“An AK-47 is the most important aspect of being a part of the military.” Those roaring words blared from the oversized black speakers at the open field in the Lira District of northern Uganda. My patience was running low as it was nearly 6:31 pm, and no food was in sight. Hundreds of natives and I assembled eight and a half hours earlier for the wedding of a Ugandan (UPDF) Captain. I purposely chose to phrase it “the wedding of a Ugandan Captain” due to the unyielding nature of the event. Throughout the ceremony – which was partially translated in English – the official discourse solely and specifically revolved around the Captain. “Now that the Captain is marrying … We wish to congratulate the Captain for taking such a step with his wife … I’ve worked with the Captain for years and he always remains calm on the battlefield …” I consistently wondered, isn’t it equally important to acknowledge the female partaking in this ceremony? Why weren’t her friends allowed to give speeches like the four cronies and military personnel of the Captain?
The UPDF propaganda was subtly and overtly infiltrated into the cognition of the massive audience. Throughout the event glimmering statements soared. “The UPDF is here to protect every civilian from harm, and the best way to do that is with the gun … President Museveni and our military work diligently each day to protect and support each and every one … With the help of the AK-47, we are able to carry out successful missions in this country …”
A swarm of comical and provoking thoughts swam throughout my psyche. I instantaneously thought of the regular political engagements I’m associated with in Gulu. Intense research is clearly not necessary to recognize the concerted and palpable subjugation of the Acholi collective by the UPDF. Talk to the grand majority of locals about the UPDF’s role in the recent 20 plus year conflict with the LRA. Perceptions from the general Acholi consensus in Gulu; “The UPDF stayed in the center of the internally displaced persons’ camps so when the rebels came in, they killed many civilians prior to reaching the UPDF. And that is even if the UPDF stayed, because they usually ran when the rebels came … Many of our women were raped by the UPDF during the conflict which helped spread HIV to our community … The UPDF demanded that we go into an internally displaced persons camps and if not they would beat us and even kills us while calling us rebel collaborators …”
I clearly understand that underlying Saturday’s wedding is simply the fact that it took place a couple of months prior to another heated Ugandan Presidential election. Although, I pryingly wondered how the propaganda will radiate across northern Uganda. For instance, only a couple of days earlier while snacking on some roasted cassava I sat on a broken red bench and glanced through the Daily Monitor newspaper. A headline of the national media outlet stated, “Acholi MPs Say Government Arming Militias.” As I dove into the jargon, I found that Members of Parliament in Acholiland claim the UPDF is supplying arms to NRM (the President’s party) mobilizers and former child combatants to instill fear in the population to vote NRM and President Museveni.
As if aiding guns and ammunition to formerly abducted children in an area wasted by war and all of its side effects isn’t problematic enough, won’t this continue to instill the idea that the north is filled with rebels? Perhaps it’s no revelation that loads of southern Ugandans seem petrified to venture to the north of the country. Basically when interpreting this article, I’m forced to analyze who essentially gains by reporting this and ultimately who has something to lose.
Another headline on the same day, but in the New Vision paper shared, “UPDF to Sue Beisgye Group.” Besigye is a rival Presidential candidate running against President Museveni in February. The accusations claimed Besigye reported the UPDF was unfaithfully siding with the NRM and Museveni. Luckily, I was hanging out with an extremely involved political ally of the Acholi and thus we had a solid chuckle over the headline and article. My pal chimed in, “Isn’t a Government’s military supposed to stay neutral and not sue a competing political group?” He went on, “You see Neil, all you can do is really laugh at the absurdity of Ugandan politics.” I marinated on that sentence for some time. Sure politics in all corners of the round globe are shaggy, but the military suing a political group is one I presently haven’t heard of. Could the U.S. Army sue the Democratic Party in my homeland?
Perhaps the most mind altering scenario of Saturday’s wedding was not the refreshingly cold “Bell Beer” that was proudly snuck to me by the relaxed driver of our vehicle. Instead, if I had any food in my stomach at that point, it may have resurfaced when I saw one of the numerous wedding cakes. “Since the AK-47 is the most important aspect of being in the military, we have designed a cake in the shape of one,” pretentiously stated some military official. At once I grabbed the right arm of our younger neighbor/brother and told him, “Hurry up and go take a picture of that cake before they cut it or give it away.” I certainly wasn't prepared to be the only munu at the wedding snapping photos of the AK-47 cake.
An AK-47 wedding cake; that about did it for me. Problematic? From my contorted Western view on the situation, I was dumbfounded. In effect, do the folks of northern Uganda desire to share bits of a Kalashnikova cake? What was the consensual reaction from the crowd? I curiously waited and heard scores of folks laughing. To me this wasn’t in fact funny, but instead sort of gross, disrespectful and patronizing. How many folks at the wedding or in the present area had loved ones killed by the AK-47 by those exact UPDF service members? What does this signify and represent to the young children at the wedding? “Guns are cool; we even make wedding cakes representing them!” Perhaps it’s no shocker that youngsters in my home village craft AK-47 replicas out of banana trees, leaves and whatever vegetation they get their hands on. After all, the UPDF couldn’t speak highly enough of it at the wedding for Christ sakes.
The AK-47 cake
Coincidence or do "all boys play with guns"? If so, why?
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