Donors welcome truce
Nov 15, 2004
DONORS have welcomed the seven-day cease-fire granted to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels to arrange talks with the Government
By Henry Mukasa and Milton Olupot
DONORS have welcomed the seven-day cease-fire granted to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels to arrange talks with the Government.
The Donor Group on Northern Uganda and Recovery from Conflict (DG NARC), described it as a positive step.
EU head of delegation Sigurd Illing and the Austrian head of mission, Franz Breitwieser, commended the government overture. (More stories on the National Page).
“The DG NARC very much welcome the statement by president Museveni on a ceasefire in a designated area of Northern Uganda.
The president has now given a clear response to recent indications from the LRA of a willingness to enter into dialogue.â€
“We hope that these positive steps can be built on to bring an end to the conflict in Northern Uganda and an end to the suffering of the people there. The international community stands ready to play its part in underpinning any peace process and in reconstruction of northern of Uganda,†they said.
DG NARC comprises envoys from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the EU Commission, France, Germany, Ireland (chair), Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the UK, UNDP and the US.
President Museveni on Sunday declared a seven-day ceasefire at the request of former Northern Uganda minister Betty Bigombe, to enable the rebels discuss how they can talk with the government.
He designated a 300sq mile area covering Patiko, Atanga, Palabek and Atiak.
Bigombe had for several months camped in southern Sudan, trying to establish contact with the LRA leadership to convince them to lay down arms and end the 18-year long war.
Breitwieser, at the opening of a three-week workshop on Peace Building in War Torn Societies at the Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, Entebbe yesterday, hailed the Government’s olive branch.
“I think what President Museveni did was a very good move,†he said.
Illing said, “Our position has always been a two-pronged approach; military and readiness to talk, especially when there was clear indication that LRA was ready to talk. Bigombe’s involvement is very comforting because we have known she has been struggling to get a greenlight from the president.â€
“We hope this signal will find a positive response from the LRA,†he added.
He said the EU had information that Kony had ordered his commanders to halt abductions and killings but added that the LRA could have been forced to talk peace due to pressure exerted by UPDF, the amnesty that had lured away many of his commanders and apparent lack of support from Sudan.
Breitwieser had told participants at the conference from over 15 countries that peace was a prerequisite for development.
He said conflict had made northern Uganda lag behind.
“Under president Museveni, the southern part has developed.
“It’s a challenge for the Government to bring northern Uganda level to the south. There is a discrepancy here which could lead to conflict,†he said, adding, “When there is finally peace in northern Uganda we shall do our part in developing the region.â€
DONORS have welcomed the seven-day cease-fire granted to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels to arrange talks with the Government.
The Donor Group on Northern Uganda and Recovery from Conflict (DG NARC), described it as a positive step.
EU head of delegation Sigurd Illing and the Austrian head of mission, Franz Breitwieser, commended the government overture. (More stories on the National Page).
“The DG NARC very much welcome the statement by president Museveni on a ceasefire in a designated area of Northern Uganda.
The president has now given a clear response to recent indications from the LRA of a willingness to enter into dialogue.â€
“We hope that these positive steps can be built on to bring an end to the conflict in Northern Uganda and an end to the suffering of the people there. The international community stands ready to play its part in underpinning any peace process and in reconstruction of northern of Uganda,†they said.
DG NARC comprises envoys from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the EU Commission, France, Germany, Ireland (chair), Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the UK, UNDP and the US.
President Museveni on Sunday declared a seven-day ceasefire at the request of former Northern Uganda minister Betty Bigombe, to enable the rebels discuss how they can talk with the government.
He designated a 300sq mile area covering Patiko, Atanga, Palabek and Atiak.
Bigombe had for several months camped in southern Sudan, trying to establish contact with the LRA leadership to convince them to lay down arms and end the 18-year long war.
Breitwieser, at the opening of a three-week workshop on Peace Building in War Torn Societies at the Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, Entebbe yesterday, hailed the Government’s olive branch.
“I think what President Museveni did was a very good move,†he said.
Illing said, “Our position has always been a two-pronged approach; military and readiness to talk, especially when there was clear indication that LRA was ready to talk. Bigombe’s involvement is very comforting because we have known she has been struggling to get a greenlight from the president.â€
“We hope this signal will find a positive response from the LRA,†he added.
He said the EU had information that Kony had ordered his commanders to halt abductions and killings but added that the LRA could have been forced to talk peace due to pressure exerted by UPDF, the amnesty that had lured away many of his commanders and apparent lack of support from Sudan.
Breitwieser had told participants at the conference from over 15 countries that peace was a prerequisite for development.
He said conflict had made northern Uganda lag behind.
“Under president Museveni, the southern part has developed.
“It’s a challenge for the Government to bring northern Uganda level to the south. There is a discrepancy here which could lead to conflict,†he said, adding, “When there is finally peace in northern Uganda we shall do our part in developing the region.â€