I salute you and congulatulate you for what you have done for the country. I know you read this channel and this is the only voice we have to reach you.
I my self, come from Semuto (the epicentre of the 81-86 bush war). I was a young man at the time but I can recall very well what we went through. In fact, my dad's house at one point became a clinic for the wounded and the hungry ready to be fed. We fed you unconditionally. I would like to ask you Mr. President, what have you done for the people of Semuto and Luwero Triangle for the last 20 years of your power?
I remember very well, my family including my late Mum (Mzee M7, you know who I am talking about, you never missed saying hullo to her whenever you passed via Semuto. You even came for her last funeral rites), we used to ferry food to Mondrana Barracks and the like. Which food and cows Mr. president, you never paid for. What a disgrace! Imagine 20yrs to compensate us? You took away all that we had!
Remember the first time you came to my dad's home in 1981 in Kangave. It was a self sustaining household with hard working people. A very nice home. We lacked nothing. Do you recall what you told my mum at that point? You told her that "I want to meet the breadwinner of this household". My Dad was already in exile at this point including myself. I remember mum coming where we were and she delivered the news that you (M7) wanted to meet my Dad. He nearly got killed after 1981.
I have the following questions for you Mr. President:
1- What has your government done in terms of compensating those who lost all their properties during the liberation war? You have refused to rebuild my dad's house. In fact you, yourself signed the letter allowing him to be compensated for the total loss of all his property but up to this date, nothing is forthcoming via Attorney General Kiddu Makubuya. This is what you have been doing for the last 20 years, you sign letters, but after that you instruct your ministers or secrtaries not to act on the signed letters unless the bearer is a Munyankole. When are you going to compensate people like my dad?
2-Why have all Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) eluded this part of the country? Very few like AMREF have operated in some of the areas of Luwero Triangle. why is this? do you really care about the suffering you caused to us? For example, the Matugga-Semuto road has been bumpy, rough and sometimes impassable for the last 20 years.
I remember very well, in 1987, you came to Semuto Trading centre and amongst other things you promised to do for those who supported your protracted war was to rebuild their communities, build infrastrucutre such as roads and schools and hospitals. Have you built anything new in this area for the 'Wana Inchi' to be pround of? It takes us more that 2 hours on the bumpy road to reach Semuto.
How long does it take you to reach the western and southern parts of the country? The infrastructures there are overwhelmingly great, with good hospitals, better milking facilities, lots of cows and the like. Generally life for them "special" people is wonderful. But remember, before you came to Luwero Traingle, we were self-sustaining as you call it, but you successfully managed to dismantle everything we owned. What have we got in return? Daily struggles to make ends meet.
Look at Semuto hospital for example, if you don't have money, you cant even access the least treatment one would think of (dressing a wound). No drugs, No medical equipment, dilapidated infrastructure and this is where NRA operated from. Infact Semuto patients rely on Nakaseke for emergency treatment. One young boy recently died of a snake bite because he was being transfered to Nakaseke hospital. If our people can still die of such minor aspects, what about those experiencing complicated illnesses such as apendicitis in need of emergency surgery?
Mr. President, why has this area lagged behind in every thing you can think of, yet this was the epicentre of the so-called liberation war? Were the people of Semuto not to mention Luwero Triangle "liberated"? Drive around the whole Luwero Triangle, where do you pin-point Mr. President to have invested any of the loot from Uganda's tax payers?
How many of Semuto's children benefited from your welfare office at Okello House? Hard working families have endured much to send their children to the poor schools yet those from "special" families have continued to benefit from this welfare office. With many infact supported abroad and at top Universities. Shouldn't this welfare office benefit many from disadvanatged families like those from Semuto, Kapeeka, Nakaseke and Luwero Triangle in general?
These issues and many others still cause outrage, pain and suffering to many of us who can articulate, think and analyse aspects which underpin our daily struggles.
for God and my Country.
yours:
Son of Semuto
Comment on Semuto's letter to M7.
My dear Ugandan or rather friend for that matter, I must say we were very very wrong to have given this fool sanctuary. One thing you should know first is that this M7 is naturally a greedy man. Dont think he has forgotten all about Semuto people. No, he wants you people to completely lose faith in ever harbouring someone else in the bush again!
I have always feel pity when I hear people of Luwero threatening to demonstrate over similar reparations. Obote may have been bad, fine but then you accomodated someone worse than Obote!
By the way, these same NRA now UPDF were the ones killing people and blaming it on Obote soldiers. At least I have heard this shock revealation from Otafiire and Pecos Kutesa.
This world is funny. Even the Kabaka is not safe under this govt. Otafiire one time said kindgoms (mengo inclusive) are Non governmental Organisations.
Just forget about M7 and move on. At least that is a lesson for the people in Semuto and Luweero.
Odel M. A.
Pader