Elders seek US aid

By Dennis Ojwee ACHOLI traditional chiefs have asked the United States ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Martin Brennan, to help link them to the Carter Centre so that they have access to the Sudan in order to have direct peace talks with Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The American ambassador was recently officiating at a function organised by World Vision in Gulu, following a meeting with the traditional chiefs led by David Onen Acana II, the paramount chief of Payira, at Hotel Pearly Afrique in Gulu Municipality. They told the US ambassador that they would independently request the United States government to sponsor them in their efforts to have direct talks with Joseph Kony. They said they were not involved in politics but wanted to meet and talk to Kony as their own son. “We say this because ever since the rebellion started, Kony has never shown any hostility towards the Acholi traditional chiefs as he might have done to the politicians and the Government. We therefore appeal to the American government through your office as the United States ambassador to Uganda, to help link us (Acholi traditional chiefs) to the Carter Centre to talk to the Sudanese government so that it can link us for face to face talks with Kony,” the elders said. The Carter Centre has in the past been involved in mediation efforts between the Government of Uganda and the LRA. It was founded by former US president Jimmy Carter.