The Ugandan rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), says it will continue peace talks with the government, despite the killing of a top rebel commander on Friday. LRA representatives are mourning the death of their third in command, Raska Lukwiya, but they say they plan to resume the peace talks in Juba, Sudan.
Narman Ojwe is the resident commissioner for Kitgum District in northern Uganda, the area considered the epicenter of the war. He spoke to VOA English to Africa Service reporter Francois Nsengiyumva about this recent event.
"This is not an act of provocation or of negativity of the government towards the peace talks…. The government was doing its obligation to protect its citizens.”
Ojwe says the rebels were right to say they would resume talks with the government despite the death of one of their senior commanders “because the commander had violated his superiors’ instructions to hold fire during the talks.” Ojwe says after the death of the commander, another rebel soldier had surrendered to the government.
Asked about whether the ongoing talks in Sudan have a chance to bring peace to Uganda, he said there are mixed feelings. “Some of them are angry and disappointed about the killing of the commander…but others are reserved because the circumstances that led to the killing are self-explanatory and was an act of provocation on their side."
Let us know what you think of this report and other stories on our website. Send your views to AFRICA@VOANEWS.COM, and include your phone number. Or, call us here in Washington, DC at (202) 205-9942. After you hear the VOA identification, press 30 to leave a message. We want to hear what you have to say!