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Uganda: The Party Kony Missed
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New Vision (Kampala)
26 April 2008
Posted to the web 28 April 2008
Matthias Mugisha
Kampala
As if in anticipation of the sh170m celebration, the heavens are buzzing. Every hour or so, the sky above Nabanga village in South Sudan, near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, comes alive. And every hour, birds take flight into exile, huts lose their thatch and hats fly off people's heads. Dust, dead leaves, chicken feathers, are sucked skywards by a whirlwind and collide mid-air.
The turbulence is caused by the propellers of the United Nations (UN) helicopters which are landing near a military barracks.
Only the village dogs attempt to put up a spirited fight against the 20-seater helicopters. They bark, and wait in a manner that suggests they are ready to eat up the roaring machines the moment they land. But the sound of the 'metallic birds', and the hurricane around them are enough to dissolve the bravery of the tiny dogs. With their tails coiled between their legs, they flee in disarray.
For two days, the helicopters have been flying in diplomats, politicians, religious leaders, journalists and observers to a UN camp a short distance away from a Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) barracks.
All the people arriving today will head to Ri-Kwangba about 15 minutes away by road, where a final peace deal between Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda is to be sealed. For two years, the whole world has been patiently waiting for this day after spending over sh2b on the talks.
Among those arriving today are the LRA peace negotiating team led by Dr. Nyekorach-Matsanga and the Ugandan government's chief negotiator, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda and his team.
When the chief mediator, South Sudan vice-president Riek Machar, finally arrives, everybody feels that the elusive peace has never been so near.
Most of the journalists covering the arrivals are upbeat, having had a comfortable night at the nearby UN camp to which they were airlifted from Juba, the South Sudan capital, the day before.
An international firm, Africa Expeditions, has been contracted to provide catering services at the camp, which is made up of numerous tents, complete with electricity, electric fans and beds.
The party started last night, in the camp that is surrounded by forest. First came a candle-lit dinner. Then, wines flowed as insects joined in the celebration. Attracted by the electric lights, the insects dived into the wine glasses in swarms.
Drinking a combination of wine and insects, tongues got loose.
Somebody had a bright idea and a camp fire was lit. Around the fire, great stories, lies, humour and laughter flowed.
Long past midnight, I could not blame the wine and insect combination for my failure to locate my tent. The tents were similar. After several attempts, I confessed my incapacity and a Good Samaritan led me to my tent, where the night evaporated into D-day - today, April 10, 2008.
After breakfast, we all head to the military barracks where the choppers are landing.
From Nabanga, four-wheel-drive UN vehicles ferry us all to Ri-Kwangba on a rough and slippery road. At Ri-Kwangba, there is a clearing in the middle of the forest. Two tents - one big and one small - standing about seven metres apart, have been erected for the big do. The signing ceremony is to take place in the bigger white tent.
There are also two old tents, about 20 metres west, where Kony's food - sacks of posho, beans and peas - are kept. Whenever Kony and his rebels need food, they come and pick some. There is talk that Kony has rejected this consignment, saying it is not good enough.
Further west, the clearing abruptly turns into forest which is a continuation of Garamba National Park, Kony's hide-out
A handful of young rebels, clad in gumboots and totting AK-47 assault rifles are part of the about 200 people at Ri-Kwangba. Initially, the rebels are mean and wary of everybody. They do not talk and simply keep to their positions on the western side while the SPLA soldiers secure the eastern side.
But trust the power of women when it comes to melting hearts. The young LRA gunmen fall victim as the female journalists ask to have pictures taken with the rebels.
The rebels take advantage of the rare opportunity, holding the girls tight as the photographers click away. The ice melts and the rebels become part of the party.
A generator has been brought to run computers and printers to churn out copies of the peace agreement. When the generator coughs into life, the glow of the computer screens in the jungle grows the prospect of peace with each minute that passes.
It is now lunchtime. Where is Kony? All eyes are fixed on the jungle, where Matsanga, along with some members of his panel, have gone to pick Kony.
When the aroma of good food wafts in the air, everybody temporarily forgets about Kony.
Long after lunch, a group of people emerges from the bush. Photographers and cameramen rush to take shots. Matsanga is panting and using a white hankie to wipe beads of sweat from his face. He has come back with all the people he went with, but no Kony. Where is Kony? No answer.
Matsanga and company ask for chairs and sit a short distance away for a meeting. Nobody knows what they are discussing, but rumours start flying that Kony has snubbed them. After what appears to be like a year of suspense, Machar breaks the news: "Kony is not signing today."
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Our hearts sink as we ponder the news that Kony, the 'groom', has shunned his 'wedding party'.
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| Copyright © 2008 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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