Bwana Matek, what do you say about this? Still want to holler without knowing what the going is on?! Me think it is better to establish who is who amongst the key actors to avoid disappointment, not so?rgdsnoc'l Amelia Kyambadde and Col. Walter Ochora's role in Juba peace talksexposedGRACE MATSIKORi-KwangbaAs the peace negotiations between the government and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) enter the fourth month, both sides have beeninvolved in behind the scenes manoeuvres, to ensure if one prong fails, there isa possibility of a second one succeeding.Because of the behind the curtains dealings, to some in the know, itshould not have been surprising that the rebel leader, Joseph Kony hasdeveloped a conciliatory tone against President Yoweri Museveni, a man he hasaccused of harboring intentions to wipe out Acholis."Those who thought I had a tail, haven't you discovered I don't haveone, that am a human being like you?" Kony asked in a meeting he held withAcholi local leaders, members of the LRA High Command and his relatives, whowere flown specifically to woo him out of the bush in Ri-Kwangba."There are those who blindly criticised Museveni saying he is a bad man, that he is evil, but you can now see that Museveni is a good man" headded in a rare attribute to the man he has always loathed.Where as President Museveni fully supports the government negotiatingteam led by Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, in the ongoing peace talks in Juba,Southern Sudan he has always maintained unofficial channels with the rebels especially the field commanders notably Kony and Otti. His PrincipalPrivate Secretary, Ms Amelia Kyambadde has been a link between the LRA 's Ottiand Kony through Gulu Resident District Commissioner, Col. Walter Ochora andat times Dr. Rugunda.Konys HeadquartersOn the day, I arrived at Kony's headquarters on the DRC side of theborder, Kony was expecting an envelope containing probably a few thousands of dollars from State House, Nakasero. Otti told me they were indeedexpecting money from Nakasero but said it was basically "to buy airtime (for the satellite telephones) so that we keep in touch with State House".Neither Otti nor State House could give the actual amount that was onthe way to Ri-Kwangba, or for how long the financial assistance has been running. But knowledgeable sources say, the LRA has been getting cash or physical airtime from State House Nakasero and they have direct accessto the President whenever it suits them.Presidents InterestJust to show how important the President takes this line, when he was in Brussels on a State visit last week, he was getting daily briefs,through Rugunda regarding Ochora's visit to Kony's camp. At one point, Col.Ochora would make telephone calls to Brussels to brief the President about the several meetings they had with the rebel command or have Rugunda andOtti talk on satellite telephone.It is therefore evident that whereas Kony has a team of negotiators ledby Mr. Martin Ojul, the rebel leader and his deputy are putting efforts in opening unofficial channels with State House. Already Kony is getting frustrated with his team and in the two meetings he vowed to"restructure them."BitternessKony is bitter that disagreements are developing between his team inJuba and the Acholi local leaders. These differences hit the rooftop when the team's lead counsel Ayena Adongo and its deputy, Ms. Josephine Apire exchanged unpleasant words with Gulu LC V chairman, Norbert Mao and Col. Ochora, at Nabbanga, as the latter two disembarked a UN helicopterenroute Kon's headquarters.Mao acussedApire accused Mao and Ochora of using radios to decampaign her sayingshe is not affected by the suffering of the people in northern Uganda becauseher family lives in comfort in London (UK)."You people are saying am not doing much work. Why don't you go and pick Kony and Otti and bring them home" Mr. Ayena shouted as he pointedfingers at Ochora and Mao. Some of the fracas was recorded on video."You are saying I am doing this work to become a minister, I don't wantto be a minister. Infact I have more than what ministers have. If you don't leave me alone, I will leave this (negotiations) to you" he addedangrily.Reading the expressions on Mao and Ochora's faces, they seem to havebeen overwhelmed by the barrage of words from Ayena and Apire, so theypreffered to keep quiet to avoid further embarrassment from spectators whoincluded UN officials.When Kony was informed of the encounter, on the second day of themeeting, he said, "That is bad. I did not know they quarrelled,I am going to get these things straight" . I am going to bring them together, I am goingto Mato oput them" Kony said. Mato oput is the Acholi traditional justice system.Personal interestsWithout pointing fingers, Kony said that the quarrel between the membersis an indication that some people may have their own interests rather than promoting peace. "By the time these talks end, some people will bericher than those who fought" the rebel leader remarked."Some times I don't agree with the people in Juba (LRA negotiators), Ifeel our people from Acholi should be the ones directly involved, not thosewho come from outside, because our people have suffered enough, they want togo home" Kony told the meeting. Kony, as if to confirm his latest contactswith State House, said,"I support Col. Ochora for your efforts, I don't believe much in Jubatalks but I know me and Museveni we can end this war, even without Juba butall over must work to ensure the talks succeed whether you are in Juba, Guluor Ri-Kwangba". "I am very grateful to Ochora, Mao and Owiny Dollo (former minister) to have come to the bush to meet me. Ochora if thesenegotiations do not succeed you will be the one to blame because it is you whostarted it and you must continue with it" he added.The government has also been using Kony's former village mates, parentsand traditional leaders to continue on the negotiating path.President Museveni who has been insisting on having Kony tried beforethe International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague, while in Belgiumrejected calls to hand the rebel leader to the court preferring the negotiations.The question is what has Kony and Museveni done to each other to havesuch drastic change of heart?Whatever means the journey to attain peace is not the business of the desperate thousands of IDPs in northern Uganda. What they are lookingout for is sustainable peace so that they can try to reconstruct theirshattered lives after 20 years of destitution.Gook
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