Otti should go to Juba
Jun 28, 2006
Given the past experience of trying to talk peace with the Lord’s Resistance army (LRA), it would make more sense this time if the peace talks being brokered by the Vice-president of southern Sudan could directly involve the LRA top leadership.
Given the past experience of trying to talk peace with the Lord’s Resistance army (LRA), it would make more sense this time if the peace talks being brokered by the Vice-president of southern Sudan could directly involve the LRA top leadership. Any attempts to talk peace that do not involve the LRA top leaders like Vincent Otti and Joseph Kony will not bear much fruits. Otti himself, or Kony, should go to Juba personally for the talks.
The LRA top leadership seems to send only junior officers with the exception of former LRA spokesman Brig. Samuel Kolo who is already out of the bush.
The idea of holding talks is very brilliant and should really be encouraged, but my fear is that it might not materialise when at least Otti is not personally involved and physically present at the talks.
A team will not win in a game of football if its shooting power is not designed to be strong enough for a match. In peace negotiation efforts all the top players must be included in a team’s line-up. I believe that all national teams currently competing at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany have fielded all their best and most reliable players for a win. The war in northern Uganda has dragged on for two decades because of these mishaps in making the line-up of the peace players, especially on the side of the LRA. The government peace team was well represented in the match between the LRA and the government that flopped on December 31, 2004 at Paluda in Kitgum during which Mrs. Betty Bigombe was the key mid-fielder and internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda the team captain and main striker.
Former LRA spokesman, Brig. Sam Kolo kicked at the far end of goal post for the LRA side till he was red-carded himself out of the LRA team when he said the game nearly cost his life due to dishonesty from other LRA players who never wanted to play for a win.
President Museveni has granted Joseph Kony the opportunity for dialogue as requested by the latter through southern Sudan Vice-president Dr Riek Machar. The LRA should not use the US $20,000 (sh36m) donated by Riek Machar as sign of a good heart from a peace-loving people. The amnesty law still serves as the best tool for handling the LRA. Many LRA commanders and fighters who came out or who escaped or were captured in the jungles by the UPDF are very free within the community in Acholi and elsewhere and those still in the bush should have no fear of coming out.
The writer is an experienced war journalist based in Uganda
The LRA top leadership seems to send only junior officers with the exception of former LRA spokesman Brig. Samuel Kolo who is already out of the bush.
The idea of holding talks is very brilliant and should really be encouraged, but my fear is that it might not materialise when at least Otti is not personally involved and physically present at the talks.
A team will not win in a game of football if its shooting power is not designed to be strong enough for a match. In peace negotiation efforts all the top players must be included in a team’s line-up. I believe that all national teams currently competing at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany have fielded all their best and most reliable players for a win. The war in northern Uganda has dragged on for two decades because of these mishaps in making the line-up of the peace players, especially on the side of the LRA. The government peace team was well represented in the match between the LRA and the government that flopped on December 31, 2004 at Paluda in Kitgum during which Mrs. Betty Bigombe was the key mid-fielder and internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda the team captain and main striker.
Former LRA spokesman, Brig. Sam Kolo kicked at the far end of goal post for the LRA side till he was red-carded himself out of the LRA team when he said the game nearly cost his life due to dishonesty from other LRA players who never wanted to play for a win.
President Museveni has granted Joseph Kony the opportunity for dialogue as requested by the latter through southern Sudan Vice-president Dr Riek Machar. The LRA should not use the US $20,000 (sh36m) donated by Riek Machar as sign of a good heart from a peace-loving people. The amnesty law still serves as the best tool for handling the LRA. Many LRA commanders and fighters who came out or who escaped or were captured in the jungles by the UPDF are very free within the community in Acholi and elsewhere and those still in the bush should have no fear of coming out.
The writer is an experienced war journalist based in Uganda