Uganda, Sudan sign protocol on extending operations in southern Sudan

KAMPALA, Sept 13, 2003 (Xinhua) — Uganda and the Sudan have for the eighth time signed a protocol, extending Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) operations in southern Sudan.

The protocol was signed by Ugandan Minister of State for Defense Ruth Nankabirwa and Sudanese Ambassador to Uganda Surrajudin Hamid Yousuf at the UPDF headquarters in Bombo, a suburb of Kampala on Friday, according to the government newspaper Sunday Vision to be published on Sunday.

The protocol allows the Ugandan army to stay in southern Sudan until Sept. 30, 2003.

The Ugandan army entered the southern Sudan in March, 2002 after the two governments signed the first protocol last year.

Nankabirwa was quoted as saying that the protocol could not be signed in Khartoum as planned because the Sudanese officials had been summoned to Nairobi, Kenya for talks.

“Clause of 6 of the protocol says that a Ugandan government delegation will be going to Khartoum at the end of this month to renew yet another addendum,” she said.

She said that in an end-of-month meeting in Khartoum, Uganda will table evidence that elements in the Sudan forces or government have renewed arms supplies to the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.