Inside Kony’s base – Part III The peace talks dragged on for another couple of months. Nonetheless, they were entering a critical stage. A couple of pacts had been signed by the two parties; the government of Uganda on one side and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels on the other. Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, now Prime Minister, led the government team while introverted Martin Ojul led the LRA delegation and Dr Riek Machar Dhurgon-Teny, the then vice president of South Sudan was chief mediator. At this stage, November 2006, the two parties had signed the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, and Comprehensive Solutions and Accountability and Reconciliation. What remained was a ceasefire agreement and endorsement of the Final Peace Agreement. The prospects were high that a durable peace agreement would be thrashed. The government had given in to most of the LRA demands including a demand for regional states’ participation as trustees to the signed pacts. Consequently, Kenya dispatched ambassador Japheth R. Getugi while Tanzania dispatched ambassador Ali Siwa. The former president of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, kept watch for United Nations. I remember him warning the LRA team that “time was running out”. One thing, however, hovered over the peace talks and the LRA high command; the International Criminal Court indictments and the Interpol arrest warrants for LRA leader Joseph Kony and his top four commanders; Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Dominic Ongwen and Raska Lukwiya. The rebel’s delegation had asked for several breaks in the peace talks to consult their “principals”. Even when they had satellite phones that could penetrate the dense Garamba Forest, they would find a reason to ask for more time “to consult”. Several members of the Uganda contingent, especially the soldiers, had become increasingly impatient with the LRA team. However, the highly civil Rugunda seemed to have inexhaustible tolerance and humility. I tried to corner him several times on the time frame for the peace talks and the accusations that the rebels were buying time. Typically, he gave me the same answer every day for two solid weeks: We have travelled a torturous road during the peace talks and we are committed to trekking up-to the end,” Rugunda answered. But honourable, that’s what you told me even yesterday and the other week,” I would answer back. “Absolutely, my son... nothing has changed since last week,” Rugunda would answer characteristically. The peace had indeed reached a critical stage. The LRA team had been joined by some “wise” and “rigid” exiles who were bent on either derailing the peace talks or extracting an ideal deal for northern Uganda. There was some professor from Germany and a rabid Godfrey Ayoo and the cantankerous Josephine Apira who made a name for refusing a President Museveni handshake! What about the boisterous Matsanga? (To these I will return in the next episode)! Then information came: Kony is willing to sign the Final Peace Agreement but needs a team of lawyers to explain to him the Rome Statute (mostly likely in Luo) and the implications of his signature vis-à-vis the ICC indictments. It was also said that Kony and his top commanders wanted to meet some of their close relatives; mother, wives, uncles and elders; if not to catch up, to seek their opinion if appending their signature is the plausible thing to do. Then Gulu District chairperson, now DP president, Norbert Mao and Mr Alphonse Owiny Dollo (now Justice of the High Court) were identified to do that. They were to come along with the late Lt Col Walter Ochora. Ochora, himself a former rebel of the UPDA, had misgivings about the trip. He mentioned to me that he and Kony had hunted for each other at different times and if the reclusive rebel leader was to have the last laugh, let it be in the name of peace for northern Uganda. The UN was eager for a deal to end one Africa’s atrocious wars, so the United Nations Advance Mission in the Sudan provided two of its white choppers for the mission. We boarded from the northern wing of Juba Airport. We were there; the LRA team, delegation from Acholi, a mix. I remember vividly the round faces of these young girls or is it women – the wives of Kony seated opposite me in the helicopter cabin. The other one is his favourite,” said John Lacambel who works with the Gulu-based Mega FM. The government owned radio station broadcast programme in Luo dialect, Dwong Paco (come home) intended to encourage the rebel fighters abandon rebellion or even defect so that peace return in the region. After signing the disclaimers and exclusion clauses of the UN, we boarded. And in a few minutes we were airborne, flying Southwest to Garamba. The flight was more comfortable than the earlier one of the Antonov. But the chopper too is scary. At take-off it hops pointed downwards, and at full flight it remains close to the physical features. There were occasions when I would think it was about to kiss some mountains between whose shoulders we squeezed. Nonetheless, we landed safely at Nabanga SPLA detach. The trek to Garamba As we emerged from the chopper, a host of members of the LRA delegation was coming over to board and return to Juba. They chanced on seeing Mao and brazenly reprimanded him for undermining their role and contribution in the peace talks. Mao had accused them of seemingly not executing Kony’s mandate at the peace talks “to deliver peace”. Mao had also said of the majority diaspora negotiators that they thought “being in exile was a badge of honour”. UPC’s Ayena Odongo, then a city lawyer (now MP Oyam North) and Apira, who had graduated to deputy leader LRA team, took on Mao with volleys of verbal artillery. Ayena spoke of how he was sacrificing for the sake of peace. Mao was not ready for a confrontation. He held back, perhaps, not to be distracted from his mission of confidence building. LRA’s Sunday Ocaya was of course on hand to receive us. We used two Toyota Land Cruisers to connect to Ri-Kwangba. On arrival, we were received by Otti and LRA delegation chairman, Martin Ojul. We sat briefly as Otti greeted us one by one. As he moved over to where his sister, Ms Margaret Adee, sat with another lady, an aide whispered to him she was Martha Atto, his mother in law. Otti who rarely laughed first smiled and then chuckled. I noticed that there were sacks of food covered with tarpaulin, guarded by LRA fighters. Beans and the maize flour had started to rot, giving off a pungent smell. It was coming to dusk. We were told to put our luggage in one pile for helpers, call them servants to carry for us. I had a laptop to which I clung. I was later to regret. An order was issued and gumboots were brought for the high command guests. I did not immediately understand their necessity but well, we removed our shoes and set off for the trek to the LRA base in Garamba Forest. With my stomp, Mao remarked, “You have transformed.” Then Ojul teased, “Henry, that (gumboots) is courtesy of the LRA.” We laughed it off and began the descent into the forest. Along the way several fighters stood, on guard, with guns slung on their shoulders. Gradually, my fast march had reduced to measured steps. One of the commanders noticed and asked one of the young fighters to carry my laptop. I surrendered it. After several hours of trekking, we were close to the base. It was past six o’clock. The sun was first disappearing and darkness fell. After close to four hours, we came to a place which had a plateau, curved like letter “C”. It was getting dark but I could notice several huts scattered like a typical barracks. There were several women who were busy in the kitchen. When it became dark, you could not tell which direction you came from. Every side looked familiar. Trees, trees, and more trees! Later, we were shown tents where to sleep. Warm water was offered to the “guests” and perfumed Yeyo soap. It was so refreshing. After this long walk in the forest to the LRA base, we all slept like babies. The soundless sleep was sweet! The morning at the base We were in the middle of a thick forest. Dawn came with the twitter of birds and chirp of crotchets. You could also hear from a distance the howl of the jackals and the gibber of monkeys as they jumped from one tree branch to another. After freshening up, we sat in the courtyard, with the cool virgin air wafting. Otti was the first to join us. He seemed to connect easily with Ochora. But anyway, he warmed up to the peace talks thing and was more eager than his boss, Kony, something that I am sure cost him his life a few months later. As we waited for breakfast, we climbed the plateau. All we could see was a bed of tree branches and leaves that extended for miles in an endless circumfluence. The canopy extended to infinity, you could think it kissed the horizon! Only plumes of smoke either from a burning bush, charcoal furnace or kitchen in a distant village pierced through. Ochora told me that the choice of the footnote of the plateau as a base for the rebels was because this raised rock provided the rebels with a watchtower. A signaller stood guard up there and would alert the high command about any advancing enemy. The reason the LRA chose this as their base is technical. It has one entry, as we came. And as you can see the rear is fortressed by this natural barrier,” Lt Col Ochora told me. Ochora was a story teller. That discussion about military strategy prompted Ochora to tell me about his escapades at Monduli Army College in Tanzania. He told me how his coy had used match-stick powder and bicycle spokes in a mock exercise which made the other party flee thinking it was real enemy fire. When we returned to the courtyard there was a flurry of activity. There was a little shelter (mini-hall), which given the pall green in the grass, was built for this meeting. More rebel fighters were roaming the place. We had breakfast. Dry tea with honey picked from the wild of Garamba. We munched some doughnuts too. I wondered where they could have been purchased and how long they had been in the camp. We sat in a circular formation as we had breakfast. Top LRA commanders joined us, one by one. I remember Okot Odhiambo. He wore a light green military camouflage. Odhiambo, spotting a well kempt moustache was feared. His guards hovered and flinched at his every movement. Then came Bok Abudema, some stocky soldier with a brief height altogether. He had a huge, deep scar on his right hand that must have been as a result of a deep cut or was shot in battle. He talked occasionally. Reading the anxiety written all-over my face, he broke the ice. “How is Uganda?” “All is fine,” I responded curtly. “Why didn’t you bring for me dry cells?” he asked. “I didn’t know you would need them,” was my brisk answer, almost sounding apologetic. It was a time to placate everyone here, I said to myself. Next time you come bring for me a world receiver,” he said, affording a grin, probably to win me over. “Sure. World Receiver. Dry cells and what else…” I offered. The speed and generosity with which I answered was born out of the high probability that there would be no second chance. There was an elderly man who came in our midst and introduced himself as Alit, head of the health services in LRA. He looked sick himself with radiating eyes. Well, this was jungle life. My thoughts wandered again, “what if government attacked these chaps tonight? Would I be collateral damage or would survive to write a story that will shake this world?” Journalists and out wacky thoughts! Ochora poked again. Why are you guys not assembling as the cessation of hostilities agreement says? That’s what is holding back the peace talks and signing of the Final Peace Agreement,” he asked generally, but targeting Otti for an answer. Otti answered almost instantly that the rebels could not hang themselves. That they could not enter a trap set as they watched. The two places we have been told to assemble at, Owiny Ki-bul and Ri-Kwangba, are surrounded by the UPDF,” Otti stated. The dreaded Caesar Acellam had by then remained in Owiny Ki-bul with some fighters to guard the rear flank! Ha has since been harvested by the UPDF. Otti glanced over his shoulders and scanned the immediate environment. He then picked a stick to sketch something. Let me show you,” he began. I wanted to carry away this vital information, so I offered my note pad and pen. Free hand, Otti sketched the Nile delta in northern Uganda, West Nile, and South Sudan as it embarks on its major journey to the Mediterranean Sea. He named the key town and dotted what he referred to as the UPDF deployments. Garamba was too far from Uganda. We flew, drove and walked for hours before getting to this base. If he were right, how could Otti have known for sure about these developments? Was it the rebels’ set of informers placed strategically in different towns and remote locations or the rebels’ high command was making good use of technology? Of course they had satellite phone. The thick-black Thurayas! And I saw a couple of solar panels which are used mainly to charge these phones. Nonetheless, this lanky fighter who spoke with a deep voice amazed me. After Otti had sketched the map, he asked Ochora how he expected them to assemble. The sun was beginning to shine bright. The rays pierced through the thick layers of tree-branches and leaves but did little to interrupt the cool, clean air in the camp. Even at noon, you would think it was still morning. The elders squeezed into the meeting place, a small thatch hall. The speeches began. Otti spoke first. He did the pleasantries and welcome remarks. As he spoke, loud whispers were heard. “Chairman, chairman…” Kony emerged. He entered the room and everybody stood to attention. The greetings started all-over again: “Ibuto maber?” (Good morning), Icoo nining? (You slept well). I had a small canon camera which I used to shoot as many pictures as I could. The more I clicked, the more I made myself conspicuous. The horde of guards that followed him surrounded the place. Of the many things he said, I was amazed by his praise of President Museveni as a good man. Apparently Kony was impressed by government allowing his relatives and wives to travel to Garamba to meet him. When the meeting ended, Kony disappeared as he had come, to the northern direction. Tried to pry into what happens in his wing but again I did not want to draw much attention around me. However, there was this talkative young female journalist from Lira TV, Kevis Ejon. She would interject in every conversation and volunteer information at the slightest provocation. “I didn’t know I was a relative of Kony,” she said to me in the morning as we had breakfast. I stayed in his camp,” she added. “Okay” I replied. “Kony turned down your request for an interview. He wondered why of all journalists in Uganda, why did New Vision send a Mukasa who cannot speak his language,” Ejon explained to me. This revelation made me believe that this was yet another wild goose chase. However, the comfort was that at least, I had met the most wanted man. On the second day the elders and lawyers had a closed meeting with Kony in his ‘commander-in-chief’ camp. On the third day, there was little to finish up with the consultations. We packed our bags and after that we said farewells. I beckoned Kony for photo opportunity. He didn’t reject me, taking a memorable picture with him. We shook hands. I remember muttering “Apwoyo matek.” We embarked on out return journey, back to Juba. monitor.co.ug/Magazines/PeoplePower/Inside-Kony-s-base---Part-III/-/689844/2600708/-/item/4/-/bfq419/-/index.html
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 07:42:16 +0000
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