Cornes Lubangakene
1 October 2008
Kampala — The Minister of Local Government has urged the Acholi to avoid divisionism basing on religion. Kahinda Otafiire said the practice could fuel another conflict in the area that has faced over 20 years of the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency.
"As peace returns, the Acholi are beginning to divide themselves on religious basis, yet they struggled to bring the peace," Otafiire said.
"We must be united and say never again to war," Otafiire advised. He was on Friday addressing a peace summit on the role of local government in enhancing peace building in the northern region.
The meeting was organised by the Mercy Corps organisation and the Pader district peace forum in the district. Otafiire blamed the Acholi for the conflict in the region over the last 22 years because 'they (Acholi) wanted to be recognised as a tribe'.
"We concentrated on things we were not supposed to do and it has made us lag behind. "Now we have to run while the rest of the people are walking," Otafiire told the people of Pader.
The minister urged them to be self-reliant in order to alleviate poverty from their homesteads. "Sometimes, I quarrel with the clergy because of their preaching. During prayers, they preach that, blessed are the poor for the kingdom of God is theirs.
"But it is glorious to be rich and have money," the minister said, drawing laughter from the people. He urged the people not to rely on the non-governmental organisations in the area, saying they would leave after their work.
He encouraged the local leaders to monitor the Government's programmes and report any cases of corruption. "It is your responsibility to look after the resources the Government sends to you," Otafiire advised.
The minister is currently touring the Acholi sub-region.
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