Donors meet Rugunda on Kony talks
Jan 05, 2005
DONOR representatives from four countries yesterday met internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda over peace talks between the Government and the LRA rebels.
By Anne Mugisa
DONOR representatives from four countries yesterday met internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda over peace talks between the Government and the LRA rebels.
Ambassadors Jimmy Kolker of the US, that of the Netherlands, Yoka Brandt, of Norway Tore Gjos and the deputy British High Commissioner, John Elliot, met Rugunda in Kampala.
Rugunda would not give details except that the ambassadors wanted a brief on the developments in the peace process.
At a different function on Tuesday in Kampala, Kolker reportedly expressed disappointment that “efforts to bring peace in the north by the end of the year had failedâ€. He called for the resumption of the talks.
Rugunda yesterday said the donors supported the Government efforts at a peaceful resolution to the 19-year-long conflict and are not dictating what should be done.
“The Government of Uganda is not being pressured by the donors and it would not be pressured by the donors. The development partners are supporting our country in development and supporting us to reach peaceful resolution to the conflict,†he said.
The signing of the agreement for negotiations which had been slated for December 31, 2004, delayed, sparking fears that the peace process had stalled.
But hope for a peaceful end to the conflict was renewed on Tuesday when the Government negotiators handed over an improved version of the proposed ceasefire agreement to rebel leader Joseph Kony’s team.
Rugunda said after the meeting with the ambassadors, that contacts with the LRA had been maintained through chief mediator Betty Bigombe.
Rugunda refused to say what transpired between the rebels and the Government team since the signing of the agreement was put off on December 31. He warned against making careless statements on the process, saying that could derail it.
“This is a Ugandan process by Ugandans, for Ugandans. We are focused and the donors are with us,†Rugunda said.
Meanwhile, the Democracy Monitoring Group (DEMGROUP) has called upon the Government and the LRA to return to the negotiating table.
It said in a statement it appreciated the Government’s effort to achieve peace but warned against the use of force, saying it would cost many lives. It called for consensus to avoid more bloodshed.
“This requires a higher degree of commitment far beyond the individual interests of the key parties. This also calls for tolerance and flexibility during negotiations, to ensure a peaceful conclusion to the conflict,†the statement said.
It said the military and politicians should reconsider their positions and appreciate the suffering of Ugandans.
DONOR representatives from four countries yesterday met internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda over peace talks between the Government and the LRA rebels.
Ambassadors Jimmy Kolker of the US, that of the Netherlands, Yoka Brandt, of Norway Tore Gjos and the deputy British High Commissioner, John Elliot, met Rugunda in Kampala.
Rugunda would not give details except that the ambassadors wanted a brief on the developments in the peace process.
At a different function on Tuesday in Kampala, Kolker reportedly expressed disappointment that “efforts to bring peace in the north by the end of the year had failedâ€. He called for the resumption of the talks.
Rugunda yesterday said the donors supported the Government efforts at a peaceful resolution to the 19-year-long conflict and are not dictating what should be done.
“The Government of Uganda is not being pressured by the donors and it would not be pressured by the donors. The development partners are supporting our country in development and supporting us to reach peaceful resolution to the conflict,†he said.
The signing of the agreement for negotiations which had been slated for December 31, 2004, delayed, sparking fears that the peace process had stalled.
But hope for a peaceful end to the conflict was renewed on Tuesday when the Government negotiators handed over an improved version of the proposed ceasefire agreement to rebel leader Joseph Kony’s team.
Rugunda said after the meeting with the ambassadors, that contacts with the LRA had been maintained through chief mediator Betty Bigombe.
Rugunda refused to say what transpired between the rebels and the Government team since the signing of the agreement was put off on December 31. He warned against making careless statements on the process, saying that could derail it.
“This is a Ugandan process by Ugandans, for Ugandans. We are focused and the donors are with us,†Rugunda said.
Meanwhile, the Democracy Monitoring Group (DEMGROUP) has called upon the Government and the LRA to return to the negotiating table.
It said in a statement it appreciated the Government’s effort to achieve peace but warned against the use of force, saying it would cost many lives. It called for consensus to avoid more bloodshed.
“This requires a higher degree of commitment far beyond the individual interests of the key parties. This also calls for tolerance and flexibility during negotiations, to ensure a peaceful conclusion to the conflict,†the statement said.
It said the military and politicians should reconsider their positions and appreciate the suffering of Ugandans.