STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT ON THE MATTER SIGNING OF THE FINAL PEACE AGREEMENT WITH THE LORDS RESISTANCE ARMY
(By the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs and Leader of the Government Delegation to the Peace Talks)
Mr. Speaker Sir,
Hon. Members,
1. On 2nd April 2008 I informed Parliament that Joseph Kony, Leader of the Lords Resistance Army was expected to append his signature to the Final Peace Agreement on Thursday 10th April 2008 in Ri-Kwang-Ba. The formal signing ceremony was scheduled for Monday 14th April 2008 in Juba, Southern Sudan .
2. On 10th April 2008, the Government delegation travelled to Ri-kwang-Ba to witness Joseph Kony sign the Agreement. Present in Ri-kwang-Ba were:-
- H.E. Riek Machar, Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan/Mediator to the Peace Talks
- Religious Leaders and a number of Traditional Leaders from Bunyoro, Acholi, Lango, West Nile and Teso.
- The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament in Uganda .
- The Leader of the UPC in Parliament and Chairman of the Acholi Parliamentary Group.
- Some Members of Parliament from the LRA affected areas.
- African Ambassadors observing the talks from The DRC, Kenya , Mozambique , Tanzania and South Africa .
- A number of foreign diplomats from Europe and the USA .
- Local, National and International Representatives of the Civil Society.
3. However, Kony did not show up contrary to our earlier understanding. He was reported to have said that:-
- 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.
- He first wanted to know the procedures of the envisaged Special Division of the High Court and the Traditional Justice Mechanism (Mato Oput).
Other reports suggested that there was in-fighting among the LRA delegation, hence undermining one another and filing conflicting reports to Kony.
4. Amidst all this, news came suggesting that Kony had removed David Matsanga from the Leadership and Membership of his delegation. However, Matsanga says he resigned but was not sacked.
5. On 11th April 2008 when it became clear that it would not be possible for Kony to append his signature to the Agreement because he was not anywhere near the venue (reliable sources indicated that he was a number of days’ walk from Ri-kwang-Ba), the Government delegation held a meeting in Nabanga with H.E. Riek Machar. The purpose of the meeting was to chart a way forward.
6. At the meeting with H.E. Riek Machar, it was decided that the Government delegation comes back to Kampala while the Mediator tries to establish contact with Kony with a view to convincing him to sign the Agreement. Some traditional, religious and political leaders also remained behind for the same purpose.
7. Meanwhile H.E. President Yoweri Museveni visited Juba on 14th April 2008 and held discussions with H.E. Salva Kiir, President of the Government of Southern Sudan and First Vice President of Sudan. They reviewed the Peace Process.
8. In light of these developments, the Government of Uganda awaits a report from H.E. Riek Machar who is currently in the Ri-Kwang-Ba Nabanga area trying to establish contact with Joseph Kony. Government also awaits a report from H.E. Chissano, the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to the LRA affected areas. H.E. Chissano was this week in Ri-Kwang-Ba and is scheduled to brief the UN Security Council about the Peace Process at the end of this month.
9. On the basis of these reports, Government will take a decision on the way forward with regard to the Peace Process and the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement which expires on 15th April 2008.
Ministry of Internal Affairs
P.O. Box 7191
KAMPALA
