Peace talks or peace jokes?

By Solomon Akugizibwe

The prospects of a peaceful end to the war in northern Uganda have hit a dramatic setback, after the LRA leader failed to sign the final peace agreement as expected on April 10. After two years of tricky negotiations, the two sides agreed on all the five items on the peace talks' agenda, and set a date for signing the final peace agreement.

Even the fact that the LRA postponed the signing ceremony twice kept hope alive among Ugandans, and all people interested in seeing a peaceful end to the war, that the LRA leader was finally going to put pen to paper to end the war that started in 1986. A war that has cost Uganda, especially the north, dearly in terms of lives lost, children and adults abducted, displacement of families and destruction of property and social life.

As the Uganda peace team, cultural, religious and political leaders from northern Uganda were joined by diplomats and mediators to wait for Kony's signature, the LRA leader said he did not understand some clauses and will not sign. There has since been no further word from the LRA leader who sacked the leader of his peace team, Dr. David Matsanga, who a few months replaced Martin Ojul whom Kony sacked in January.

The government of Uganda is yet to decide what to do Tuesday's expiry if the cessation of hostilities agreement following the failure of the LRA leader to sign the peace agreement. The two parties who have for the last almost two years been in the most promising peace talks had for the 3rd time postponed the cessation of hostilities agreement to Tuesday April 15th. If the cessation of hostilities agreement is not extended, it means the government and the LRA can re-engage in military battle as they had done for 20 years with no winner.

President Yoweri Museveni says he is waiting for a report from the Chief Mediator Dr. Riek Machar, the Vice President of Southern Sudan and the United Nations Secretary General's Special envoy on areas affected by the LRA, Mr. Joachim Chissano, before the Government of Uganda makes its decision. Dr. Machar is still in Garamba forest trying to make contact and convince the LRA leader to sign the peace talks that are greatly hoped to end the 21 year war in northern Uganda.

Kony declined to sign the agreement saying some of the clauses needed clarifying like the Acholi Traditional Justice System and the operation of the Special Division of the High Court in trying him and his commanders for war crimes , a move that has angered many people and dampened the hopes of a peaceful end to the war.

Salvar Kiir, the President of Southern Sudan which is mediating and hosting the talks in Juba says that they are still hopeful the two sides will sign a comprehensive peace agreement to end the war.

Museveni who on Monday returned from a one day working visit to Southern Sudan on the day the final peace agreement should have been signed says that the government is still committed to the peace process, but is ready to deal with the LRA militarily.

President Museveni yesterday paid glowing tribute to the government of Southern Sudan for having played the mediation role between the government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in an attempt to bring about everlasting peace.

He told journalists on Tuesday that that the persistence of the government of Southern Sudan and the main mediator Dr. Riek Machar, as well as the commitment of the Government of Uganda, has exposed the fact that the LRA leader, Joseph Kony and his leadership, has no interest in the peace talks.

But the some people had always expected the LRA not to sign until the International Criminal Court indictments on top LRA leaders are lifted, just as the lRA had always demanded. Along with his top commanders Kony is wanted by the ICC in The Hague for war crimes including rape, murder and the abductions of children forced to serve as fighters, porters and "wives". The warrants issued in 2005 against Kony and his top commanders, has been a major point of contention in the peace negotiations in Juba.

Kony had earlier indicated that he will sign the peace deal but disarmament will be done after the lifting of the ICC indictments.

Gulu RDC, Col. Walter Ochora, one of the people who have always been skeptical about Kony's commitment to peace talks says the LRA leader is a worried man and can not voluntarily given in to end the war. Ochora who has on several occasions met Kony as part of peace delegations from northern Uganda says that Kony is very guilty and thinks he will not be forgiven.
"He has a guilty conscience. It is difficult for him to give up armed rebellion because he thinks he will not be forgiven," Ochora says in an interview.

It is this lack of trust that many people think is preventing the LRA leader from signing the peace agreement. Kony wont easily surrender to put his destiny in the hands of president Museveni, his enemy for over 20 years and the International community when he is always suspicious and doesn't trust even the people closest to him.

Recent media reports say that Kony has killed his deputy Okot Odhiambo less than a year after killing his other deputy Vicent Otti. Earlier on Kony allegedly killed Otti Lagony, whom Otti succeeded and James Opoka.

This lack of trust can be reflected in the fact that Kony, in less than one year has sacked two of chief mediators Martin Ojul and recently David Nyeorach Matsanga whom, Kony accused of collaborating with the government.

Nobody seems able to assure Kony of his safety. Archbishop Bishop John Baptist Odama and the cultural leader of the Acholi, Rwot Achana have on several occasions met and assured Kony and other LRA leaders of safety if they give up armed rebellion. But the two leaders who are still holed up in Garamba forest with UN officials and other cultural leaders from northern Uganda must be struggling to keep hope in Kony's ability to sign the peace deal and freely return to and leave peacefully in Uganda.

Although he belives that Kony should still be given the benfit of doubt, Aswa County MP Reagan Okumu has appealed to government to protect lives and property of people in northern Uganda following the failed signing of the peace agreement. Okumu says that people are going back home from the IDP camps and there is no retreat to the camps.

Okumu says that if Kony refuses to sign, then let him be dealt with by the ICC or a regional war crimes tribunal instead of a Ugandan court.

He says that the Ugandan justice system would not favor Kony because it is already biased about the rebel leader. He called upon all stakeholders involved in the peace talks to continue pushing for the signing of the agreement so that peace is completely restored in Uganda, especially the Northern region.

What the future holds for the peace in Northern Uganda

While briefing MP's on April 15, the head of the government peace team Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda said that even though the peace talks fail, Kony will never destabilize Uganda again.
Garamba forest where Kony's rebel army is currently, is thousands of kilometers far away from Uganda and it might take LRA forces days to walk for an attack in Uganda, this makes it difficult for Kony to launch a meaningful attack on Northern Uganda.

He says whether the agreement is signed or not, the future for peace in Northern Uganda looks bright now that peace has returned to South Sudan where Kony is weakened because the SPLA forces can no longer allow him to roam freely in South Sudan where he used to reorganize his forces and attack his fellow kinsmen of Northern Uganda.

First published: April 19, 2008 on ugpulse.com

photo: geoconger.wordpress.com

Enigma's unusual music inspiration

A talented fan of Bob Marley who always strives to put meaning in his songs, Sydney Timothy Zziwa aka Enigma looks to be on the right path to being there – on top of Uganda's music industry.

Moses Rudede once said: 'He sounds like Maurice Kirya (one of the most poplar and talented Ugandan Musician),' it wasn't a mere compliment, but Enigmas voice looks quite attractive.

Unlike other Ugandan artists who get inspirations from popular Ugandan musicians like chameleon, bebe cool and bobi wine, Enigmas source of inspiration is quite unusual, 'my grandmother inspired me to start singing, he was a great musician who taught me how to sing and play a piano.' He adds, 'I have used the piano skills to learn guitar.'

Bob Marley inspires him to write music because 'Marley's music had meaning.' He is however striving to have his own style mixed with raggae and rock

His latest hit Comma was influenced by his former girlfriend, 'I had a pretty girl at high school who broke my heart for a richman, the richman later broke her heart and coming back to me was too late.' Comma is a popular Uganda slung meaning to leave someone in suspense. Did Enigma, leave her former girlfriend in suspense?

His advice to up-coming musicians like him, 'learn to be creative and believe in yourself.'

What a threatening dream!

Recently, I had party at Makerere University with a friend. It was fun, we met old friends we hadnt met for years, danced, ate and had a couple of drinks.

It ended early when some of us were still in party mood, I floated an idea to a friend to relocate and continue with the partying somewhere else, finally we zeroed on Bativa Hotel – a short distance from Makerere University.

We promised to meet there in an hours time and each one of us took a diferent direction, along the way, in wandegeya, I was caught up in a gun battle between the police and a terrorist.

The terrorist, in a long tree was throwing missiles to city buildings and cars killing people. Soon police swung into action and started shoting randomly at everyone

My finger was hit and blood started oozing out like water from an opened water tap

In the ensuing confusion, had to run to a nearby hospital for my dear life but, unfortnately headed in the wrong direction. I was so weak and coudn't walk anymore when I realised heading to the wrong direction.

Tried to call bodaboda's but couldn't come because they were running for their dear lives.

I fell down and lay unconscious and the dream ended there

What's all this fuss about tribalism?

The recent Bafuuruki debate in Kibaale district between Bakiga and Banyoro tribes caused quite a big stirr, but at the end of the day many people found themselves Bafuuruki in their own country hence the slogan '31 million Bafuuruuki' meaning that all the 31 million people in Uganda are not living in their tribal areas.

Tribal/ethinic differences have claimed the lives of millions across the world from Rwanda – 1994 Genocide - to the middle east as a result of the Israel - Arab conflict.

They have also helped develop soceties through Cultural toursim, people from the western world have paid clossal sums of money to see how the Baganda people in Uganda dance, eat and marry. The money has been used to build roads, schools and hospitals.

I was brought up to believe that Bakonzo's are our traditional enemies, because they started a war in the 1960's demanding for independence from Toro kingdom. The war claimed the lives of many of our ancestors.

Surprisingly, a Mukonzo has been one of my best friends since my secondry school days, we have assisted each other during trying times and enjoyed together during happy moments. Now, why hate them when one of them does for me great things, after all who started the war? wasnt it the unfair policies imposed by Batoro on them, making the resistance inevitable for instance, adopting the names of their masters to be allowed join school.

Conflicts based on tribal/ethinic differences always come when unfair policies are imposed by dominant cultures on others leading to loss of lives, destruction of property, displacements and general suffering irrespective of the tribe/ethinicity.

Both Bakonzo and Batoro suffered during their tribal conflict in 1960's, Hutu and Tutsi's suffered during the 1994 genocide and Israel's and Palestine's are suffering as a result of their long ethinic conflict.

Polticians have gained a lot of selfish political capital for dividing people on tribal lines, but as modernisation takes precedence, so many tribes/ethinicities are increasingly becaming inteconnected more than ever through technology like mobile phones and other communication networks like roads making them more tolerant and dependant on each other.

But, who loses when such mayhem starts? Have the peaceful avenues of achieving tribal justice been exhausted before starting a tribal war?

Balancing black aspirations with white fears

I watched it, it was amazing, watch the Invictus and see how former South African president Nelson Mandela used Rugby, a white dominated sport to reconcile blacks and whites.

The blacks would rather support a foreign team playing their national team because, to them (springboks-the national rugby team) dominated by whites represented apartheid.

But Mandela, through well calculated moves managed to rally blacks behind the national rugby team and made whites more accepting of black South Africans.

The national rugby team went ahead to win the rugby world cup and everyone (white and black) celebrated together.

'The rainbow nation starts here, reconciliation starts here.' Nelson Mandela

A bad prayer day

I like adventure and when it comes to praying in new churches, new places and meeting new pastors, am more adventurous.

But, sometime back, early this year, this adventure turned disastrous when I took a ride with my young cousin brother called Wilson for prayers at a certain church headed by a certain ‘prophet’ in Ggaba – a few kilometers from Kampala.

A day before, I received this unusual call from Wilson telling me to accompany him for prayers at that church (the call was unusual because praying looked a distant issue to Wilson).

I hurriedly joined the queue, escorted him the next day to the church. On the way to Ggaba, Wilson so much convinced me to believe the prophet that, if I had the opportunity would board the fastest car available so that I don’t miss a single second having only a glimpse at this great prophet.

He was telling me how his prayers on a radio station back in Fort Portal cured so many people of diseases and how his prophesies became real.

Wilson wasn’t sick but wanted a prophecy – he wanted to know what would happen to his life in the next ten years.

It was a Wednesday and prayers were supposed to start at 2:00pm, we reached there 30 minutes before time, expecting to find crowds of people waiting for the prophet.

I think what I expected to find was beyond my wild imaginations because at the end of the day, I found a small church with few people.

At the podium, there was a screen playing Christian music. I enjoyed some hits of pastor Bugembe and Babirye – two popular Christian musicians in town.

It was now time but the prophet wasn’t arriving, after 1 hour, few members of the church choir appeared at the podium, unleashed some few dancing strokes coupled with good music – it was fun.

It was now 4:00pm and the prophet wasn’t arriving, I was increasingly running out of patience.

Realizing, I was impatient, Wilson told me, “Wait a minute, great people are always hard to see but few minutes with them, the harvest is always big!” I wanted to abandon this whole business but felt it bad to disappoint Wilson.

Oh! oh! oh! then this great announcement came in from one of the prophet’s aide, “the prophet has arrived,” Wilson and I were so excited, expecting to see miracles.

But again the prophet’s aide said something strange, “the prophet is behind – in one of the church rooms – whoever, wants to see him, must first get an envelop.”

The first people to meet the prophet had to put in the envelope a whooping UGX 50,000 and UGX 5,000 for the last ones.

It was time for distributing the envelops, as usual, the prophets aides swung into action, people put money in the envelops.

Money was a condition for prayers, although it’s mandatory for good Christians to sacrifice some resources for God’s work but on a voluntary basis then, a question crossed my mind, how on earth can God’s prayer be paid for.

Wilson was the first to get out, very disappointed. I followed him, he kept wondering how the word of God can be demeaned to that level.

Finally, we had to go back home but swore never to go back there, after such a disappointing prayer day.

Kiyayi Slum: A hub of marijuana

I took a day off to visit one of Kampala slums called Kiyayi recently, what I found there was amazingly interesting and a concern to the whole society on the other hand.

I had never been to Kiyayi before, but on the way I expected to find thugs, robbers, conmen and prostitutes because the name itself reflects exactly that.

Kiyayi is a common slung used in Uganda to mean people with unethical behaviors like thugs and conmen, etc.

Indeed, the name reflects the nature of the people because; they are deeply involved in criminal activities.

The first resident, I met called Amooti a local retail shop owner told me it’s a hub of criminals ranging from drug abusers to robbers.

Amooti says that beyond midnight going to Kiyayi is very dangerous. Criminals – mostly marijuana smokers - are always on the look for people to rob them of their money and other valuable property.

Located in Nankulabye West Zone, Nankulabye Parish in Rubaga Division and officially known as Zone 4, Kiyayi is always busy with a beehive of activities ranging from video halls, eating joints, saloons and small bars from morning to midnight .

From my observation, the place is also faced with problems of poor sanitation. Most drainage systems are blocked, garbage is littered everywhere and most latrines are full and infested with flies.

Besides, people are suspicious of strangers, many refused to give me interviews because they were suspicious of my activities. A resident told me that they fear security operatives who always come to hunt for criminal gangs especially thieves and Marijuana smokers.

When I approached a cobbler for an interview, he quickly asked me for my identification and the purpose of the interview, when I introduced myself as a journalist he was quick to refuse the interview.

The cobler told me that he is busy, “Mwaggala tukolako mawuliire, police eje etusiibe, sirina buude bwo Ssebo, ndi busy.” In English meaning, “you want to expose us in the media so that police arrests us, I have no time for you, am busy.” The cobbler said.

According to the chairperson LC1 Musisi Muyamba Robert who has lived in the area for more than 30 years, the name Kiyayi came about because during President Idi Amini era in the 1970’s the area was mostly inhabited by criminals who used to smoke Marijuana.

He says during Amin days, robbery, murder, prostitution and rape among other crimes were the order of the day.

The chairman says, Marijuana smokers are still many especially the youth who have posed a high security threat, Muyamba says as a result – of Marijuana – there are increasing cases of rape and robbery.

Efforts to crack them down (drug abusers) have been hampered by lack of help from the government and the economic benefits from the illegal drug trade. A Marijuana stick goes for 200 shillings.

Muyamba says the LC1 leadership of the area has appealed for help especially inform of sensitization programmes on drug abuse, tougher laws on Marijuana and improved security which doesn’t come.

The cahirman says the area also faces threats of disease outbreaks especially cholera because of poor toilets, poor drainage system and uncollected garbage.

Hajji Musa Nsubuga a self employed senior resident of the area says the high criminal levels in the area are further, fuelled by increased levels of unemployment among the youth which makes them idle.

“Unemployed youth are highly involved in gambling games which is a common activity in the area, when their money is lost during the game; they became desperate hence resorting to robbery to recover their lost money.” Nsubuga says.

He adds, “Desperate youth target people, who are coming from work, bars or shopping especially at night between 10: 00pm and midnight and rob their money and other valuables like mobile phones.”

At night the most dangerous spots leading to Kiyayi are on Global Skills SS, Nankulabye West Church and Mukazi Munene road according to Nsubuga.

The many drinking places for local brew called Kasese and the video halls are also responsible for high crime rates because they are breeding places for criminals. Nsubuga says women who sell Kasese hide criminals in their houses during day time only to release them at night to go and target people on the way so hat they can rob their money and other valuables like mobile phones.

Nsubuga blames all the high crime rates in the area to the police officers who connive with the criminal gangs. He says when arrested the criminals receive light punishments and sometimes the police officers do not even bother arresting them at all when tipped, but the police officer attached to Nankulabye police station denies the allegations.

Nsubuga says the light punishments and the soft approach of the police towards the criminals especially drug abusers, has made them so arrogant even towards the local leaders. He says it’s now normal for people to smoke Marijuana freely during the day. But the chairman says the youth smoke from corridors and other dark places at night.

The police officer (who couldn’t tell me his names due to security reasons) told the writer that, “people are ignorant of the law, the law on opium smoking, possession and supply is very weak. Criminals can be convicted with caution or 3 hours of community service in the courts of law.” He says.

He says the police is conducting police patrols everyday and conducting community contemporary policing every first week of the month, all geared at reducing crime rates in the area.