Regional Recommendations for Kacoke Madit (KM 98)

Southern Africa

The Acholi commnuity resident in Southern Africa recommend that:

1. KM should be adopted as a permanent pressure front that fights for peace and for the survival of Acholi people.
2. KM should establish a permanent secretariat or documentation centre in Uganda.

1. KM should step up the dissemination of information by negotiating for a weekly programme on the available FM station in Gulu. It should also use other methods of disseminating information such as the distribution of booklets, pamphlets in schools, and public places to counteract the vile propaganda that is at the moment being pandered about.
2. KM should embark on a national programme for the extension of this information war country wide by linking with other FM stations in the country to remove the poor Acholi image created by NRA misinformation campaign.
3. KM should commission a team of experts to do a feasibility study for establishing an FM Radio Station (KMRS) in Gulu and/or Kitgum, or extension of the existing station to cover Kitgum.

1. KM should create or help in the creation of a fund for a civil and human rights commission for northern Uganda to concentrate on providing the humanitarian efforts, which must go on despite the hostilities.
2. KM should work with our immediate neighbouring districts and other peace-loving people within and outside Uganda to mount greater pressure on the Government of Uganda and LRA to abandon hostilities in the interests of peace and prosperity in the region.
3. KM should mount a world wide campaign to remove the financial reward associated with the war in Acholiland and highlight the part played by donor nations who support the use of force in Acholiland. It should be made clear to them that their hands are stained with the blood of Acholi people who continue to die violently because of their (donors) financial or military support for the Government’s military stance.
4. KM should discourage the linkage of the internal problems in Acholi with the Southern Sudan problem. But KM should support all efforts being made to bring about peace in Southern Sudan.
5. KM should condemn the continued existence of so-called ‘protected villages’ in Acholiland and call upon the government to disband them since they are obstacles to peace and a source of morbidity and mortality.
6. KM should urge President Museveni, other Ugandan politicians, or security personnel to desist from the use of derogatory, abusive, or demeaning language against Acholi since we consider this to be a serious obstacle to negotiations
7. KM should call for an immediate cease-fire and unconditional amnesty for Joseph Kony and his people who should voluntarily seek asylum under the UN charter for refugees.
8. KM should call for reduction of defence expenditure with the savings accruing from these going directly to development in Acholiland.
9. KM should make it a priority to urge the Government to declare Acholi a disaster zone based on the well known evidence of massive displacement of almost half a million people from their homes, the looming famine and deaths from preventable diseases in the camps.
10. We reiterate our support for the establishment of a federal status as a positive contribution towards peace and development in Acholi.
11. WE RE-AFFIRM the KM97 resolutions as a viable start to any negotiated peace in Acholi.