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New Vision (Kampala)
February 5, 2003
Posted to the web February 5, 2003
John Kakande And Okello Jabweli
Kampala
The Reform Agenda (RA) has resolved that their exiled leader Col. Dr Kizza Besigye should head their delegation in the proposed talks with President Yoweri Museveni.
RA vice-chairperson Sam Njuba told The New Vision yesterday that the group's executive met on Saturday and resolved that Besigye must take part in the proposed talks.
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Njuba said the RA gave conditions for the talks.
"There must be an agenda, our leader Kizza Besigye must lead our delegation, we must meet the President together with other opposition leaders, and the RA prisoners must be released first," Njuba said.
"We are not just after reforming the Movement, but the state of governance in the country," he said.
Njuba denied that an RA delegation was set to meet the President mid this month.
"I am not aware of any delegation meeting with the President," he said, adding that it was not possible for RA team to meet the President without his knowledge.
"If there is a delegation meeting the President without my knowledge, then it is not a Reform Agenda delegation. I would be very surprised for an RA delegation to meet the President without me, unless it is led by Besigye," he added.
RA spokesperson Beti Kamya also said the idea of a meeting had been discussed and adopted.
"Yes we agreed in principle. Everybody has been saying why is the President seeking talks with Kony and other armed groups and not with non-combatants who are opposed to some of his policies?" Kamya said.
She said her group was working out the modalities for the meeting.
Njuba said RA had not formally written to the President to request for a meeting. "But we have made contacts," he said, without giving details.
He said RA did not want to go to State House for just a cup of coffee or dinner.
A prominent RA official, James Garuga Musinguzi, recently proposed to the President to call a meeting with the organisation's leadership.
