Ugandans anxious for quick end to northern war
By Paul Busharizi
KAMPALA, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Ugandans appear increasingly sceptical of government pledges to rout the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and quickly end a devastating 17-year war in the country's north.
Last year President Yoweri Museveni deployed more than 14,000 troops backed by helicopter gunships and tanks against the rebels. The LRA, he said, would be wiped out by the end of February this year.
But fighting continues. Rebels killed 20 people in eastern Uganda at the weekend, including 10 local pro-government militiamen just days after an attack at a market in Apac district killed 10 civilians.
The broad public perception, coloured by incidents such as last weekend's, is that the rebels are going from strength to strength. Exasperation is widespread.
"Violence has not worked...the only thing to do is to negotiate face-to-face, bring (rebel leader Joseph) Kony to Kampala and talk and see whether this whole war will not end," said Justin Sizoomu, an unemployed biochemist.
Mama Saida, a Kampala newspaper vendor, was equally despairing. "Give them whatever they want, if they want money, if they want posts in government, whatever, lets just stop the fighting."
The LRA, based in the north, is feared for maiming villagers and abducting children for use as sex slaves and child soldiers. Led by self-proclaimed prophet Joseph Kony, the rebels say they are fighting to overthrow President Museveni's government but have never spelt out detailed demands in public.
A participant at a Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) seminar held last week suggested the government should borrow money from donors and pay the LRA to lay down their weapons.
DESPERATION
But northern Member of Parliament Ronald Reagan Okumu who has been a key player in efforts to negotiate peace said finding a solution to the LRA problem was a complex issue.
"On one hand to suggest a payoff of the rebels shows a lack of understanding of the rebellion...the LRA are not fighting because they are poor," Okumu said.
"On the other hand this is desperation by the people they see everything has been tried, war, peace and nothing has come from it, so they think maybe money will do."
Army spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza says the army can master the situation.
"If you look at the thousands of abductees we have rescued, the ammunition and arms we have captured, in totality it is good effort in denying them the ability to wage war,' Bantariza said.
Kony is from the Acholi tribe and most of the war until recently, has been fought in the Acholi districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader.
