Uganda Peoples Congress
National Secretariat
Plot 8-10 Kampala Road, Uganda House,
P. O. Box 9206, Kampala
phone/Fax:+256-41-236748

Peace Talks Should Address National Issues

( Embargoed for release at 11.00am 7th November, 2007)

1. On Thursday last week, the delegation of LRA came to Uganda to carry out consultations on the implementation of agenda item three which deals with the issues of accountability, justice and reconciliation. The Uganda Peoples Congress welcomes the delegation and hopes they will use this opportunity to build foundation for lasting peace throughout Uganda.
2. The delegation has already met President Museveni and is slated to carry out national consultations starting with Northern Uganda. UPC urges all citizens who wish our country well to turn up for peace consultations and freely speak up to the delegation.
3. During its discussion with President Museveni, the LRA delegation raised the whole important issue of regional governance suggesting that Parliament and the people of Uganda should reconsider the issue of devolution of power. The LRA wants a discussion on federalism.
4. The demand by the LRA for a discussion on federalism whatever its merits, supports the long standing view of UPC that the peace talks should not be narrowed to negotiators with immediate stake in the two decade conflict. Rather, all stakeholders in Uganda with interest on what is being discussed should be part of the talks as the talks is embracing national issues that cannot be left to immediate two warring parties.
5. Beyond discussing the issue of accountability justice, and reconciliation as regards the perpetrators of war namely, the LRA, UPDF and their victims not only in Northern Uganda but throughout Uganda, the talks should address the grievances of the people of Uganda that have led not only to LRA war but a host of other wars.
6. During this consultations, the people of Uganda given an opportunity to freely speak out and make suggestions on all the teething problem in the country including but not limited to the following:
1. Federal governance
2. The justice system not only for those involved in the war and the victims but the rest of the country.
3. Land issues
4. Term limits
5. Economic mismanagement
6. Corruption
7. Human rights reforms
8. Security service
9. The UPC further renews its call on the government, LRA and mediators in these talks to restructure the talks and allow formal participation of all stakeholders especially political parties that are the building blocks of multiparty democracy. The participation of political parties in other stakeholders will enable a comprehensive discussion of all the grievances of the people of Uganda . Once these grievances are identified, discussed and solutions found there will be no basis for future wars for this country. Any short cuts and quick fixes will only lead to temporary peace.

For God and my Country

Mama Miria Kalule Obote

President, Uganda Peoples Congress

Notes for Editors

• ore information on UPC and these specific matters can be found in our website at www.upcparty.net
• We actively encourage you to visit the President's Corner and in particular access 'Notes on Concealment of Genocide in Uganda

UPC Great Reunion with Sister Parties

( Embargoed for release at 11.00am 7th November, 2007)

1. The UPC delegation was invited to the 8th Congress of Chama Cha Mapinduzi and was led by the Party President returned yesterday November 6th, 2007 from Dodoma Tanzania. UPC and other sister parties from around Africa , Asia and one from Europe were invited to this great Congress of sister political parties of the political left of centre.
2. Interlia the following parties attended, the German Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Chinese Communist Party, African National Congress (ANC) the Congolese Party of the People for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), the Angolan MPLA, the FRELIMU of Mozambique, the Cuban Communist Party, UNIP from Zambia, the Seychelles Peoples Progressive Front, BDP of Botswana and the CNDD-FDD of Burundi and course the Uganda Peoples Congress.
3. There are some of the like minded political parties in East and Central Africa who fought for African identity and freedom. As UPC was attending for the first time after two decades of forced absence, its delegation was enthusiastically received and the President was called to address the Congress.
4. At this Congress of CCM, there was a resurgence of African identity and the concretisation of the gains of independence. The ANC Deputy President, Mr. Jacob Zuma, candidate for the presidency of ANC and South Africa lamented that Africans have stressed too much on government to government relationship and missed out on party to party and government to party relationship in order to tap some brilliant ideas from Parties which are not in government .This same point was re-echoed by the host President H.E. Jakaya Kikwete.
5. The UPC delegation enjoyed face to face interaction with delegates of sister political parties present and took the opportunity to renew relationships and acquaintances for mutual benefit.

For God and my Country

Mama Miria Kalule Obote

President, Uganda Peoples Congress