Redefining Africa's Future

I tasted alcohol and its most devastating effects on the very first day I tasted Pagee Wine from St. Mary’s Lacor in Gulu, Uganda, in 1998. Pagee Wine is a local wine made from pineapple. Even though that moment happened nearly 27 years ago, just the thought of walking back into that local drinking joint in Lacor and catching a sip of Pagee Wine still sends a wave of anxiety through me. Back then, secondary schools were a breeding ground for teenage experimentation with smoking and alcohol, a lot of it fueled by the pressure to fit in with the crowd.   How It All Began I joined Bishop Angelo Negri College in 1998, a prestigious boarding school I had long admired. However, looking back, it's clear that my time at Negri College could have easily been described as a jungle. The school was full of wild characters; some boys chased after girls, others escaped school to drink and dance, and a few were bookworms. We had a mix of wealthy students and those from humble backgrounds, an...

Dear Honorable Akol and Mapenduzi,   I write to you not only as members of Parliament but as sons of Acholi, a region that has endured significant poverty and underdevelopment under the current regime. Recent news reports have suggested that you both have defected to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. However, some of your critics claim that you both joined the NRM some time ago and that it is only now that you have made your defection public. Whether this defection occurred recently or some time ago, I believe it is a moment that deserves reflection, especially for two individuals who have long been part of the Acholi people’s struggle.   For decades, the Acholi people have faced unimaginable suffering. From the brutal retaliatory killings by the NRA after Museveni took power in 1986 to the devastating war between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government, our people have endured. The IDP camps meant to provide security, turned into traps ...