A government-appointed team monitoring a ceasefire agreement signed between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) on Saturday leaves for Owiny Ki-Bul, near the Uganda-Sudan border to verify claims of violation of the truce.
Owiny Ki-Bul is one of two areas designated by the ceasefire agreement as places at which the LRA fighters should congregate to ensure that their activities are closely monitored during the peace talks.
A member of the monitoring team, Lira Municipality MP Jimmy Akena, says the observers will investigate allegations made by UPDF spokesperson, Major Felix Kulayigye that the LRA fighters have left Owiny Ki-Bul. They will also probe claims by the LRA negotiating team that UPDF soldiers had surrounded Owiny Ki-Bul, posed to attack the insurgents in the event that the peace process fall apart.
Akena says the observers, together with two LRA officers, two UPDF officers and a senior Sudanese officer will travel to Owiny Ki-Bul. He says they will present their report to negotiators at the peace talks in Juba next week.
Meanwhile, just a day after walking out, the LRA have rejoined the peace talks aimed at ending the northern Uganda conflict.
Martin Ojul, the head of the LRA negotiating team, confirms that the peace talks are on course and adds that he is confident that a solution to the problems dogging the talks will be found soon.
