NORTHERN UGANDA: KEEPING MOMENTUM IN THE PEACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KAMPALA 001197

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREF PREL MOPS UG SU
SUBJECT: NORTHERN UGANDA: KEEPING MOMENTUM IN THE PEACE
PROCESS

REF: KAMPALA 1079

Classified by: P/E Chief Kathleen FitzGibbon for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The peace talks between the Government of
Uganda and Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) are at another
important juncture. Currently, the parties are consulting
with the stakeholders on the mechanisms for accountability
and reconciliation. We expect the recess to be extended
for another month to ensure enough time for both parties to
hold these discussions. We continue our interactions with
key players at the talks. The international observer team
and post concur that we consider making another public
statement to keep up the momentum of the process in the
wake of agreement on the general principles of
accountability and reconciliation. End Summary.


2. (C) Ambassador Browning met with the Kenyan High
Commissioner to Uganda Pedraph Getugi on July 17. Getugi
is a member of the five-person team of international
observers from Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa,
and Congo pulled together by U.N. Special Envoy for LRA-
Affected Areas. He was speaking on behalf of the
international observers to request our assistance.


3. (C) Getugi said that the peace talks were headed in the
right direction. The international observers work closely
with the mediator and the parties and are very activist in
their approach. They are a tightly coordinated group and
have been instrumental in overcoming stumbling blocks,
according to Getugi. Most recently, he noted that the team
was able to navigate the LRA's delaying tactics to arrive
at the general principles on accountability and
reconciliation on June 29. The observer team also is able
to place events and remarks in context for the LRA
delegation to prevent further delays in the talks. Getugi
noted that team members have been able to contextualize
President Museveni's bellicose statements. He said that
the President also had toned down his rhetoric recently.


4. (C) A U.S. presence at the negotiation table was
unnecessary, according to Getugi, and could draw the
Khartoum Government into providing increased support for
the LRA. He also noted that the dynamic between the
negotiators, on the one hand, and the northern Ugandan
traditional and local leaders, on the other, had improved
significantly. A level of understanding over roles had
been reached that has decreased tensions over
representation and issues to be discussed, according to
Getugi. He described the LRA fighters as tired and the GOU
team as eager to reach a peace deal before the Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala in November. Getugi
said that former U.N. Special Representative Olara Otunnu
continued to play a negative role, primarily through
proxies, at the talks. Getugi warned that some of the LRA
negotiators were using the talks to secure future positions
in the government or related to the implementation of a
peace agreement, which could become an obstacle to
progress.


5. (SBU) Comment. The mediation team and international
observers stress that that our previous press statement
issued on February 1 reiterating our support for the
mediator and the venue of the talks was critical to getting
the parties back at the table. (Reftel) At this juncture,
the international observers, as do we, believe it is the
right time to demonstrate our public support for the
consultations with northern Ugandans to help sustain the
momentum of the process. We are preparing a public
statement to follow in septel. End Comment.
BROWNING