Talks deadline open to review â€" Rugunda
Sep 10, 2006
WITH less than 24 hours to the expiry of the deadline within which a peace deal with the LRA should have been thrashed out, the leader of the government delegation, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, has hinted at an extension.
WITH less than 24 hours to the expiry of the deadline within which a peace deal with the LRA should have been thrashed out, the leader of the government delegation, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, has hinted at an extension, reports Henry Mukasa in Juba.
President Yoweri Museveni set September 12 as the deadline for the end of the talks, or the period within which substantial progress must have been made at the talks in Juba. The government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) is mediating the talks.
Commenting on the cessation of hostilities agreement on August 6, Rugunda told the press in Kampala that “if there’s progress being made, there’s going to be a review of the situation.â€
Yesterday, Rugunda told the New Vision at Civicon Oasis camp, where the peace talks team is residing, that “my statement still stands. The peace process is making progress.â€
Rugunda, who is also the Minister for Internal Affairs, said the rest should be left to President Yoweri Museveni “to review the situation and take an appropriate decision.â€
Rugunda said Museveni was closely following the process. “He is the prime mover of the process. He is involved. He is part and parcel of the process. He knows what is happening and doesn’t require special briefing,†he said.
Under the cessation of hostilities agreement, the LRA rebels were given three weeks to assemble at Owiny Ki-Bul for those in northern Uganda and at Ri-kwagmba for those in Garamba National Park in Congo. All the assembling places are in southern Sudan.
Rugunda said this was the first time that the Government has signed a truce with the LRA.
He said Uganda was grateful to GOSS which, young as it is, had made the peaceful ending of the two-decade rebellion its priority.
He said while in the past, there were multiple messages from politicians and stakeholders on whether to talk peace, “now, there is consensus emerging that we should end this conflict through a peace process.â€
“A foundation has been made. We have met, signed an agreement, and the LRA, as part of the implementation of the agreement, has emerged.
“Kweyolo, Dominic Ongwen, the LRA commanders, have been in touch with UPDF commanders Lt. Col. Kidega and Maj. Damulira. the population has supplied food to the assembling fighters,†Rugunda said.
The paramount Chief of the Acholi, Rwot Onen Achana, said even the president knows the deadline he gave would need review.
Gulu LC5 chairman Nobert Mao said the agreement on the cessation of hostilities overrides President Museveni’s deadline to the peace talks.
“The deadline was made by one man but now there’s more than one man (in the (peace process),†Mao said.
President Yoweri Museveni set September 12 as the deadline for the end of the talks, or the period within which substantial progress must have been made at the talks in Juba. The government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) is mediating the talks.
Commenting on the cessation of hostilities agreement on August 6, Rugunda told the press in Kampala that “if there’s progress being made, there’s going to be a review of the situation.â€
Yesterday, Rugunda told the New Vision at Civicon Oasis camp, where the peace talks team is residing, that “my statement still stands. The peace process is making progress.â€
Rugunda, who is also the Minister for Internal Affairs, said the rest should be left to President Yoweri Museveni “to review the situation and take an appropriate decision.â€
Rugunda said Museveni was closely following the process. “He is the prime mover of the process. He is involved. He is part and parcel of the process. He knows what is happening and doesn’t require special briefing,†he said.
Under the cessation of hostilities agreement, the LRA rebels were given three weeks to assemble at Owiny Ki-Bul for those in northern Uganda and at Ri-kwagmba for those in Garamba National Park in Congo. All the assembling places are in southern Sudan.
Rugunda said this was the first time that the Government has signed a truce with the LRA.
He said Uganda was grateful to GOSS which, young as it is, had made the peaceful ending of the two-decade rebellion its priority.
He said while in the past, there were multiple messages from politicians and stakeholders on whether to talk peace, “now, there is consensus emerging that we should end this conflict through a peace process.â€
“A foundation has been made. We have met, signed an agreement, and the LRA, as part of the implementation of the agreement, has emerged.
“Kweyolo, Dominic Ongwen, the LRA commanders, have been in touch with UPDF commanders Lt. Col. Kidega and Maj. Damulira. the population has supplied food to the assembling fighters,†Rugunda said.
The paramount Chief of the Acholi, Rwot Onen Achana, said even the president knows the deadline he gave would need review.
Gulu LC5 chairman Nobert Mao said the agreement on the cessation of hostilities overrides President Museveni’s deadline to the peace talks.
“The deadline was made by one man but now there’s more than one man (in the (peace process),†Mao said.