Deadly 1986 ‘plan to eliminate northerners’ revealed
By George Murumba
30th May 2011:
President Yoweri Museveni being sworn-in in 1986
Uganda Correspondent has landed on a deadly 1986 memo titled “Rethink” which, at face value, appears to suggest that there may have been a ‘plan to eliminate northerners’ from Uganda and re-draw the country’s national boundary.
Dated November 14th 1986 and referenced Sec/D.1/Pol.10, the deadly memo from someone who only identified him or herself as “Tremor 1”, possibly an alias or operational code name, was addressed to another person who was also, only identified as “Meteor Plus One”. The infamous “Rethink” memo also appears to have originated from one of the top people within the state’s power structure at the time.
New national boundary proposed by the memo
In it, the author “Tremor 1” says, “…when we captured Kampala in January 1986 and later drove the uncouth UNLA soldiers out of the country in March 1986, our topographical knowledge of the northern region was still limited. Consequently we made hasty decision to draw another national boundary, which would exclude the backward northerners from our new Uganda, particularly the Chimpanzees called Acholis”.
The memo from “Tremor 1” further adds that, “…it was agreed that a new national boundary of Uganda with the Sudan should begin from the spot where the Nile waters flow into the Lake Albert, and traverse the Nile eastwards up to Lake Kyoga, thence cut across the land and follow the local boundary of Teso people and Bagisu and follow the Karamoja-Sebei boundary to the Kenya-Uganda border”.
“Tremor 1” then reveals that he flew at low altitude from Arua to Gulu and [he/she, whatever the case may be] was surprised to see [the] miraculous work of God in this part of Uganda. “…When my plane was approaching the River Nile from western side, I was startled by the incongruity of the landscapes from east and western banks of the River Nile”, said “Tremor 1”.
Monkeys sitting upon a Gold Mine
The author then says, “…I have now realized that the Monkeys called Acholis are sitting upon Gold Mine. It is surprising that even the British Colonialists did not make them utilize the rich land properly. But I will not allow these Chimpanzees to prevent other Ugandans from activating the Bread Basket of Africa. I have now reversed our decision to expel them, with their lands, from Uganda. We must keep Uganda as the British left it. But we must assume full control of the fertile lands”, “Tremor 1” decreed.
Possible ‘intention’ to commit genocide
In what may rightly, or even wrongly be interpreted by some to mean the existence of an intention to commit genocide against the people of northern Uganda, “Tremor 1” then says, “…it will be necessary, therefore, to find a way to drastically reduce the population. I will transfer **** Alli from Teso to command the Army in the area, to seal off the four districts of Apac, Lira, Gulu and Kitgum and ensure that no Journalists are permitted to travel unescorted in the area. Fortunately the rebels are roaming around. This gives us unassailable excuse”.
Uganda People’s Congress [UPC] Party President Dr. Olara Otunnu, who hails from Kitgum district in northern Uganda, has consistently accused President Yoweri Museveni’s government of having a secret genocidal plan against the people of northern of Uganda; a claim that Museveni’s NRM government has of course flatly denied in the past.
In the concluding part of this truly disturbing memo, “Tremor 1”, seemingly unwilling to involve his or her colleagues in the execution of the deadly plan, then drops the bombshell and says: “…I am at pains to propose that it is necessary to eliminate some old politicians who are likely to give us troubles. However, we should identify their own ambitious young men and women who know the area well to do this for us”, “Tremor 1” advises.
The final instruction from “Tremor 1” to “Meteor Plus One” in this scary “Rethink” memo is then that, “…for the time being you will work with **** Alli only to ensure watertight secrecy. “Tinye” [another possible alias for someone we cannot positively identify] will come in later.
We should also add that the authenticity of this memo still hangs in the balance as our request for comment from the government had not been answered by the time we went to press. END. Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
