James Eriku & Justine Muboka
1 October 2008
Pader — The Local Government Minister, Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire, has warned the Acholi against denying non-Acholi land for investment.
Gen. Otafiire said the views on land by opposition politicians hailing from the region is already impacting negatively on the residents, who should be working hard to recover from the two-decade insurgency that destroyed almost everything. "It is now time for you to run and catch up with the rest of the regions by uniting with foreign players and working harder," Gen. Otafiire said.
"If not, you will continue complaining and the rest of the regions would get tired and abandon you. Things are not okay here and you risk being sidelined." The minister was presenting a paper at a three-day peace meeting organised by Mercy Corps in Pader District on the role of a local government in enhancing peace- building in northern Uganda.
Gen. Otafiire also urged the people of Acholi to abandon the customary land system, which he said holds them back and instead embrace concerted efforts with foreign investors whom he said have the propellers to development drive engines.
The Acholi Parliamentary Group has condemned advances by the government to have land allocated for foreign investors including Madhvani Group of Companies for sugar cane growing in Amuru District.
The politicians argue that there is no way land can be given to foreign investors when its owners are still in the camps.
Gen. Otafiire said sustainable peace will only prevail when the economy is also progressing in favour of the locals. The meeting, the first of its kind in northern Uganda, attracted over 300 dignitaries.
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Uganda's number one problem is to remove the undemocratic and corrupt NRM government, that has systematically and deliberately destroyed Uganda as Ugandans knew it, from power. Acholi or "northerners" are biological substances but their land is now valuable and ripe for development ? Why would Acholis listen to and now trust communist murderers like Otafiire ? NRM go away; Acholis know what is good for them; they certainly aren't going to start listening to pathological liars like Otafiire. Acholis are not like Baganda who got duped, once more again.