Frank Nyakairu
26 July 2007
Kampala — THE Lords Resistance Army negotiators are trying to raise US$2 million they need to carry out a one-week consultation meeting. The meeting is aimed at building a strong system of justice to replace international justice.
But the rebels who set out on a fundraising spree three weeks ago were by yesterday still stuck in South Sudanese city of Juba empty-handed.
"We are still stuck. We want funds to ferry people from northern Uganda to Garamba, to send people abroad to do research so that we can build a strong case of justice and reconciliation," said LRA chief negotiator Martin Ojur.
Diplomatic sources in Juba told Daily Monitor that the LRA has a budget of US$2 million which is to cater for the airlifting of 500 delegates from northern Uganda to Ri-Kwangba at the Sudan-DR Congo border.
The money is also supposed to facilitate experts to travel to South Africa, Sierra Leone and Argentina. "Traveling to these countries will help us learn how people there deal with situations of conflict, justice and reconciliation," Mr Ojur added. Gulu District Resident District Commissioner Col Walter Ochora said the LRA was still bogged down by transport problems. "Last night I talked to Vincent Otti (LRA second in command) who told me they have not got transport from the UN" said Mr Ochora in a telephone interview from Gulu yesterday.
Mr Ochora who has led several delegations to Ri-Kwangba said: "Chartering a 19-seater transport helicopter to Ri-Kwangba where Kony is, costs US $10,000, how much will it cost to ferry 500 people to and back from Ri-Kwangba?" he asked.
Kony and his four commanders are wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The agenda item currently on the table is meant to circumvent the ICC indictments.
Talks to end the 20-year long war in northern Uganda are not expected to resume in a week's time as scheduled. Both parties had taken off a month to carryout consultations with authorities and affected communities in peace talks.
The peace talks were slated to resume on July 31, but government spokesman Ruhakana Rugunda said a new date will be announced.
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