September 7, 2007:
Many
refugees are beginning to return to northern Uganda, particularly the Gulu
region. This was the center of the LRA
war. Many of the "internally displaced persons" (IDPs) were farmers. The Ugandan
government and various NGOs want to help get them back into the farming
business, which means supplying the returnees with farm tools and seeds. The
young people who were abducted, however, present a vexing problem. Many of them
essentially served as supply carriers for the LRA, or simply lived in refugee
camps. They lack the skills to farm, and some of them are no longer so young.
Twenty-somethings returning home but lacking employable skills are a recipe for
future trouble.
September 5, 2007: The United
States just nudged the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army). The U.S. was now ready to
help "apprehend rebels" (ie, LRA fighters) if the on-going peace talks failed.
The US believes said that existing UN
resolutions provided a basis for providing assistance to Uganda. The
peace process continues, but the LRA is once again accusing the south Sudan
government (which is sponsoring the talks) of favoring the Ugandan government.
September 3, 2007: Nearly a
hundred poachers surrendered to security forces. The line between bandit
activity (like poaching) and guerrilla activity is often very hazy. The poachers operated as a loosely knit group
with a leader—a gang might be an apt description, but gangs sometimes morph
into guerrilla bands. The poachers said they had been buying ammunition from
Ugandan Army soldiers. This is another example of military corruption and
indicates that the Ugandan Army's "professionalization program" has a way to
go. Extensive poaching is one reason the Ugandan government is looking for
investors in "game ranching." Wild animals would be "raised" on these Ugandan
ranches. Tribal hunters would be allowed to hunt on the ranches and sell the
game meat, which fetches high prices in many African cities. This would turn a
"crime" into a legitimate industry. Exotic game ranches exist in the U.S. and
elsewhere, and they have been financially successful. It's likely that
international big game hunters would want to hunt on Uganda's game ranches,
which would also create jobs. However, hunting is a tradition and in Uganda
disgruntled local hunters present a political problem as well as a police
problem. The game ranches might be part of the solution. --Austin Bay