[Ugnet] Re: SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS - reply to Dr. Matovu

Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:18:32 -0700

Mr Lugemwa
 
I know you are just a messenger here, but please pass on these comments to Dr Matovu.
 
Noble as his idea is, Dr Matovu is officialy just another ordinary Ugandan who may be
genuinely  interested in finding a solution to the war in Northern Uganda. I am however baffled as to  how he estimates his chances of success and have the following simple questions.
 
1.   What does Dr Matovu think will make the people he is proposing to invite, take him  
       seriously and attend this meeting. ?
 
2.  WHERE and how will Dr Matovu approach 'Kony's'  present (and former) commanders and
      supporters, outside the US and  convince them to travel to the US, where it is a crime to 
      belong to a 'terrorist' organisation ?  - HOW will he guarantee that they will leave the US 
      without being charged?
    
3.  HOW will Dr. Matovu identify and convince Kony's supporters in the US to admit that they 
     are, and attend  the meeting ?
 
4.  As an 'ordinary' Ugandan' how will Dr. Matovu convince representatives of the US and UK 
   government, UNICEF, UNHCR, and others  to attend his meeting ?  HOW will he convince
   them that the decisions and resolutions of this meeting will be acted on by all interested
   parties ?
 
5.  WHY are UNAA Board members qualified to be in this meeting? What will UNAA contribute
    to the proceedings  or resolutions ?
 
6.  WHO is financing this meeting ? ie; WHO will pay for Ugandan delegates to attend the 
     meeting?
 
7.  WHO has asked Dr. Matovu to stage this charade ? 
    
 
Thank you for passing on my message to the good doctor in Georgia.
 
 
Nume
 
=====================================================================

Lugemwa FN <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Note: forwarded message attached.

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To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
From: "HILLSIDE INVESTMENTS" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 13:19:15 -0400
Subject: [UNAANET] RE: SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS

Dear Dr. Ochan Otim,

 

My name is Frank Sseguya Matovu. I live in Macon, Georgia. I left Uganda in 1982 and have in lived in the United States ever since. My detractors describe me as a washed-up, “elderly” man. My wife thinks I am a strapping 6ft 0in, 200 pound stallion. I personally think that I am one of the nicest people that I know.

 

The following sons of the soil can vouch for my good character and moral aptitude:

01.  Lt. Colonel Dr. Ochen Obwot. UPDF. Classmate and Hall mate [University Hall] at Makerere Medical School, 1974-1979.

02.  Dr. Charles Onen Lukwiya. Mulago Hospital/Makerere University. Classmate since high school [Namilyango College] through medical school. 1968-1979.

03.  Dr. Ben Omara Abe, Seattle, Washington. Family friend since 1989

04.  Engineer Daudi Abe of Houston, Texas whom I met through his older brother Ben.

 

What I am about to suggest and request is something I thought of last night. I have shared it with only one other person. That is my beautiful wife of 24 years and one month, Dr. Sarah Nambi Matovu. If you accept my request, I will work on this project, in a leadership role whether I am elected Vice President of UNAA or not. I have chosen you because of your willing ness to share pertinent information about the situation.

 

I would like you Dr. Otim, to join me in organizing a three day conference here in the United States to specifically discuss the plight of the people of Northern Uganda and to come up with strategies to influence the course of this war, with the ultimate objective being to stop the war and end the unnecessary suffering of the people of Acoli. The conference can be held here in Atlanta at the Center for Conflict Resolution, part of the Carter Presidential Center.

 

01. Day One: Friday: Dissemination of Information and Sharing of Facts. [Prayers for Muslims]

This day would be spent on informing the participants on how the war begun, who the stakeholders are, and how both sides have persecuted their portion of the conflict. The human suffering involved the economic cost, the social dislocation, the bleak future implications for Acoli land, the country and the Great Lakes area will all be discussed. Films and slide shows as well as audio interviews of the real people involved and affected will be played. The objective is to inform the uninformed [like me] about why Kony is still fighting? Why does he still have supporters among the population? Why the UPDF have failed to bring about a military solution? Why past attempts to end this war have failed. What are the cultural implications and ramifications of this war? [The difficult stuff to talk about]. < /P>

02. Day Two: Saturday: Devising Strategies with a High Probability of Success.

Clearly, a military solution to this problem no longer exists. We need to come up with a win-win combination. Kony can be persuaded to take up residence in another country and the UPDF can be persuaded to leave Acoli land except for the National Military Bases. That way Kony can say that he stopped fighting because he did not want to cause any further unnecessary suffering. The UPDF can say that they stopped fighting because the enemy left the area. Both can claim victory without losing face. We can ask and try to persuade several friendly countries where the Ugandan population has some clout to take a few of Kony’s top lieutenants and Kony himself. I am thinking of UK, Canada, USA, Australia, South Africa, Zambia, Ireland, and Russia. Make several resolutions and set a date for a follow up conference in 18 months.

03.  Day Three: Sunday: Prayers for Christians. Solidarity Walk. Departure.

Prayers can be led by one of the clergy from Gulu or Kitgum. A Solidarity Walk in the Afternoon concluding with planting a tree or erecting a memorial plaque for all those who have died. Departure of participants.

 

Suggested Participants:

 

01.   Kony’s present supporters or their representatives

02.   Kony’s former commanders e.g. Brig. Sam Kolo, Capt. Kodili etc.

03.   Former Child Soldiers in Kony’s Army;  Victims of the War; physical, sexual, psychological

04.   Present members of the UPDF involved in the northern conflict

05.   Mrs. Betty Bigombe, official government negotiator

06.   The ministers of Defense and Internal Affairs, Uganda

07.   Members of the Board of UNAA-International;  Members of UNAA from worldwide

08.   Clergy from Acoli, [Church of Uganda, Roman Catholic Church, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council]

09.   Representatives from UNICEF, UNHCR, World Food Program, etc.

10.   The Ugandan Ambassador to the US;  The Ugandan High Commissioner to Canada

11.    Representatives of the British Government; Representatives of the US State Department

12.    Representatives of the Acoli Associations in UK, Canada, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania etc.

13.   Other participants, as determined by the organizers.

 

The conflict in Northern Uganda has been continuing for 20 years. It will take a few more before we can end the bloodshed. But we must realize it will take some time to get the situation under control. I think it can be done. It will not be easy and the obstacles will be numerous. But let us exchange ideas about the viability of this conference as a start.

 

Respectfully,

 

 

Frank Sseguya Matovu.  


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