Kampala — British colonial rule in Uganda came to an end on October 9, 1962, and a new independent state was born with a democratically elected government. Uganda is today marking the 40th anniversary of statehood.

Uganda, just like many other African countries, has over the past 40 years been grappling with armed conflicts.

As Uganda marks its 40th anniversary, the districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Pader and Lira are in a state of insurgency with thousands of people in camps. This state of affairs underscores the fact that the country is still at crossroads, yet to resolve the issue of political governance.

Uganda is facing serious political challenges. While the issue of Movement versus Multiparty politics has dominated the political debates over the past few years, I believe what poses the most serious threat to Uganda's future political stability is the south-north divide. The need to tackle this divide has never been more urgent than it is today and should be part of the efforts to end the Kony insurgency. A military solution per se to the insurgency is unlikely to resolve the underlying long-standing and deep-rooted political conflict.

A legacy of British colonial policy of 'divide and rule', the north-south divide has lately been aggravated by the insurgency, which has disrupted or slowed down implementation of developmental projects in the region. The area, which according to the recent census is experiencing a population explosion, has now the biggest percentage of people living below the poverty line. This has grave political implications.

The dangers posed by the north-south divide are real. For instance the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) is now trying to opportunistically exploit this divide by claiming it is fighting for the 'marginalised' northerners. LRA rebels cannot be taken seriously in view of the horrifying atrocities they have committed against the very people they now claim to be fighting for.

It would be extremely unwise to bury our heads in the sand and deny existence of the potentially explosive north-south divide. As I have indicated, there are some historical factors responsible for this problem. But it is also true that post-independence governments have made mistakes that have deepened the north-south rift. When Obote took over in 1962, he thought that by turning Uganda into a unitary, republican state, he would be able to forge 'one nation'. Unfortunately these policies did more harm than good.

The insurgency in the 1980s, which primarily affected the central region exacerbated the rift. The NRA and the other guerrilla groups, except Brig. Moses Ali's Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF), were south-based. Majority of people in the Luweero Triangle perceived the war against Obote's regime as a war against a regime of northerners! They never understood it as a war for democracy.

Most witnesses from Luweero who testified before the Human Rights Commission described the UNLA soldiers as 'Acholis' yet many of these soldiers were from Buganda and the west.

The north-south divide partly explains why the Movement's support in the north has been lukewarm. Unfortunately the Movement government does not appear to recognise that there is a north-south question. There have not been any serious efforts to bring the north on board.

Government has not responded to complaints that the north has not been fairly represented in the country's top policy making organs. These are pertinent issues which government should not brush off.

The Ivory Coast is currently in a political crisis that analysts are blaming on the north-south divide.