Bishop Odama: I forgive Museveni
By Richard M. Kavuma
March 12, 2004
KAMPALA â Gulu Catholic Archbishop John Baptist Odama declared yesterday that he is not competing with President Museveni.Odama, the chairman of the Acholi Religious Leadersâ peace Initiative (ARLPI), told the pres at Speke Hotel that name-calling will not stop him speaking out for his people.
âI have no platform to compete with the President,â Odama said, responding to Mr Museveniâs criticism of his (Odamaâs) statements about the rebellion northern Uganda.
âI am ready to, and I have forgiven the President and any other people who may have called me names.âMr Museveni last week attacked âMr Odamaâ and likened him to a supporter of terrorists after the archbishop said that both the LRA and the UPDF should be investigated for war crimes.
The ARLPI (which Odama leads) has constantly criticised government for insisting on a military solution to the 18-yearlong rebellion now led by Joseph Kony. Between January and February, Odama led a six-man delegation to Europe and America to push for greater international attention on a peaceful end to the rebellion.
The delegation yesterday met the diplomatic and donor community and the Donors Technical group in Uganda, before addressing the press.Odama said he is a servant, and the suffering people in northern Uganda are his masters: they alone can dictate to him what to do.
 2004 The Monitor Publications
"The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth becomes the greatest enemy of the state."
- Dr. Joseph M. Goebbels - Hitler's propaganda minister
