On February 26, the Uganda African Peer Review Mechanism national governing council held the third good Governance Forum in Kampala. Its theme was "fostering unity in diversity in Uganda."

The Prime Minister, Apolo Nsibambi, chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission, Med Kaggwa, and other distinguished guests attended. During presentations, threats to Uganda's unity in diversity were identified.

Some of the threats listed included but not limited to failure to manage diversity and maintaining discriminatory colonial policies on recruitment into the army and civil service. This colonial legacy created in Uganda the so-called north-south divide; where the colonialists concentrated on recruiting people from the north into the armed forces and the southerners were perpetually kept in civil service. This failure to manage diversity on the part of colonialists created stereotypes that people of a particular ethnicity were fit to do certain jobs.

The trend seemingly continued even long after Uganda became independent. This has partly bred political and civil strife, ethnic tensions and tribalism. It has undermined the country's unity and threatened to tear it apart. Some Ugandans think they have been excluded in management of the country's affairs.

Over time there have been complaints about the disproportionate distribution of public jobs. From time to time we have heard or read about Members of Parliament asking government to provide lists of senior public service appointments in government departments, statutory bodies, the army etc. Though these outcries for balance in sharing of the national cake are not new, they point to a vital fact that we need to create a united Uganda amidst its stark diversity.

Issues of diversity in Uganda and Africa span across political, religious and economic spheres. To manage cultural, political, religious and economic diversity in a country like Uganda calls for tolerance and unity. According to the 2002 population census more than 20 ethnic groups live in Uganda with the Baganda forming 16.9% of the total population, Banyankole 9.5%, Basoga 8.4%, Bakiga 6.9%, Iteso 6.4%, Langi 6%, Acholi 4.7%, Bagisu 4.6%, Lugbara 4.2%, Banyoro 2.7% and others 29.6%). None of these groups constitutes an absolute majority that would allow them dominate others.

This stresses the need to works towards having a united country.

On the other hand, the historical religious wars between the Catholics and Protestants and between Christians and Muslims have been a factor inhibiting unity as Ugandans got divided into religious blocks. Today, religion still plays a big role in influencing politics and elections in the country. For instance, it is commonly believed that the late Ben Kiwanuka was denied opportunity to become Uganda's first president because he was a Catholic. During the forum, Premier Nsibambi acknowledged that much as the religious wars have long ceased, "feelings of apprehension and suspicion emerge especially when issues of appointments into leadership positions arise."

Other threats to unity among Uganda's diverse population, include ethnic profiling began by colonialists. Today this ethnic profiling appears to be reflected in the way new districts are created. Other key threats include the huge disparities in resource distribution, repression and violence, war in the north, managing diversity and multiparty politics, and decentralisation, which has been abused.

The impact of pervasive political instability since 1962, due to failure by leaders to harness the concept of unity, has left visible scars in Uganda's social fabric and political psyche. Creating numerous tribal districts is defeating the idea of fostering unity in diversity which points to a credibility of the national leadership. Although the government says it is responding to people's demands for districts, it ought to give direction to the people on what helps them and what does not.

On the other hand, before 1980s schools reflected national character. Students would study from any part of the country, which promoted unity among the diverse ethnic communities. But today there is a growing trend of students studying in schools in their own locality.

The APRM forum unanimously called for quick formation of the Equal Opportunities Commission to address the impediments standing in the way to unity in diversity. However, the government seems slow on this call. It's hoped that the commission would help in clearing perceived imbalances in national resources allocation.

The forum pointed out that religious leaders too should champion unity and cohesion within the diverse religious groups. It's useless to set up a national language when we do not even have it on primary school curriculum, making it optional at other levels of learning. A national language would be a greater unifying factor if implemented. We need a national integration policy to address challenges to achieving unity in diversity.