VP meets US special envoy

By Vision Reporter

The Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has assured the United States administration of Uganda’s commitment in promoting peace and tranquility for sustainable development of the great lakes region.

The Vice President who was meeting US Special Envoy to the Great lakes Region, Thomas Perriello and the US Ambassador Scott DeLisi at his office in Kampala also appreciated the support by Washington in addressing some the security concerns in the region.

The meeting took place on Friday, according to statement issued from the office of the vice-president.

He said that Uganda has been involved individually and alongside her regional sister states in contributing to the peace in the region saying the leadership in the country was open to suggestions that would provide lasting solutions to peace in the region.

He said despite challenges in the Southern Sudan, Somalia, the Eastern DRC and lately Burundi, some progress has been made in disrupting insurgents like LRA, ADF, M23 and Al’shabab among others who had made the region sanctuary for their insurgency.

On Burundi, the Vice President called for the return to the Arusha accord which he said had pacified the country from the earlier episodes of insurgency and said that Uganda recommends a transition Government of national unity to avoid further escalation of violence in Burundi.

The US Special Envoy commended Uganda for offering leadership in addressing peace and security issues in the region and called for concerted efforts to ensure that Burundi issue is amicably, urgently addressed.

He also agreed that a unity Government was the best solution for Burundi saying to avoid further isolation of the opposition and senior members of Government some of whom have already fled the country like the second Vice President, the Speaker and the Chief of Staff among others, the Government needs to accommodate dissenting views.

Ambassador DeLisi said that the US was concerned at reports that both sides were training and arming militia youth and urged Uganda to mobilise regional leaders to ensure that the Burundi issue is expeditiously managed before it explodes into full regional crisis.

Briefing the meeting on the situation in Burundi, the Minister of Defence Dr. Crispus Kiyonga said that an earlier meeting between the two sides had to be postponed as the government side was not represented but said another summit will be convened soon.

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