Fellow citizens : a Brief Comment:
Obviously an estimated figure of 23,520 (people including 12,320 civilians) who have thus far died in Northern Uganda as a result of NRM's wars with "Kony Rebels", is, to say the least, a gross underestimate. One can only but wonder aloud as to how the so called researchers (stated in the article below) came up with the above mentioned figures? What statistical tool, if any, was used to arrive at the above figures? Ugandans are every much aware that the number of Ugandans who have died in Northern Uganda as direct result of Yoweri Museveni's wars with Kony, is in the Hundreds of thousands...perhaps millions! It is possible that the cost involved in fighting "KONY REBELS" is no doubt, is astronomical. Perhaps the figure of 1.3 Billion dollars in cost to fight Kony was also unders estimated. I would put it more then that. In anycase, that stated, one would think that the NRM military dictatorship, if they had any shred of intelligence left, would have long realized that the cost of 1.3 billion U.S dollars to pursue an endless war, is unacceptable. More over, for a Third World country, whose populace is in dare need of improved social welfare (good schools, hospitals, road network, jobs, e.t.c), throwing away 1.3 billions dollars( or more) into what many would regard as a rat hole, is pure example of stupidity of the Highest Order! But then we are here talking about the NRM leadership... the Katagayas, the Wapakabulo, the Yoweri Musevenis, the Salem Saleh, the Kazini's ( mavi Yaa Kuku) plus many more . Many of this kind of NRM leadership are simply devoid of Critical Thinking. Kazini(Mavi Yaa Kuku) is a Primary Seven Graduate. This one simply cannot think Period!!!!! Salem Saleh, is but a Gold/Diamond thief as well as chief smuggler of DRC natural resources. He to is devoid of thinking. Nothing good can and does come out of a mind of a thief . This is a valid statement Museveni: That one just knows how to roll his eyes while seated in the State House as he spews lies! Katagaya (the so called chief NRM ideologue) is another bankrupt fellow who has misdiagnose Uganda's problems. Indeed all this prescriptions have thus far failed to solve Ugandans many political problems. Fellow citizens, for the NRM the GUN has been and continues to be the solution to Uganda's many problems. A different leadership would have long conclude that wars are NOT the solutions to Ugandans problems..... and that no stone should be left unturned to pursue peaceful avenues to resolve the problem in Northern Uganda ..if only it would lead to the saving or 1.3 Billion dollars. In a message dated 11/9/02 10:58:22 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Kony War Costs Govt US$1.3bn Email This Page Print This Page The Monitor (Kampala) November 7, 2002 Posted to the web November 9, 2002 Badru D. Mulumba Kampala International aid agencies have estimated that Uganda's civil war in northern Uganda has cost $1.33bn (Shs 2,460bn) in 16 years. The aid agencies, including UK's Oxfam International, Care International, Danish branch of Save the Children Fund and World Vision mention the figure in a report they plan to hand to donors at the next donors' conference from Dec.11-13 in Kampala. "Uganda has already lost $1.33bn on a seemingly endless war," says the report quoted yesterday by Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa). "It [government] must do whatever is necessary to resolve the conflict peacefully." This money is the amount needed to treat 24 million Ugandans for the next six years, basing on the current expenditure on health estimated at between $11-12 dollars per person per year. The 28 page report titled, "The Net Economic Cost of the Conflict in The Acholiland Sub-region of Uganda" has reportedly been drafted under the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Peace in Northern Uganda (CSOPNU) comprising the above civil society groups. The war has reportedly cost $367m (Shs 660bn) in defence spending, disrupted incomes from crop production, reduced tourism earnings, increased medical costs, and led to diversion of donor funds to safer areas. Uganda's defence budget is Shs 260bn a year. "People have fled with the clothes on their backs and have lost all their worldly possessions," the report reportedly says. The war has also reportedly left an estimated 23,520 people, including 12,320 civilians dead; this translated into an economic loss of $34m (Shs 62.9bn). It has also left more than a million people displaced and thousands maimed, according to the report. "It [the document] is going to be part of the agenda when the civil society meets with donors at their discussion in Kampala. The civil society will see to it that one of the issues on the agenda is the conflict in the north," Ulla Strobech, director of MS Uganda is quoted saying. Ulla Strobech confirmed the report when called on telephone last evening. She added that the report, the first of its kind was commissioned by more than 20 NGOs, both local and international. Two researchers were contracted to do the work, she said. The Director for Economic Affairs Keith Muhakanizi said that he had not yet received the report. He said that if there is such a report, government would "definitely study and react to it." According to the report, the war has reportedly also cost crops ($212m), tourism ($185m), and increased medical costs ($138m). It has also led to loss of output due to ill health ($99m) and loss of livestock and incomes from livestock sales ($97m). The report urges government to opt for peace to resolve the war. >>
