LEADING UGANDA

News in Brief - PERSON OF THE MONTH - James Obita Granted Amnesty

AFTER renouncing rebellion, former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) spokesman and Juba Peacetalks team leader Dr James Obita has been granted amnesty. He picked his certificate from Justice Peter Onega, chairman of the Amnesty Commission, at its headquarters in Kampala, on August 5, 2008. He has been with the external wing of the LRA for the last twenty-two years, operating between Nairobi and London.

He was publicist of the LRA in the mid-nineties and later secretary for External Affairs and Mobilization. In 1989, he fell out with LRA chief Joseph Kony, who accused him of trying to make money out of their cause. But, he bounced back after appointment by Kony as technical
adviser to the LRA peace team in Juba in 2006. On April 10, 2008, he went on to replace David Matsanga as chairman of the team, which lost the chance to peace when Kony refused to sign a peace deal.

In July Obita applied for amnesty. His decision, he explained, was to demonstrate goodwill on the part of LRA members who were still in Garamba. “This is not betrayal to the LRA. I still support the LRA and I will encourage them to sign the peace agreement and others to seek amnesty.” Obita added that the move would convince those still in the bush to seek amnesty because “It is real and anyone can benefit.”

Police Queries Nusaf Funds Use PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has ordered investigations into the use of the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) monies. The funds, which were meant for government programmes to eradicate poverty in northern Uganda, have been found to having been squandered. The project was funded by World Bank to a tune of US $113million (about sh174billion).

According to the government, at least sh2.5billion, which was part of the money, is not accounted for. A report submitted to Parliament by Prime Minister Prof Apolo Nsibambi shows that 92 organizations and 28 individuals diverted large sums of money meant for the NUSAF projects. It is also reported that some work of the projects was shoddily done, because individuals went for the money.

Regarding the investigations in the mismanagement of the funds, Lira District chairman Franco Ojul and wife, have been arrested to help with investigations. But, police says 19 cases have so far been reported and ten other people charged, while twelve cases are pending inquiries.

Hepatitis E Claims More Lives THE member or Parliament (MP) for Chwa County Okello Okello has recommended that internally displaced persons (IDP) living in camps should return to their homes as a way of curbing the spread of Hepatitis E. This is a disease mainly spread through the want of proper hygiene.

It was first detected in Kitgum District before spreading and affecting the other parts of northern Uganda, including the districts of Amuru, Gulu and Pader. The death toll of the pandemic has since risen to 106, with fear of about 6,563 more others being infected with the disease.

Okello Okello asked government to help IDPs, who have returned to their homes, to put up good pit latrines. The government, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), has launched a sh10billion programme to bring the epidemic to an end.

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