Friends For Peace In Africa

In Uganda, despite the northern tragedy having lasted longer amid allegations that there are individuals and companies who are actually benefiting from the conflict in the north, no such action has ever been taken by the authorities.

Secondly, the US government has declared a state of emergency in the 10 states affected by the disaster.

Back home, although thousands have been killed and over 1.6 million displaced by the Lord's Resistance Army rebellion in northern Uganda, Museveni's cabinet quashed a move by the parliament of Uganda two years ago to declare the north a 'disaster area' in need of special assistance.

The cabinet claimed that constitutionally, only the President had the powers to do so and the President has to date not deemed it necessary to declare the north a disaster area.

Thirdly, the US government has put aside its pride as the 'only remaining super power' and made a desperate appeal for international assistance to help it cope with the disaster.

Consequently, the assistance is indeed coming in from countries allover the world, including Uganda, which has handed over $200,000 (Shs370 million).

Additionally, the Congress has approved more funds, in addition to an internal fund raising drive led by Bush and all the former US Presidents, which has already raised billions.

Our government has consistently rejected all direct offers from outside to resolve the apparent northern impasse.

In essence, we think all these are things that our government should have started doing 10 years

ago to help more than 1.5 million of our brothers and sisters currently suffering in the Internally Displaced Peoples camps in the north.

From: http://www.monitor.co.ug/
To Print Original: http://www.monitor.co.ug/oped/oped09121.php