Sunday Monitor August 12-18
Museveni, Otunnu reconciliation
Chris Obore KAMPALA
An attempt to reconcile former Foreign Minister Olara Otunnu and President
Museveni appears to have faltered. Mr Otunnu, until recently the UN secretary
generals special representative for children and armed conflict, accuses
President Museveni of carrying out what he describes as orchestrated genocide
against the people of northern Uganda.
In return, the government has variously accused Mr Otunnu of being an LRA
collaborator, a charge he denies. According to State House sources, the idea to
reconcile the two men was originated by Mr George Piwang, who lives in the
United States.
NO DEAL: Mr Otunnu Mr Piwang is the younger brother of Archbishop
Luke Orombi of the Church of Uganda.
Mr Piwang wrote a letter dated June 6 to the Principal Private Secretary to the
President, Ms Amelia Kyambadde, asking her for an appointment to meet the
President.
He had apparently submitted the same proposal to Mr Musevenis influential
brother, Gen. Salim Saleh, with a copy to the President.
Reads part of Mr Piwangs letter: I look forward to meeting H.E. to answer
any questions he may have on my proposal. I recommend that I meet him with Rt.
Rev. MacBaker Ochola II.
Mr Piwang said he preferred Bishop Ochola because the churchman had written
to some friends, including Mr James A. Baker III and Ambassador Andrew Young
to help facilitate the reconciliation and peace in Uganda as envisaged.
Mr James Baker was secretary of state under the first President George Bush,
and Mr Young, an African-American, was President Jimmy Carters ambassador to
the United Nations.
Although the letter does not name Mr Otunnu, Bishop Ochola on Friday said
that plans to reconcile the two men were indeed underway.
We have not yet met but I have heard about that reconciliation, Bishop Ochola
said on telephone, adding that reconciliation is a process and a necessity to
bring understanding and restore relationships.
Ms Kyambadde could neither confirm nor deny receiving the letter.
If its a private correspondence, why should I release it to Monitor? she
said.
Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, the minister of internal affairs who is currently leading
the government delegation to the Juba peace talks with the LRA rebels, said he
had not heard of the efforts.
Dr Rugunda, who has cordial relations with Mr Otunnu, added: I would
encourage efforts that promote reconciliation of any conflicting or differing
parties. Reconciliation between Olara Otunnu and President Museveni is
perfectly in order and should be encouraged. We need a multi-pronged effort to
ensure there is harmony and reconciliation in our country.
But it appears Mr Otunnu does not want to talk to President Museveni.
Responding to an email from Sunday Monitor, Mr Otunnu wrote: I am not aware of
a letter dated 6 June, from Mr George Piwang-Jalobo, to the PPS to the
President. I am certainly not party to any projects that may have been
described therein.
He added: I did see a communication from Mr George Piwang-Jalobo, dated 19
January 2007, that he circulated to a number of people. Unfortunately, I was
not consulted beforehand, and therefore I did not give my acceptance to the
ideas and scenarios for reconciliation proposed in that communication.
The Chairman of Acholi Parliamentary Group, Mr Livingstone Okello-Okello, was
also sceptical, saying: I met Mr Otunnu in June and he did not indicate to me
that he would reconcile with Museveni.
Said Aswa MP Reagan Okumu: The President has been attempting several times
but Olara Otunnu cannot reconcile with Museveni. At one time Mr Eriya Kategaya
tried to talk to Otunnu and they promised him to take ministry of foreign
affairs.
Mr Okumu said such a reconciliation would help Mr Museveni gain acceptance in
Acholi where he has often lost elections.
MR OLALA OTUNNU S BRIEF PROFILE
Mr Otunnu was born in Mucwini, Chua County, Kitgum District in September
1950.
He attended Makerere University (where he was president of the students
guild); Oxford University; and Harvard Law School.
In the 1970s, as a student leader and later as secretary general of Uganda
Freedom Movement, he played a key role in the resistance against the regime of
Idi Amin.
After the overthrow of the Obote II government in July 1985, Mr Otunnu was
appointed minister of foreign affairs by the short-lived military junta.
He took on citizenship of Ivory Coast following his stinging attacks against
Mr Musevenis regime.
While serving the UN, Mr Kofi Annan, the then secretary general, thanked Mr
Otunnu for his splendid services to the Organisation and, in particular, for
raising the profile of United Nations efforts to protect children in armed
conflict.
Mr Otunnu founded and currently heads the LBL Foundation for Children, a New
York-based non-profit organisation committed to promoting education and healing
for children around the world, especially those whose lives have been
dislocated by war
Why do men beat the women they penetrate?
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