Juba talks team back
Jul 23, 2006
UGANDA’s delegation to the peace talks in Juba with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda returns today to Kampala for consultations.
By Emmy Allio
UGANDA’s delegation to the peace talks in Juba with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda returns today to Kampala for consultations.
At the same time, the Vice-President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar, who is the mediator of the talks, will this week fly to Maridi near Garamba National Park with 60 people who will meet LRA leaders Joseph Kony and Vincent Otti.
State minister for defence Ruth Nankabirwa told a press conference at the Media Centre that the 60 people include religious and cultural leaders from the north, Kony’s wives and former LRA officers who were captured, like Brig. Kenneth Banya.
She said 19 Otti and Kony’s relatives would be flown from Gulu to Juba on a chartered plane and will join others already in Juba.
“Kony needs re-assurance from family members, friends, religious and cultural leaders. The Maridi journey is for confidence-building,†said Nankabirwa, who is also the chairperson of the Kampala support committee of the Juba talks.
Nankabirwa said the Rugunda team would come for consultations and return to Juba “probably after Riek Machar completes his mission in Maridi of re-uniting Kony with his relatives, friends and colleagues.â€
She said progress had been made in the Juba talks as exemplified by the dinner the delegates had on Saturday.
“The fact that for the first time they shook hands and enjoyed dinner is proof that the talks are going quite well. It is all part of the confidence-building process,†she added.
She said the LRA delegation was presenting criticism, abuses and accusations instead of trying to arrive at a comprehensive peace package.
“They are even complaining about issues which were resolved as far back as 1995 when the constitution came into effect. I am surprised that they are demanding that the UPDF should be disbanded,†she said.
Nankabirwa also attacked the LRA on their paper of July 21, on participation in national politics and institutions.
The LRA said UPDF leadership was controlled by the Bahima, which they said constitutes less than 1% of the population and demanded that the north and northeast be granted federal status.
“These are unrealistic demands and presented upside down. Why is it that after 20 years of existence, the LRA leadership consists of one tribe instead of them attracting people from Kisoro and Kiboga?†asked the minister, who was flanked by the director of Media Centre, Robert Kabushenga.
Ends
UGANDA’s delegation to the peace talks in Juba with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda returns today to Kampala for consultations.
At the same time, the Vice-President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar, who is the mediator of the talks, will this week fly to Maridi near Garamba National Park with 60 people who will meet LRA leaders Joseph Kony and Vincent Otti.
State minister for defence Ruth Nankabirwa told a press conference at the Media Centre that the 60 people include religious and cultural leaders from the north, Kony’s wives and former LRA officers who were captured, like Brig. Kenneth Banya.
She said 19 Otti and Kony’s relatives would be flown from Gulu to Juba on a chartered plane and will join others already in Juba.
“Kony needs re-assurance from family members, friends, religious and cultural leaders. The Maridi journey is for confidence-building,†said Nankabirwa, who is also the chairperson of the Kampala support committee of the Juba talks.
Nankabirwa said the Rugunda team would come for consultations and return to Juba “probably after Riek Machar completes his mission in Maridi of re-uniting Kony with his relatives, friends and colleagues.â€
She said progress had been made in the Juba talks as exemplified by the dinner the delegates had on Saturday.
“The fact that for the first time they shook hands and enjoyed dinner is proof that the talks are going quite well. It is all part of the confidence-building process,†she added.
She said the LRA delegation was presenting criticism, abuses and accusations instead of trying to arrive at a comprehensive peace package.
“They are even complaining about issues which were resolved as far back as 1995 when the constitution came into effect. I am surprised that they are demanding that the UPDF should be disbanded,†she said.
Nankabirwa also attacked the LRA on their paper of July 21, on participation in national politics and institutions.
The LRA said UPDF leadership was controlled by the Bahima, which they said constitutes less than 1% of the population and demanded that the north and northeast be granted federal status.
“These are unrealistic demands and presented upside down. Why is it that after 20 years of existence, the LRA leadership consists of one tribe instead of them attracting people from Kisoro and Kiboga?†asked the minister, who was flanked by the director of Media Centre, Robert Kabushenga.
Ends