Latigo, this is what I meant - Otunnu

Point of contention. My views about the confiscation of land constitute the real and important difference between Ogenga Latigo and myself; not the other tangential issues.

In his commentary in one of the local dailies on November 1, the former leader of Opposition in Parliament, Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo, for whom I have a lot of respect, took issue with the remarks I made at the funeral of Tiberio Okeny Otwom-bye (Atwoma). I welcome his comments, even though I find them seriously flawed.

In the speech Latigo criticised, I gave a testimony about some of the preoccupations that were so dear to Atwoma; concerns, which he and I shared and discussed often. He was particularly pained by the current condition in Acoliland.

The most important issue I addressed was the land question; which revolves around a major scheme orchestrated from State House, to confiscate huge tracts of land in certain parts of the country, including Acoliland, using force, unconstitutional diktat and deception. The plan is to drive people off their land and illegally confiscate it to give to cronies connected to power and the State. This project is operated under various covers: “investors”, “livestock breeding”, “game and forest reserve” et cetera, but the constant is President Museveni’s personal involvement.

Outside of voluntary, consensual arrangements, ordinary people must not be dispossessed of their land just because they are poor and vulnerable. Particularly, those who have just returned from the concentration camps; the survivors of genocide in northern Uganda, who lost everything and land is the only asset left to hold onto. They must not lose their land to land grabbers who hide under the cover of the State.

So voices protesting injustices neither contradict nor undermine ‘development’ nor opposed to investors. Private investors must negotiate with land owners, not Museveni or his ubiquitous State House agents. Indeed, entrepreneurs who bring capital and expertise; recognise and accept land as equity for partnership with local owners are welcome. However, they must make their offers to land owners, not the President or his agents. Museveni has no role in distributing land because land in this country does not belong to the State.

My views about the confiscation of land constitute the real and important difference between Latigo and myself; not the other tangential issues.

Besides land, I spoke about the collapse of public schools and education in Acoliland. Some of Uganda’s best gifts to the world in all fields have come from “this land, this culture, and this civilisation”. I recalled Janani Luwum, Okot p’Bitek, David Otii, Semei Nyanzi, Alexander Latim, A. M. Odonga, Fr Anthony Okello, Tiberio Okeny and others. These were the product of a tradition of quality and affordable education. Where are the schools and institutions that should nurture the successors to these luminaries?

I concluded my remarks by pointing to the equally dramatic state of healthcare services in the region. Kalongo, Gulu, Anaka and Kitgum hospitals are skeletons of what they used to be.

For instance, this region is the epicentre of a mysterious catastrophe, the nodding disease syndrome. However, the region’s medical facilities have neither capacity nor capability to cope. I told Museveni his government has not done enough to mobilise international and national resources and expertise to crack this conundrum. I offered to join hands with him to mobilise a robust and required level of response to this national emergency.

Our assessment of the life contributions of our leaders or any other persons should not be coloured by their or our political affiliations. We should objectively and ungrudgingly acknowledge greatness where it belongs.

Personally, I knew Atwoma well and long. I have been an admirer since I was a junior at Gulu High, when a few of us used to sneak out to go hear Atwoma hold forth in sessions of the Acoli District Council. Even though in opposition, he dominated the debates in the council by force of his formidable intellect. We were fascinated by the brilliance, daring, and flair of this formidable debater. It was during this time that I first heard him speak about the Roman emperors Caligula and Nero.

Gifted leader
As a person and a leader, Atwoma was exceptionally gifted. Few could equal or compete with his awesome intellect, fearless spirit, flair and sardonic wit; his prodigious energy, and his masterful command of language and oratory in both Luo and English. He revelled in speaking truth to power, regardless of who wielded that power. He was a man of big ideas. Quite simply, he was one of the very best Uganda has ever produced. To me, Atwoma was also the best president DP never had in the post-Kiwanuka era.

It is well that the State extended medical assistance to and accorded Atwoma a State funeral. Given Atwoma’s stature and contribution to the country, surely this is the least a grateful nation could do for him.

More recently, on the occasion of my homecoming in Gulu, I was particularly touched and honoured that it was Atwoma who bestowed on me the blessings of oboke olwedo and handed me the kwot, on behalf of all the elders.

When I spoke at his funeral, I did not use innuendoes. Contrarily, I spoke explicitly about the rwot ineka, who work for Museveni and are used as agents to facilitate the confiscation of land and eviction in the countryside. Latigo is certainly not one of them. But I know his view on the land conflict in the country is different from mine. In my book, holding a different view on the land question does not in itself qualify one for rwot ineka.

I also note his pointing out Museveni’s acknowledgement and apology for NRA’s atrocities in Acoliland. Latigo failed to notice that Museveni apologised from one side of the mouth, while trying to explain away the atrocities from another side of the mouth.

Massive atrocities
As I have documented elsewhere, NRA committed horrendous and systematic atrocities on a massive scale in Acoliland and elsewhere in the country . This requires comprehensive truth telling and accountability, leading to genuine reconciliation. This is precisely what we in the UPC have been calling for. It is Museveni who responded by promising to crush me for doing so.
To conclude, Atwoma was fond of citing episodes from the Roman Empire to instruct us on contemporary situations.

He often described the reigns of Caligula and Nero to show the level of moral decadence and corruption, arrogance and impunity, which led to the spectacular fall of the great Roman Empire. Atwoma’s insistent warning on the abuse and excesses of power has become prophetic in the context of today’s Uganda, mired as we are, in deep moral crisis, unspeakable wholesale plunder of the country, and entrenched culture of utter impunity and arrogance. In Museveni’s Uganda, Caligula and Nero are alive and well; restored to pedestals of honour.

The writer is the UPC president