The Ghosts of Luweero

In a testosterone-loaded outburst, the handlebar mustachioed Intelligence Chief-cum-General Tinyefuza would “crush” Otunnu for resurrecting the controversial question that dogs memories of the Luweero war: Who [done] it? That is, who murdered civilians in the war theater? Was it Museveni in a tactical stoking of hatred of the government of the day? Was it Obote in retribution for or creating fear against collaborating with the bandits?

If all sides showed humility for the carnage of war in the area and not exploit their versions for political mileage, it would make sense to let by-gone be by-gone. What, however, motivated Otunnu in bringing the issue for finding the truth is the fact that his nemesis, Mheshimiwa Rais Museveni, in his perennial crowing as a victor, constantly blames Obote and his red party for the civilian deaths. UPC is not my favorite party and I am not as impressed as others are about Otunnu, but let us play fair with the truth. It will set us free! Besides, I don’t like the smell of a military man warning someone who could potentially become his boss. (Dream on, Soko—it is free, isn’t it?)

Letting by-gone be by-gone or reconciliation without outing the truths a la Mao is a recipe for future disaster. It is just shoving dirt under the mat. Who knows what kinds of bugs might eventually fester beneath?

Let us clean the house and exorcise the ghosts of Luweero once and for all. While we’re at it, questions also linger in the North about who did what to civilians. The Northern ghosts also need the truth so that they can rest in peace on Lututuro, Got Okaka, Agoro, or in Lapul of the Palaro people