Unfortunately there is great animosity in Uganda between the north and south. It saddens me because I have friends in both places. Those that I have bonded with in friendship are individuals that want to facilitate healing and understanding. The complex situations that have perpetuated the horrific twenty year war have left innocent people in its wake.

Innocent human beings have suffered and deserve an apology. An apology does not imply who is to blame. There are strong feelings about who is responsible for the war. How should Joseph Kony and the LRA be brought to justice? Should Museveni be charged by the ICC for genocide? Are UDPF soldiers responsible for crimes against humanity? These are all questions being debated but should not require definitive answers for healing and the rebuilding process to proceed.

There are deep divisions that have contributed to the animosity and vengeful attitudes. Even divisions in the north among the Acholi have made path to peace difficult. Like the national governments involved in other global conflicts, the goverment of Uganda has also taken a passive role in watching its “opposition” destroy themselves.

Those involved in promoting peace and desiring to end the generational animosity need to find a way forward while maintaining compassion towards those devastated by the war and bloodshed.

We should all ask ourselves, am I a part of the problem or part of the solution?

However, I am a bit torn as how to interpret it. It’s delicately balanced, albeit awkwardly, between sarcasm and abject apathy towards to the cries of entire Ugandan generation that was hacked to death because Museveni deemed UPE/immunization more important than life itself.

Surely you don’t mean to say that if it was you being chopped to death, you’d expire your last breath with the words “It’s OK, I will sacrifice my limbs, nose, ears and head, so that the president can educate all the good little boys and girls of Uganda. Those are more important than my God-given life and pursuit of happiness..”

Please remember that you can educate an entire population at any age, there’s no time limit for one to attain an education. There is, however, a time limit on your life expectancy when a child soldier sets to separating your body parts with a panga and your family gets lit like a barbecue.

Yes the Government should apologize to the dead, and the living dead of the North. And it should make it a priority to rectify their lack of action. Actions speak louder than words. But in this instance, the lack of action for the better part of 20 years, has left me speechless.