Northern Uganda Messenger Post

Last Monday, 21 December 2009, former UN Undersecretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu, survived a spectacularly “unusual” road “accident” that only a Hollywood action flick could conjure. Everything about the accident, as Otunnu characterised it in a press conference later that afternoon, was “unusual.” At the press conference, Otunnu and the team traveling with him narrated that about 0930 hours or thereabout, they came upon a convoy of military vehicles at Minakulu. A couple or so civilian vehicles ahead of them signaled and were given the go-ahead to overtake the stationary or slow moving Phalanx of military wares. As they approached, Otunnu’s party too signaled to be let by, and they were accordingly given the sign to drive past. No sooner had they gone by two of the seven vehicles, when the third military truck suddenly pulled out of the formation to block their way. Otunnu’s driver attempted a manoeuvre to avoid high impact collision, but was-as if on cue-...

Economic liberalism, the mini-skirt and dictatorship in Uganda Liberalised, privatised, market economy expects individuals to make rational choices about what they purchase, consume, need, want, desire, and can afford. For markets to function optimally there must be a range of goods and services to choose from. But goods and services will enter the market only when there is demand. Because no businessperson worth their vocation will stock what no one needs. In the New vision of 10 June, 2009; “Gulu chief bans mini skirts”, Odek Sub-County Chairperson, Matthew Olobo, forbade women from wearing mini skirts, short dresses and trousers. That wearing these clothes is bad manners, immoral, and erodes Acholi culture and social norms. Olobo is angry that miniskirts and short dresses expose women’s body parts. But a casual survey of Acholi sartorial history reveal s that, between mini skirts , trousers, and short dresses today, and Ceno, Cip, Bune , coo-lony or lacomi that their predecess...