Usurpation of Land
The news that Madhvani group of companies have secured Court victory over Amuru residents to acquire 40,000 acres of land is one that is lamentable. By this action, Madhvani is stating unequivocally that their investment interests supersede the fundamental rights of the Amuru residents. In supporting and advancing Madhvani’s interests the NRM regime is explicit in forceful usurpation of customary land, whose bona fide owners must now leave without any compensation. These massive and rampant land grabs will in the near future become a recipe for revolt against the regime.
For many years, the Acholi community has been aware that Amuru land is a prime target by elements within the government. It all started in the 90s with a ploy from Salim Saleh’s company, Danze. Their efforts were effectively thwarted by strong leadership of Hon Norbert Mao and Hon. Livingstone Okello Okello in cahoots with other Acholi MPs and local leaders then.
Luckily, Acholi region had always elected strong representatives to Parliament who fought for their rights and plights. Going into the 2011 elections, a false change of heart had impressed upon the people that the NRM regime was no longer interested in slighting them. There were many programs that enforced the resettlement of IDPs. These programs also incentivized the locals through handing out of improved seeds, farm implements and some seed money in the form of Saccos. For the people who had endured two decades of genocide, any such opportunities that would help them emerge out of their precarious condition were acceptable.
One thing that the Amuru people forgot is that NRM is an ideology set out on a long course of action targeting the restructuring of Acholi society into slave laborers. It is justifiable to treat NRM with contempt and suspicion of sinister motives. Indeed, the political implication of the resettlement, and the subsequent inundation with material goods, played well with the minds of the locals. For them the NRM had brought the war to an end and was willing to resettle them back to their homes. But they also hoped that through the ballot, they would extend an olive branch to the regime to cement a new relationship. Clearly, while the Acholi people are forgiving, the NRM under President Museveni is not.
I am pained to see thousands of people being horded away viciously from their land and their makeshift hurts being broken down. Uganda Wild life Authority has started a process of evicting 6,000 families from Amuru claiming that they are settled on National Game Reserve. Again, sugar canes and wild life have become more important than hapless human beings. The situation is truly disheartening.
I do take fault at the opportunistic elements within Amuru communities who sold their souls for few pieces of gold to the NRM. No matter how some people may view 2011 election as rigged, Amuru had traditionally voted against NRM with ease. The idea that vote rigging accounts for success of NRM MPs is stale because of precedent. Previous elections saw opposition groups emerge victorious. This last voting was indeed regrettable and pitiful.
Imagine since the Madhvani Court ruling and UWA evictions, nowhere in the media, or in the House (Parliament), the conspicuous absence of the representatives of Amuru people from action is shocking. Both Hon Jacob Oulanya and Hon Richard Todwong have derelected their duties of representation, leaving the masses on their own. This is outright irresponsible conduct and both these MPs must be held accountable for utter betrayal.
People from Acholi and especially from Amuru are not stupid. They may be forgiving, but certainly time will come when they will contract with zeal in search of new and more attached representatives. It is a big lesson to skeptics who think the NRM intends any good for the wretched masses in Acholiland.
Definitely, both MPs are in bed with the regime’s attitude that places Sugarcane Plantation before the people. Acholi people are not plantation growers, as such Madhvani was long told that he is not welcome to Amuru and he should rethink his forceful entrance into the heart and soul of our people in Amuru. We anticipate a rocky relationship between Amuru residents and these unscrupulous agents of land grabs.
END.
For many years, the Acholi community has been aware that Amuru land is a prime target by elements within the government. It all started in the 90s with a ploy from Salim Saleh’s company, Danze. Their efforts were effectively thwarted by strong leadership of Hon Norbert Mao and Hon. Livingstone Okello Okello in cahoots with other Acholi MPs and local leaders then.
Luckily, Acholi region had always elected strong representatives to Parliament who fought for their rights and plights. Going into the 2011 elections, a false change of heart had impressed upon the people that the NRM regime was no longer interested in slighting them. There were many programs that enforced the resettlement of IDPs. These programs also incentivized the locals through handing out of improved seeds, farm implements and some seed money in the form of Saccos. For the people who had endured two decades of genocide, any such opportunities that would help them emerge out of their precarious condition were acceptable.
One thing that the Amuru people forgot is that NRM is an ideology set out on a long course of action targeting the restructuring of Acholi society into slave laborers. It is justifiable to treat NRM with contempt and suspicion of sinister motives. Indeed, the political implication of the resettlement, and the subsequent inundation with material goods, played well with the minds of the locals. For them the NRM had brought the war to an end and was willing to resettle them back to their homes. But they also hoped that through the ballot, they would extend an olive branch to the regime to cement a new relationship. Clearly, while the Acholi people are forgiving, the NRM under President Museveni is not.
I am pained to see thousands of people being horded away viciously from their land and their makeshift hurts being broken down. Uganda Wild life Authority has started a process of evicting 6,000 families from Amuru claiming that they are settled on National Game Reserve. Again, sugar canes and wild life have become more important than hapless human beings. The situation is truly disheartening.
I do take fault at the opportunistic elements within Amuru communities who sold their souls for few pieces of gold to the NRM. No matter how some people may view 2011 election as rigged, Amuru had traditionally voted against NRM with ease. The idea that vote rigging accounts for success of NRM MPs is stale because of precedent. Previous elections saw opposition groups emerge victorious. This last voting was indeed regrettable and pitiful.
Imagine since the Madhvani Court ruling and UWA evictions, nowhere in the media, or in the House (Parliament), the conspicuous absence of the representatives of Amuru people from action is shocking. Both Hon Jacob Oulanya and Hon Richard Todwong have derelected their duties of representation, leaving the masses on their own. This is outright irresponsible conduct and both these MPs must be held accountable for utter betrayal.
People from Acholi and especially from Amuru are not stupid. They may be forgiving, but certainly time will come when they will contract with zeal in search of new and more attached representatives. It is a big lesson to skeptics who think the NRM intends any good for the wretched masses in Acholiland.
Definitely, both MPs are in bed with the regime’s attitude that places Sugarcane Plantation before the people. Acholi people are not plantation growers, as such Madhvani was long told that he is not welcome to Amuru and he should rethink his forceful entrance into the heart and soul of our people in Amuru. We anticipate a rocky relationship between Amuru residents and these unscrupulous agents of land grabs.
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