Uganda’s Govt, rebels ink power sharing and LRA integration deals
By Isaac Vuni
February 22, 2008 (JUBA) — The warring Ugandan parties have, today afternoon at Juba Raha Hotel, signed a major breakthrough on power sharing and integration of LRA/M into Ugandan armed Forces, after thirty months of negotiation.
The two sides are now discussing a ceasefire and have indicated they may come to an agreement on that within days.
Chief mediator and Vice President of Southern Sudan government, Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, congratulated the two parties for their bold decision and urged them to quickly complete the reaming technical issues on the agenda four and five respectively.
The team leaders of the Ugandan warring partied reiterated their full support and commitment in ensuring that the reaming items are speedily signed. While the LRA/M spokesman appealled to international community to support them to the last day of the agreement and after peace resettlement programme at home.
Today the parties have agreed that this implementation protocol sets out framework for LRA/M full participation in National politics and institutions in Uganda whereby people from the conflict-affected areas shall recommend to the Government names of persons from the conflict-affected areas to be considered for appointment into political posts as well as to the public and diplomatic services; provided that any appointments made shall be based on merit and in accordance with the laws of Uganda.
That during the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement, the Government shall ensure that Equal Opportunities Commission is appointed and becomes operational and the Government shall consider for appointment persons from North and North Eastern Uganda to the Commission while taking into account the question of regional or ethnic imbalances and disparities in participation in Government departments and institutions and shall act expeditiously on the recommendations for Commission positions.
The Government shall facilitate any Ugandan living abroad who wishes to return to Uganda, and shall protect personal security of those who return.
Regarding Education and Training, Ugandan Government shall adopt and actively promote a policy for increasing access to tertiary education and training for persons from the conflict-affected areas. This shall include the provision of additional scholarships to be allocated according to districts.
Meanwhile government will also have to strengthen the Judiciary and Policing institutions in the conflict-affected areas especially through the programmes of the Justice, Law and Order by deploying Uganda Police Force in the conflict-affected areas.
As for Institutional Arrangements for Security Organs, the Government shall continue to ensure that the composition of the armed forces and other security agencies reflects the national character; including regional and gender diversity.
And the Government shall assess the experience and rank of former LRA combatants and integrate into the armed forces or other security agencies any combatants who are willing to join and any LRA combatants who join in shall be afforded the opportunity to undertake training or promotional programme while the treatment of other LRA combatants shall be determined in accordance with other agreements and arrangements.
Resettlement and Rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons will be taken care of by the Government who shall develop and implement a strategy for assisting the return and resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the affected areas in accordance with the IDP policy while the needs of those IDPs who have already returned will also be taken into account to ensure equitable support for resettlement.
The Government shall facilitate the process of the return of any internally displaced persons in accordance with the terms of the Internally Displaced Persons’ Policy.
As far as the Economic and Social Development of North and North Eastern Uganda are concern, the Government of Uganda shall promote recovery programmes in the affected areas, and in particular, shall implement the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) expeditiously, and will further ensure that the Plan reflects the principles and commitments of this agreement.
The Government shall also support business and investment initiatives in the conflict-affected areas and shall identify and commit special funds to the implementing agency for that purpose.
As for Environment protection, Ugandan Government shall promote policies and programmes to address and mitigate any adverse environmental impacts of the conflict areas.
Institutional Framework was agreed that the Government shall prepare and introduce legislation for establishing the agency and the relevant mechanisms, and shall ensure that the agency commences its work as soon as possible after the enactment of the legislation.
The mechanism of implementation will ensure easy access to dedicated funds by communities in the conflict affected areas for their resettlement and for the enhancement of productive capacities.
The Legislation establishing the agency will provide for the adoption of sound management and accountability controls.
In the appointment of officers to the above agency, the Government shall give particular consideration to persons from the conflict-affected areas with the required qualifications and experience.
As for the Victims and Vulnerable Groups, the parties agree that the Government shall develop and implement a policy for the support and rehabilitation of the victims of the conflict.
The policy for the support of victims and vulnerable persons and the mechanisms for its implementation shall be consistent with the principles and mechanisms relating to the Agreement on Accountability and Reconciliation.
The policy shall include establishment of a special fund by the government for victims, out of which reparations shall be paid, including reparations ordered to be paid by an institution established pursuant to the Agreement on Accountability and Reconciliation.
Meanwhile for the Livestock, the Government shall implement the restocking programme under the supervision of the implementing agency identified by the concern communities.
On Issues relating to Land the Government shall ensure that landowners whose lands have been used for the benefit of displaced persons or otherwise appropriated during the conflict are duly compensated or receive redress in accordance with the terms of the Principal Agreement.
Stakeholders’ Conference and Implementation, the Mediator shall receive from the Parties, as appropriate, reports on the status of the implementation of the Agreement, and shall liaise with the Parties on the preparations for the stakeholders’ conference provided for in the Principal Agreement. And the full implementation of this Agreement shall commence upon the final disarmament of all members of the LRA under the Final Peace Agreement.
Agreement witnessed by: H.E. Lt. General Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, Vice President, Government of Southern Sudan And Chief Mediator of the Peace Talks, H.E. Joaquim Alberto Chissano, Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for LRA affected areas, H.E. Dr. André M Kapanga, for the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E. Japheth R. Getugi, for the Government of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Nsavike G. Ndatta, for the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Gilbert Lebeko Ramano, for the Government of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Heidi Johansen, for the Government of Norway, Ms Anna Sundström, Political Advisor to the EU Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, for the European Union and H.E Bryan E. Burton for the Government of Canada, Mr Timothy R. Shortley, Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, for the Government of the United States of America
Earlier, as the LRA/m team returned to a negotiating table, a mysterious fire broke out at about 11.30 am Sudan local time in the tent room of lawyer Jacob Olanya, Legal advisor to chief mediator who does not even smoke and he suspected electric circuit. Meanwhile the Juba Raha manger Mr. Peter Joshua said nothing was salvage from the tent room and he has called for police and fire brigade to investigate the cause of the fire. Otherwise, electrical installations according to him are properly connected in the whole 60 tents rooms.
Peace talks has been going on between the government of Uganda and the LRA under mediation of Riek Machar, the Vice President of the government of Southern Sudan since 14th July 2006 and by September 2006 succeeded to committing the warring parties to signed the first breakthrough cessation of hostility agreement after several mediators have failed to bring LRA on a negotiating table and among them were the Catholic Community of Sant Egidio and Ugandan’s Betty Bigombe who did not even manage to meet Joseph Kony during her 1994 talk initiative.
(ST)