Kampala — PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has said he is ready to sign the final peace agreement between his Government and Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

Museveni made the remarks during a meeting yesterday with the Vice-President of South Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar, who is also the chief mediator of the Juba peace talks.

Others who attended the meeting at State House, Nakasero included the UN envoy to countries affected by the LRA in the Great Lakes Region, Dr. Joachim Chissano, internal affairs minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, who is leader of the Government team to the Juba peace talks, LRA chief negotiator Dr. David Matsanga and Rwot David Achana II, the Acholi paramount chief.

According to a State House statement, Machar briefed the President on the steps taken to achieve the final peace agreement.

State ministers Ruth Nankabirwa (defence), David Wakikona (northern Uganda) and Isaac Musumba (regional coopeation) and Gulu Catholic Archbishop John Baptist Odama also attended the meeting.

"President Museveni thanked President Salva Kiir of southern Sudan and his vice, Dr. Riek Machar, for the peace initiative.

The President assured the meeting that he is ready to sign the peace agreement," the statement said.

Museveni said the Government would fulfill its mandate of rehabilitating northern Uganda.

"He allayed fears by the wananchi that the LRA would return to Uganda to wreak havoc in the north of the country, saying that the army is today capable of dealing decisively with wrong elements," said the statement, adding that Museveni also called on Ugandans to stop pampering wrong-doers.

"If you pamper wrong-doers, we shall never get time to develop," the President observed. "Democracy is today in place and if you do not want a leader, you can use a ballot paper, not a gun," he said.

On the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, the President said the Government can only approach the Security Council for deferment of the warrant after Kony has signed the agreement.

Meanwhile, the LRA has been asked to unconditionally sign the Final Peace Agreement before the end of this month.

The new deadline was part of the declaration after a meeting between the LRA and Government negotiating teams and other stakeholders at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Wednesday.

Machar arranged the meeting to review the progress of the peace process. He expressed hope that Kony would treat the new deadline with seriousness.

Chissano said: "I feel the Juba peace process is at loggerheads. Although we completed the negotiations in April, Kony is yet to sign the peace deal. This is hampering the peaceful homecoming of the LRA and the return of total peace in northern Uganda."

The former Mozambican president said he was still willing to meet Kony to convince him to sign the deal.

An earlier meeting between Chissano and Kony in May failed to take place after the rebel leader refused to show up.