Akena referred to historical statements by President Museveni acknowledging the destruction of food supplies and the destitution of about 2.7 million people during that period. He argued that the loss of cattle deprived communities of daily nutrition, household income, school fees, draft power, and soil fertility, leaving effects that continue to be felt today.
Kampala’s waste management system has come under increasing strain in recent years, including during Uganda’s first National Cleaning Day, when the volume of collected waste overwhelmed collection teams and temporarily clogged the Buyala disposal facility.
Akena criticized the government for prioritizing other matters over child welfare and called for a holistic approach to development that includes safety, skills, and greater exposure for school-going children.
As Nelson Mandela observed, nations can choose between conflict and cooperation. Increasingly, countries are choosing negotiation, reconciliation, and coalition-building. These require political maturity, for instance, a clear ideology, internal democracy, and a willingness to compromise without losing identity.
The Ateker people, who reside across several East African countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan, have long shared linguistic and cultural ties.
“The fight against corruption involves serious individuals like you. If we don’t fight it, we shall destroy ourselves, and the destruction will start here within the UPDF before it affects the country and the region.”
Uganda and South Sudan are strategic neighbors, partners, and friends with a long history of excellent cooperation, especially regarding the revolutionary struggle in the two countries. Currently, South Sudan is one of Uganda’s biggest trading partners in the region, and the trade between the two countries is booming.