Henry Mukasa
1 August 2006
Garamba — Smiling, shaking hands and hugging his guests, you would not imagine this was the man responsible for the atrocities he is accused of. Looking at his face, he even appeared amiable.
Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels, said since he launched one of the world's most brutal insurrections in northern Uganda 20 years ago, he missed his agemates and his mother.
The mystery surrounding Kony and the existence of the LRA and who sent them into rebellion ended on Monday, when Kony met leaders from Acholi, Lango, Bunyoro and West Nile.
The leaders were in the company of over 20 journalists, including the New Vision crew. The meeting at a makeshift conference facility in Garamba forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was the first time Kony had invited such a large group to visit and photograph him.
Seated cross-legged on a brown plastic chair, Kony scanned the faces of his guests with his glassy eyes peeping from his dark face.
In the group of over 50 elders, Kony recognised and pointed out Omoro MP Simon Tolit as one of his agemates.
Prominent features on his face include a neat moustache and three heavily-stained front teeth.
Kony told the civic, religious and cultural leaders that his demand for peace talks was genuine. He said his only doubt was whether the Government, which usually issues ultimatum and pegs talks to a deadline, was committed to the talks.
Kony said he would not sign a peace deal on government terms just for the sake of it. He said he was displeased with the report his delegation read in Juba in July at the beginning of peace talks.
"Talks without cessation of hostilities and ceasefire were not meaningful," Kony said.
Speaking in Acholi as LRA spokesman Obonyo Olweny translated into English, Kony said the rebellion in northern Uganda had turned into a cock fight.
"In a cockfight, one might be bigger but they chase each other around the compound, stop when they are tired and start all over again," Kony stated, before rhetorically asking, "Do you want this war to be like this?"
He took exception to remarks that his group was backward and uncivilised.
"We are highly organised. If not, would all these people have come here? If you say we are not civilised, have you ever heard that I have sent for a doctor to treat my people?" he asked.
The trek to the meeting place took about 30 minutes inside Congo from the Nabanga border point.
There were several defence lines with heavily- armed LRA fighters. Satellite telephones rang all the time as mean-looking dead-locked fighters kept guard.
A handful of SPLA soldiers escorted the delegation to ensure all was well. The soldiers were provided by the chief peace negotiator, Dr. Riek Machar, the vice-president of the government of Southern Sudan.
Machar, who did not attend the Monday meeting, was scheduled to hold talks with Kony yesterday.
To reach the grass- thatched makeshift conference facility, the journalists underwent a security check twice, while the delegates were checked once.
Although the meeting inside the hut was closed to journalists, they could follow the proceedings since the deliberations were audible outside.
Close to the meeting place, the sides of the path were lined with fresh palm branches. At the Quarter Guard, longer palm branches formed an arch. On the side was a large tree on which a cross was cut out with inscriptions in capital letters, "STOP, LRA, COME ONE COME ALL."
Capt. Sunday Ochaya, in charge of the LRA security, explained that the palms symbolised peace.
When the delegates reached the clearing, Vincent Otti introduced his boss as, "This is chairman, General Joseph Kony. You can greet them," as he gestured at Rwot Achana who was approaching the rebel leader.
Kony shook hands with the delegates, smiling and laughing while other top commanders looked on.
The clearing was a surrey of activity as the leaders scrambled for Kony's handshake and the journalists for the photographs.
Kony declared that he was not weakened but was only enjoying a free environment in the DRC. "I have forces in Gulu, Kitgum, Pader and other districts in northern and eastern Uganda, plus forces outside Uganda of graduates who can take up positions," he said.
Kony, Otti, Raska Lukwiya and Okot Odhiambo, were indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over war crimes.
Kony said he had suffered a major blackout and propaganda that he was a killer and terrorist.
"There is a mobile unit of UPDF in Acholi. They carry weapons and yet they blame me, that Kony is killing people. It is not LRA. I do not kill my brothers, my people, because when I'm out of the bush, I would like to come and meet you," he said.
Kony, who repeatedly referred to the delegation as "my brothers, sisters and mothers", thanked the elders for the "courage" to trek to his hideout.
As if to erase the stigma surrounding his name, he declared, "I'm General Joseph Kony, who has been fighting. As I speak to you, I'm not a killer, terrorist or wizard."
"The war to topple government was not begun by me but I'm trying to carry down the ladder from the heads of those who have suffered because of the war. Now you have come and found out that I'm normal.
"It is you to judge whether it is Gen. Kony or Museveni who is for peace. Focus and find out which direction and what is the right thing to do," Kony added.
Talking on behalf of the northern leaders, Gulu LC5 chairman Norbet Mao commended Kony for speaking "frankly".
"We give you full mandate to talk peace and no one in Uganda will oppose you," Mao added.
Mao said the rebellion, which had cost government US$2b, had affected the whole country through higher taxation.
The team of about 50 elders included Achana and Ochora, who were returning to Kony's base for the second time in two days.
The elusive rebel leader wore a green military uniform during the brief photo opportunity but cancelled a scheduled news conference at the last minute without explanation.
At the end of the meeting, Kony stood up and walked through the back exit of the hut. In the background, women tended to crying babies and some carried on their domestic chores, seemingly not bothered by the big group.
Machar, who is leading the mediation effort, has ferried almost 200 delegates to the remote outpost of Nabanga, using it as a base to send delegates into the bush to meet the rebels.
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