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