Milton Olupot
14 April 2008
Kampala — President Yoweri Museveni yesterday accused fugitive rebel leader Joseph Kony of not being serious about the peace talks and hinted that his forces could resume operations against the guerrillas.
Prospects of an end to one of Africa's longest wars were dashed last week after Kony, commander of the LRA, failed to attend a signing ceremony on the Sudan-Congo border, stalling nearly two years of tortuous negotiations.
"You have been able to persist until it is clear that it's Kony who is not serious," Museveni told South Sudanese mediators during his visit to Juba.
Museveni told journalists that he wanted to show the world that he was not a war monger. "I am always branded a war monger. So, I had to come here and show that I am a very peaceful person," Museveni said after a one-hour meeting with South Sudan president Salva Kiir, the man whose government initiated the talks.
Museveni accused the LRA of continuing to kidnap villagers from South Sudan, Congo and the Central African Republic and forcing them into the rebel ranks.
"But the people of South Sudan should know that we stand with them and we have the means to work together with them to solve some of these problems," Museveni told reporters.
He thanked the government of South Sudan for its mediation efforts. "Thank you for what you have gone through with this Kony who is very unreasonable. You have persisted and it is now clear that he is not serious."
Museveni declined to state the next course of action, saying he was waiting for a report from the UN envoy, Joaquim Chissano and Salva Kiir's vice Dr. Riek Machar.
The two were still in Nabanga trying to connect with Kony.
Asked about the cessation of hostilities agreement which expires today, Museveni also referred to Chissano's report.
At Juba Airport, Museveni was flanked by internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, international affairs state minister Okello Oryem and Principal Private Secretary Amelia Kyambade.
He visited former South Sudan president John Garang's grave where he laid a wreath and signed a visitor's book.
Kiir said the purpose of Museveni's visit was to discuss bilateral issues.
"Today was to be the day for signing the final peace agreement between the Government of Uganda and the LRA.
"The leader of the LRA has not signed and has refused to come out of Garamba.
His Excellency decided to come and show his face and to show that he is not the one refusing peace."
But, he added, the negotiations had not ended.
"This is not the end of the road, negotiations are still continuing and we can still get peace through negotiations."
Uganda's military fought the LRA across southern Sudan, but the clashes largely stopped in mid-2006 after peace talks began in Juba.
Chissano told Reuters that the negotiations with Kony were not dead, despite rebel infighting that apparently killed Kony's deputy Okot Odhiambo and delayed the final signing.
He blamed a breakdown in communication with the elusive guerrilla boss.
"The peace process is not dead. There is a lack of effective communication, and that is what the LRA leader wants."
"There are people who are assisting in establishing that effective communication, and once that clarification is made the peace process will be back on the road."
Kony, who is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, had been expected to sign a final agreement in Ri-Kwangba on Thursday.
But he failed to show up.
An LRA spokesman has said the rebel leader remains ready to sign, but wants guarantees of his safety and financial security.
Then on Sunday, rebel sources said disputes within the LRA over the proposed deal triggered gun battles last week that killed at least nine people - including Okot Odhiambo, who is also wanted by international prosecutors.
If confirmed, Odhiambo would become the third of five LRA suspects named by the world court who have since died.
Kony executed his deputy Vincent Otti last October after accusing him of being a government spy, while fifth indictee Raska Lukwiya was killed by the Ugandan military in August, 2006.
Even if Kony does sign a peace agreement, the LRA says it will not disarm until the indictments are scrapped.
The Ugandan government has said it will only call for the warrants to be lifted after a final deal has been reached.
The world court says its warrants remain active, and expects the Uganda Government to arrest the targets.
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