Grace Matsiko
30 October 2007
Entebbe — FOR the first time in 20 years, two active commanders of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army arrived at Entebbe International Airport and were warmly received by government officials.
The two commanders, who are emissaries of LRA leader Joseph Kony -are here to consult with the government on the progress of the ongoing South Sudan-mediated Juba peace talks.
Mike Anywar and Ray Achama were received last evening by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of internal Affairs, Dr Stephen Kagoda and Mr Anthony Baare, an adviser in the Juba peace talks.
This is the first time Kony is sending his commanders to Kampala for talks with the government.
The two commanders arrived in the company of Lt. Col. Tumusiime Nyakaitana, the Head of government representative on the Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring Team (CHTM), officials from the Africa Union and the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army, SPLA aboard a commercial flight from Juba.
According to Dr Kagoda, the two commanders arrived to make security arrangements for the LRA peace delegation expected in the country on Thursday.
He said the LRA commanders will meet government officials at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kampala today as part of their consultations.
On arrival at Entebbe, the rebel commanders looked with suspicion at the bystanders. Seeing they were uncomfortable, Col. Nyakaitana ordered journalists to stop taking photographs but the journalists continued uninterrupted.
With suppressed excitement, the two commanders shook hands with Santa Okot, former Pader Woman MP and member of the LRA peace negotiating team in Juba.
"I am happy to be home. This is my first time in over 10 years," the camera shy Anywar answered when asked how long he has stayed away from Uganda. "I can't tell you anything now. You have to wait."
Before they left Entebbe in tinted civilian registered cars sandwiched between Dr Kagoda's and police cars, the anxious looking rebel commanders wanted Col Nyakaitana to join them in their car.
"Aren't you joining us? Achama asked Col. Nyakaitana but the latter replied "don't worry, feel free". In Kampala, the two were booked into Kampala Serena Hotel.
Consultations by rebels inside Uganda is what was agreed upon on June 29, this year when the LRA and the government signed a pact on reconciliation and accountability in Juba, a sticky point on the peace agenda.
The government delegation led by the Internal Affairs Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda concluded their consultations last month and have been waiting for the LRA to commence theirs.
Peace talks between the LRA and the government have dragged on since August 2006 under the mediation of the government of South Sudan.
The rebels staged a couple of walkouts citing bias by the mediator and security threats.
It is hoped a visit by the rebel commanders in Kampala and later Gulu will give a boost to the on-and off talks.
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