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It is a shame that, apparently, the egos of some individuals may have failed Ugandans an opportunity of ending a stupid war that the NRM government has lived with for almost its entire life in power.
It is even more shameful that as our president ordered government soldiers to go back to what, may be, he enjoys most, our brothers and sisters in Sudan and Senegal were jubilating over the success of their peace initiatives.
Readers may be aware that as 2004 was coming to an end, three African countries were poised to sign peace pacts with their respective rebels. These were Sudan, Senegal and Uganda. The Sudanese government signed a protocol with the SPLA after a two year negotiation period, detailing how to share power, natural wealth, how to handle their respective armies during the six year transition period, and
how to administer the three disputed areas in Central Sudan.
One enviously read the words of their chief negotiator, Lazaro Sumbeiywe saying that “We now have all the components that will form the comprehensive Sudan peace agreement… every topic on our agenda has been discussed and agreed on” (See: Sudan, rebels in peace deal. The Monitor. January 1, 2005).
The Senegalese government signed theirs with the separatist rebels of MFDC to end an armed conflict of over twenty years. The statement from the African Union on this pact is pregnant with what seems to be lacking in the Ugandan case. It read thus: “The signing, which brings tremendous hope in Casamance in particular and Senegal in general, is a product of the determination and political will of the Senegalese authorities especially President Abdulaye Wade, to find a political solution to the Casamance crisis”.
It is so frustrating to the people in the war zone in particular and of Uganda in general, that we have gone back to the unnecessary killings of our fellow Ugandans after words like those of Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda that: “It is our hope that our brothers of the LRA respond to our proposals in the memorandum” (The Monitor, January 1, 2005), and those of Ms. Betty Bigombe the chief negotiator that “This is a historical moment for the people of Uganda that we have made this progress in the meeting. A few months ago, this was something unthinkable” (See: Museveni in Gulu, peace deal today. The Monitor.
December 31, 2004); and indeed those attributed to the LRA’s chief negotiator Maj. Kolo that; “I am very optimistic that if this atmosphere continues, peace will prevail in northern Uganda”.
What is so annoying and worrying are the reports of apparently concerted efforts by
some individuals to have the talks fail allegedly because some of them, may be, stand to gain. Here, Ambassador Sigurd Illing is quoted saying that some UPDF officials “are living comfortably with the conflict”.
But whereas the army leadership has brushed this claim off, Ugandans may recall that we have had some senior army officers allegedly involved in procurement of materials they well knew would not be of any use in the combat against the rebels.
What this means is that, for instance, if the procured choppers cannot fly, the uniforms cannot fit and the food that is bought for the fighters is not eatable, then the fighting men won’t be strong enough to fight decisively considering even that some of them were going without salaries after other seniors had disappeared with it and there were very many ghosts within them who could not even fight.
But all said, with
due respect to President Museveni, his actions and words when the rebels delayed to respond immediately to the memorandum were not pro- peaceful resolution of this conflict. The President is alleged to have said that “ If Kony’s group do not irreversibly commit themselves to coming out of the bush by the 31st of December, then UPDF will start full-scale operations beginning 0700 hours, the 1st of January 2005”.
Now, readers may recall that this is exactly what President Museveni allegedly did in 1994 when Ms. Bigombe had just met Kony. Instead of consolidating the gains then, as has been today, he reportedly gave the rebels seven days within which to come out of the bush or he finishes them! He has not finished them up to today.
The biggest problem in this conflict is the big desire by President Museveni and some of his close friends to want the conflict to end in a win –
lose situation.
In this kind of conflict, we should not be looking for any winner but a compromise so as to end the uncalled for suffering of our people.
In light of this I find Mr. Moses Byaruhanga’s view that “For how long should the government extend the ceasefire period? We have played our part but it’s unfortunate that the rebels are not committed to the peace process because they don’t even make their terms clear to us” (The Monitor. 2nd January 2005).
The period the cease fire takes is not an issue - after all what do we lose even if it were to take a year when there are no hostilities from either side as the two parties negotiate? If it is not the comfort that Mr. Illing talked about, what is that hurry in drawing battle lines again?
If we accept that the memorandum was prepared by one party, how do we expect the other party to just sign it without understanding it? What is wrong with them asking for a few days to discuss it within their rank and file and be able to present their position?
What President Museveni must accept is that the Kony war has failed him militarily and that the only alternative is a negotiated end. He should also accept that nobody will ever laugh at him for having failed to rout out “these simple bandits / rebels / fools/ thugs” , as
some people have always referred to the rebels, by military might.
Ugandans are not interested in who is stronger but the safety of our people and their right to live as free citizens like the rest of those swimming in the abundances while they would not want to give peace a chance but war and war and war.
If Ms. Betty Bigombe who has persistently sought out a negotiated end on behalf of all of us Ugandans, has not given up, why should Mr. Museveni on whose shoulders this responsibility falls, be that impatient?
Let us not squander this opportunity of a negotiated end to this silly conflict.
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