Museveni reaffirms commitment to Uganda peace process
By James Gatdet Dak
November 8, 2008 (KAMPALA) – Uganda President Yoweri Museveni re-affirmed his government’s commitment to the peace process with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels and called on the LRA leader Joseph Kony to appear and sign the Final Peace Agreement (FPA).
After being briefed in his office at the State House on the outcome of a Stake holders’ conference by the Government of Southern Sudan’s Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, who is also the Chief Mediator of the Uganda peace talks, President Museveni commended the outcome of the conference which he said he “totally supported.”
He said his government would also support the food supply program to LRA if the rebels re-assemble in their designated area of Rikwanba.
A two-day stake holder’s consultative conference, chaired by the Vice president of the Government of Southern Sudan, Dr. Machar, on the future of the Uganda peace process ended successfully on Thursday with a Communique calling on both parties to recommit themselves to the peace process.
The Conference which was also attended by the former President of Mozambique, Joachim Chissano, who is also the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for LRA affected areas, noted that the formal peace negotiations were over since March this year and what remains are signatures.
The Conference’s Communique called on the LRA leader Joseph Kony to sign the Final Peace Agreement by the end of November.
Donors also renewed their commitment to financially and technically support the peace process and its implementation.
The Communiqué also condemned the alleged killing by the LRA of civilian population in both Southern Sudan and DR Congo and called on the rebel’s leadership to release the abducted people, mostly children.
Museveni also said his government would approach the International Criminal Court (ICC) to defer indictment on the LRA leader Kony only if the rebel leader signs the Final Peace Agreement.
David Matsanga, the head of LRA delegation in the meeting with President Museveni also announced that Kony had nominated Justin Labeja, member of LRA delegation as a would-be head of the Joint Liaison Group (JLG) that will be monitoring the implementation of the FPA.
Labeja is to be based in Kampala as a contact person before the signing of the FPA.
The Uganda President commended the role played by the Government of Southern Sudan for mediating the peace talks, which he said the people in northern Uganda were beginning to benefit from its peace dividends.
He pointed out that his government would continue to unilaterally implement some aspects of the agreement that are geared towards rehabilitation of northern Uganda despite absence of Kony’s signature.
The Conference also noted that up to 80% of IDPs were leaving camps and returning to their villages.
Participants of the Stakeholders’ consultative conference included representatives of the Uganda government and the LRA, Government of Southern Sudan, United Nations, African Union observers, donor countries, civil society organizations and members of the Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring Team (CHMT).
Government of Southern Sudan senior officials who accompanied the Vice President to the Kampala Stakeholders’ Conference included Dr. Barnaba Marial, Minister for Regional Cooperation, Paul Mayom Akech, Minister of Internal Affairs, Samson Kwaje, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Governor of Western Equatoria state, Jemma Nunu Kumba and SPLA Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Oyai Deng Ajak, among others.
Governments of Uganda’s participants were led by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda while the LRA team was led by David Nyekorach Matsanga.
(ST)