ERIC KASHAMBUZI

The Great Lakes Region of Africa is occupied by two major ethnic groups. Bantu-speaking
people arrived in the area from Cameroon/Nigeria border some 3000 years ago. They brought with
them short horn cattle, goats, sheep and technology. The Nilotic Luo-speaking people arrived in
the area some 600 years ago from Southern Sudan. They brought with them long horn cattle. They
subsequently adopted Bantu language, religion and other civilizations such as Bahutu King's title of
Mwami in Rwanda.

A dominant feature of their interaction is that political power was achieved through the barrel
of the gun especially in Southwest Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda and increasingly in Eastern DRC.
Warfare intensified with the arrival of foreigners using European weapons. Weaker societies were
raided for slaves and colonial domination. Since independence in the early 1960s armed struggle has
remained the main method of capturing and retaining or losing political power.

The new breed of leaders in Burundi, Rwanda, DRC and Uganda came to power through the
barrel of the gun. Since the introduction of democracy in part as a requirement for financial and
technical aid, elections have been won by those who control guns. Attempts to replace democracy at
gun point with real democracy using such instruments as the media have faced serious challenges.

The cost of exercising freedom of expression, assembly and of selecting one's representatives has
been very high. Many people have been gunned down, others tortured and imprisoned. Their family
members and relatives have been harassed and their inalienable rights violated in many other ways.

The purpose ofthis publication is to urge citizens of present and future generations in the region
to continue the struggle - with support of their friends and well-wishers around the world - until the
power of democracy has defeated the barrel of the gun. With combined effort it will happen sooner
rather than later.