Kampala — THE national presidential peace team has given Joseph Kony, the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) leader, hot-line telephone contacts of some of its members to initiate peace talks.

The team has also asked Kony to give the contacts of his peace team members so that talks can be initiated as soon as possible.

The Minister for State for Higher Education, Betty Akech Okullu, disclosed this in an interview with The New Vision at her Mbuya, Kampala residence recently.

Akech, who is a member of the presidential peace team said, "We members of the national peace team are happy and wish to thank the LRA leader Joseph Kony and his commander Brig. Vincent Ottii for reassuring the Acholi people and Uganda in general that he (Kony) wants peace talks with government to end the war.

"We now request him to identify and name his peace team, give us their contacts and we start negotiations in order to achieve a lasting solution to the northern war," Akech said.

She said the telephone contacts had been sent to Kony through Gulu Mega FM radio on January 4.

Akech said, "The telephone contacts given include that of the First deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Internal Affairs, Eriya Kategaya, the chairman of the peace team 075-744359 or 077-7443590, for Francis Ayume, the Attorney general 075-756969 or 041-343841, Lt. Gen. Salim Saleh 077-506202 or 041-348150, Gilbert Bukenya, Minister for the Presidency 077-461200 and Akech 077-691647 or 041-344127.

Kony recently said on Gulu Mega FM that he had got his political wing who are members of his peace team in Gulu, Pader, Kitgum, Kampala and in the diaspora. Ends