Museveni, Kabila willing to withdraw Garamba ultimatum

By Chris Ocowun

PRESIDENTS Yoweri Museveni and Joseph Kabila of Congo are willing to withdraw the January 31 ultimatum to the LRA leader Joseph Kony and his group to leave Garamba National Park to enable the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Former Mozambiquan president Joachim Chissano said Museveni is committed to the talks despite the delay in its conclusion.

Chissano, who is the UN Special envoy on the Juba talks, was speaking during the opening of a four-day peace and reconciliation conference at St. Monica Girls Tailoring Centre in Gulu on Monday.

Museveni and Kabila in September signed a landmark agreement to flush out the LRA rebels of Garamba within 90 days.

“I have come to meet President Museveni and Kabila, and the vice-president of South Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar, to see how they feel about the peace talks’ process and assess their commitments to the process,” Chissano said.

“I have urged the LRA leaders, through their delegation, to accelerate the talks.”

Chissano said the UN expressed concern over the in-fighting in the LRA ranks, adding that they would work with any team to bring lasting peace to the North.

“Kony does not feel comfortable meeting people and before he meets anyone, he has to get reports from his delegation. He gets a lot of reports and rumours from people and he may think that we are biased and against him and supporting the Government,” he said

“I am happy that the conference does not comprise of only leaders from Acholi but other regions. This should unite not only the North but the whole of Uganda. The waves of peace, reconciliation and harmonious living must exist in Uganda.”

He advised that traditional leaders be let to play a big role in the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement and in accountability and reconciliation.

“The best promoters of peace and reconciliation are the women. We need to support the mothers and sisters in their involvement in the peace process.”

The former president urged the leaders to focus on a traditional justice mechanism when dealing with the LRA rebels that will be understood and accepted internationally.

The Acholi paramount chief, Rwot David Onen Acana II, who organised the conference with funding from the Acholi in Diaspora, urged local leaders, who are not directly involved in the peace talks, to play an advisory and lobbying role.


The Rwot said there is need to advocate for peace through dialogue and promoting the spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness.

“Kony called me on Saturday and reassured me that he is still committed to the Juba peace talks for the peaceful resolution of the northern conflict.”