Uganda Remains In Lusaka Peace Accord

THE Cabinet yesterday decided that Uganda will remain part of the Lusaka Agreement on peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and withdraw her troops completely from 10 positions in that country, writes Vision Reporter. But Uganda is considering retaining troops in Buta and Bunia and on the western slopes of the Rwenzori mountains until its security concerns have been addressed, said a statement last night from Foreign Affairs Minister Eriya Kategaya. The Cabinet said Uganda reserved the right to withdraw unilaterally from the DRC and from the Lusaka Accord if she felt dissatisfied with progress towards peace in that country. The recommendations are similar to those put forward by the High Command and the Army Council. The full statement follows below: Cabinet, today Monday 7th May, 2001, met under the chairmanship of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to review recent developments in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Cabinet was briefed in detail by the President on these recent developments. After careful consideration of the matter, as well as recommendations received from the relevant organs of Government and having noted the contents of the letter addressed to H.E. the president from the Secretary General of the united Nations, Cabinet has decided as follows: 1. That Uganda will completely withdraw its forces back home from the following positions in the DRC: -Basankusu -Dongo -Gemena -Gbadolite -Lisala -Bafasende -Isiro -Butembo -Beni -Kanyabayonga 2.Government will continue to examine the wisdom of maintaining a presence in Buta and Bunia. 3.Uganda will maintain deployment on the western slopes of the Rwenzori mountains until Uganda's security interests have been addressed in accordance with the Lusaka Peace Agreement. 4.Government has decided that Uganda remains a party to the Lusaka Peace Agreement and arrangements under it, the full implementation of which remains the only viable solution to the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 5.Government of Uganda will propose to all members of the East African Community (EAC) and the southern African Development Co-operation (SADC) to become active players in the implementation of the Lusaka Peace Agreement. 6.Government of Uganda calls on all concerned parties to implement the Lusaka Peace Agreement without any further delay. However, the Government of Uganda reserves the right to withdraw unilaterally from the DRC and the Lusaka Peace Agreement if she continues to be dissatisfied with the apparent lack of political will to bring peace to the DRC and the region by implementing the Lusaka Peace Agreement faithfully and promptly as originally envisaged. The statement was signed by Eriya Kategaya, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Meanwhile, A UN Security Council delegation is scheduled to visit Uganda next week on a mission to evaluate progress of the Congo peace process, reports John Kakande. The Soroti Municipality MP, Mr Michael Mukula, said 12 members of the Council will arrive in Uganda on May 17 and hold discussions with President Yoweri Museveni on May 21. Mukula was part of a delegation led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amama Mbabazi, that went to New York to defend Uganda against allegations that it was involved in mass-scale looting of DR Congo's wealth. The delegation returned on Sunday. Mukula said the delegation is also expected to hold discussions with other leaders in the Great Lakes region including President Joseph Kabila of the DRC. He said the purpose of the delegation's visit was to evaluate the implementation of the Lusaka peace process and the disengagement exercise. In a related development, President Museveni is this morning scheduled to meet members of the parliamentary committees on defence and internal affairs and presidential and foreign affairs. Mukula, who is a member of the Presidential and Foreign Affairs Committee, said Museveni is expected to brief the MPs about the proposed UPDF pullout from the DRC. Ends