Richard Todwong
4 September 2008
opinion
Kampala — As the people of northern Uganda resettle after the 20-year conflict, their priorities are gradually changing.
They are not interested in listening to empty promises. They want to hear leaders committed to fighting poverty, building unity, promoting education and health programmes, fighting corruption, provision of clean water and improvement of agriculture.
These are the issues President Yoweri Museveni is talking about, which explains why people are turning up in large numbers to his rallies.
The votes Kizza Besigye, the FDC president, got in Acholi in 2001 and 2006 were protest votes and did not signify his support or that of the party.
Besigye's latest visit Acholi to was meant to thank the people for voting him in the last presidential elections and to echo his dream of removing the NRM from power.
Transiting from conflict to a post-conflict situation requires solution-oriented leadership. After war, people look at results and not rhetoric. The opposition should provide alternatives to what they claim is wrong in the Government.
Gen. Salim Saleh once suggested transformation of the IDP camps into modern satellite towns and empowering the community to engage in commercial agriculture, with the Government providing assistance to farmers.
After a conflict, there is need to refocus the leadership to address development issues. Consensus among leaders on priority areas and the need for undivided attention are paramount in the following areas:
- Mobilisation of displaced persons to return home. Many people from Acholi are settled in Kampala, Jinja, Masindi and Kasese.
- Economic empowerment of IDPs who are returning to their original homes.
- Land conflict management. Many families, individuals, clans and institutions have conflicts over land in Acholi.
- The rapid spread of HIV/AIDS should also be checked.
- There is need to encourage people to work harder in order to over come the challenges of poverty.
- Leaders in Acholi must bury their differences so that peace and harmony prevail in Acholi.
The writer is the special presidential adviser on northern Uganda
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