Kony will not return, says Rugunda
Apr 15, 2008
LRA leader Joseph Kony and his rebels will not come back to destabilise Uganda, internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda said yesterday.
By Joyce Namutebi and Cyprian Musoke
LRA leader Joseph Kony and his rebels will not come back to destabilise Uganda, internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda said yesterday.
“The people of Uganda are secure. We do not expect that Kony or anybody will come back to disturb the peace. If anybody attempts, the UPDF and the people are ready to work together to defend themselves and their property,†he explained in Parliament.
Rugunda, who leads the Government team in the peace talks with the LRA, was reacting to questions by MPs after his statement to the House on the delayed signing the final peace agreement with the rebels.
Kony was expected to sign on April 10 in Ri-Kwangba but did not show up because he wanted clarification on some aspects of the ICC indictments and alternative justice or mato oput.
The Government, Rugunda noted, would decide the way forward in regard to the peace process and the cessation of hostilities agreement on the basis of reports from the mediator, Riek Machar and UN envoy Joachim Chissano.
Machar, he added, was in Ri-Kwangba and Nabanga areas trying to establish contact with Kony while Chissano, who was last week in Ri-Kwangba, is scheduled to brief the UN Security Council on the peace process at the end of this month.
According to Rugunda, the cessation of hostilities agreement expired yesterday but the status quo remained.
On why Kony did not show up at the signing contrary to an earlier understanding, Rugunda said: “He was not expecting to sign an agreement. He was under the impression that he was going to meet traditional and religious leaders to discuss the peace process.â€
Other reports, he added, suggested there was infighting among the LRA team.
On the designation of separate signing days, he explained that the arrangement was made because of Kony’s unpredictability.
LRA leader Joseph Kony and his rebels will not come back to destabilise Uganda, internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda said yesterday.
“The people of Uganda are secure. We do not expect that Kony or anybody will come back to disturb the peace. If anybody attempts, the UPDF and the people are ready to work together to defend themselves and their property,†he explained in Parliament.
Rugunda, who leads the Government team in the peace talks with the LRA, was reacting to questions by MPs after his statement to the House on the delayed signing the final peace agreement with the rebels.
Kony was expected to sign on April 10 in Ri-Kwangba but did not show up because he wanted clarification on some aspects of the ICC indictments and alternative justice or mato oput.
The Government, Rugunda noted, would decide the way forward in regard to the peace process and the cessation of hostilities agreement on the basis of reports from the mediator, Riek Machar and UN envoy Joachim Chissano.
Machar, he added, was in Ri-Kwangba and Nabanga areas trying to establish contact with Kony while Chissano, who was last week in Ri-Kwangba, is scheduled to brief the UN Security Council on the peace process at the end of this month.
According to Rugunda, the cessation of hostilities agreement expired yesterday but the status quo remained.
On why Kony did not show up at the signing contrary to an earlier understanding, Rugunda said: “He was not expecting to sign an agreement. He was under the impression that he was going to meet traditional and religious leaders to discuss the peace process.â€
Other reports, he added, suggested there was infighting among the LRA team.
On the designation of separate signing days, he explained that the arrangement was made because of Kony’s unpredictability.