002 ranting on the local FM radio here, the folks seem determined to smile away their tears this year.
With Kampala fast attaining reputation as Uganda’s place that never sleeps, Gulu is running a close second. The festive new year season as he particularly seen the town put on its best defiance of war weariness.
The bustling town is still bursting at the seams with excited talk after hosting two music kids of the soil in a space of five days. On New Year Day, London-based Acholi girl, Roselyn Storm Otim brought back life into the hitherto decaying Pece Stadium, in a packed music show.
Close on Roselyn’s heels came home boy Tempra Omona, one of the favourites of Uganda’s hip-hop music scene. Like storm’s, Tempra’s January 5, 2003 do — with a fashion sideshow — at Diana Gardens, in the center of town, ran into the wee hours.
The folks (largely in the youth bracket) savoured every bit of the two shows — like there was no Kony. Alone vagabond who was suspected to have planned havoc at Roselyn’s show, by hurling a missile of explosive nature into the crowd, was stopped in his tracks and safely put away.
The end/beginning of year excitement is the Gulu peoples’ own testimony that President Yoweri Museveni’s last six months of pitching of camp here have not been in vain.
Before the President “shifted State House to Gulu,†the LRA — it may have been petty criminals masquerading as rebels — had had run rings around the people of Gulu town and its suburbs, leaving them in total fear.
The thugs had run riot so much that even hotels in the middle town, such as Kakanyero and Acholi Inn, were thought unsafe for a night’s sleep, especially for those associated with the president.
The scare-mongers, who had acquired notoriety for torching houses in the environs of the town, even had the audacity to try and scare the President the first time he settled in Gulu by firing in the direction of his base from a distance. Proverbial rats who play only while the cat is away. With the President in town, the killing and robbing arsonists scurried to safety.
Little wonder that the Gulu peoples’ demeanour towards the President has since changed dramatically. The last time the President drove into town, after a break for other duties in Kampala, the folks gave him a liberator’s welcome.
This was in sharp contrast with the first time. He arrived in the town to a muted welcome by people who stood by the shop verandahs, blankly staring, with awe written allover their faces, as if to say,†how can he dare step here?â€
Meanwhile, wherever the LRA killers retreated from near Gulu, they have been getting a deadly message from the hot pursuing Uganda Peoples Defence Forces(UPDF) : You may run but you can not hide.
Hope for Gulu, and by extension the entire Acholi region, though is not just about dancing. A lot more is happening is the region, and other areas seeking to race away in development better watch they backs. Acholi is coming and coming fast!
For example, with the MTN network now in Kitgum, the dot.com era is here too. Talking communication, Acholi boasts perhaps the most sophisticated FM radio station in the whole country: Mega FM in Gulu town. Quite a name for a station; Big FM (English), My FM (Acholi).
When Kony — or is it a man claiming to be him—called to the station recently, it was no surprise. Its signal is picked from as far as southern Sudan, where Kony is hiding. And if you are crazed by the English Premier League soccer, like most Kamplans are, you are at home in Gulu. Every bar worth its name has DSTV connection. Champions Arsenal is the crowd favourite here. Sorry, Man U guys!
Of course, on more serious development stuff, we should not forget that Gulu University is now up and running. The fuss? It’s the only other government university outside Kampala; the first being Mbarara University of Science and Technology a.k.a. MUST.
The next time you think of Acholi, do not think like Kony: That it is not part of Uganda.