Sir, Helen Mirren (Comment, Nov 26) rightly calls for UN action on northern Uganda. The horrors she describes persist because of cynicism, incompetence and indifference.

President Museveni recently told parliamentarians in London that he could “switch off” the war. He indicated that before the elections in March, when the eyes of the world may be on Uganda, the people in the camps would be allowed to go home. But it has suited him that northern Uganda should be disabled politically during his long rule: his power base is in the south. The perpetuation of the war has also suited the Uganda People’s Defence Force. The Government continues to spend 20 per cent of its budget on the Army, creating generous opportunities for corruption. Officers extract protection money from relief agencies. And it has suited the Sudanese authorities to allow the Lord’s Resistance Army across their border.

The welter of charities and UN agencies in Gulu, for all the devotion and courage of individuals, is chaotic. Multiplication of underresourced, overlapping efforts means that effectiveness and value for money are poor. The WHO has called urgently for a rational allocation of resources.

The WHO reported in July that 1,000 people a week in excess of a normal mortality rate were dying and described northern Uganda as a “very serious humanitarian emergency”. Because it is not as spectacularly disastrous as Darfur, Niger or Malawi, the media have mainly ignored it. Because Museveni’s rule in the south has been benign by African standards, his dereliction in the north has excited little international criticism.

This disaster need not have continued. Malaria is the main killer, because the drugs available are obsolete and few people have mosquito nets. HIV/Aids comes next because of lack of diagnostic facilities, counselling and anti-retrovirals.

Violence is the third main cause of death. A renegade LRA commander told me it can probably count no more than 250 competent bush fighters, yet 250 coerced and poorly armed guerrillas have confined 1.2 million people in camps.

The UN has resolved that war crimes may justify intervention in the internal affairs of a country. If Museveni fails in the very near future to end the war and restore the Acholi to their lands the international community should do so.

LORD HOWARTH OF NEWPORT
House of Lords

Explore Letters

• Feedback