;)
SUPPORTIVE: Omara Atubo
By Ali Mao in Lira
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has thanked
Lango for not resorting to unconstitutional and armed means to fight
government.
�I salute you the people of Lango for rejecting
rebellion against the government. Although they did not vote for me in
the last presidential election, I am very happy with them,� said the
President while addressing Lira district residents at the Uganda
Technical College, Lira on Tuesday.
�If you are carrying out
immunisation successfully and implementing the government�s programmes
like UPE, I have no objection. Denying me votes is not a big issue. I
will keep on sending more and more money to the district,� Museveni
assured the Langi.
A statement issued by the President�s Press
Secretary said Museveni �praised the wisdom of the leadership in Lango
and said that the leaders in the area have grasped the concept of peace
as an essential ingredient of development.�
He said because of
this, Lango had greatly benefited from government programmes like UPE,
road construction, electricity and water.
Museveni urged other
leaders in the north, especially in Acholi, to emulate the Langi in
working for peace.
�He said persistent insecurity in Acholiland
is a result of poor local leadership because local leaders have
continued to keep quiet or even sympathise with criminals who are
killing people, abducting, maiming and raping children,� the statement
said.
Museveni said insecurity in the north was fuelled by bad
neighbours giving Uganda�s enemies ground to train rebels and by the
small defence budget.
Otuke MP Omara Atubo said Lango MPs would
support the government on the issue of a sufficient defence budget. He
said the dialogue between the President and Lango would have a positive
impact in the country.
Ends
Published on: Thursday, 31st October, 2002 |
