The President General of the Democratic Party and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Mr Norbert Mao, has outlined the key issues that need to be addressed in the long-awaited national dialogue.
In light of the country’s current social, political, and economic situation, many stakeholders have long urged the government to organize a national dialogue to address citizens’ concerns.
Mao, speaking to the media at the party’s headquarters in Kampala, highlighted the major issues that need to be tackled in this dialogue to resolve the various conflicts and misunderstandings in Uganda today.
Firstly, he called for the resolution of the Buganda question, which has historically caused tension between the Mengo and central governments. He emphasized that Buganda and Uganda are inextricably linked and cannot be separated.
Mao also addressed the Military question, stressing the need to clearly define the role of the military in Ugandan society. Additionally, he raised the Karamoja question, calling for attention to the region’s underdevelopment. He similarly urged the dialogue to address the Rwenzori and Northern questions.
“Karamoja was deliberately isolated from Uganda and the British called it the anthropological museum where human beings are supposed to be preserved in their natural state. As a result of this policy, the British required you to have a special visa. You needed a visa to go to Karamoja, they called it a special permit. So, the Karimojong lived there without knowing there was a cattle market so they remained in their culture reserved, as a result, every Karamoja intervention seems to leave Karamoja worse than it is. The more projects are announced for Karamoja, the more the problems seem,” said Mao.
Furthermore, Mao emphasized the need for the government to address issues of equity and transnational communities if Ugandan citizens are to fully enjoy their country and live in peace and unity.
