Prof. Ogenga Latigo is the Leader of Opposition in Parliament. He spoke to Gerald Bareebe about the current offensive against the LRA and whether the President should have sought parliamentary approval before UPDF was deployed inside the jungles of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
When did you learn about the deployment of troops in Congo?
I was not aware. On Sunday I was in Gulu and on that night I had BBC reporting that UPDF had attacked LRA and then I had the army spokesman also talking about it.
Were you taken by surprise especially given the fact that the LRA leader Joseph Kony has in many accessions refused to show up in Juba for the signing of peace agreement?
In the first place I was because it came two days after I had said in a workshop in Lira that if there is anything that would disturb the equilibrium that have been created by the peace process then it could be discontent within the LRA or the external military pressure and I suggested that may be an American cruise missile. I dismissed the possibility of UPDF going there because the terrain and lack of roads would not benefit UPDF going there.
Under what circumstance can a president deploy the army outside the country without seeking approval of the parliament?
The President is the commander in chief of the army. He and the executive make decisions on whether to deploy or not. One aspect which is deployment for peace keeping requires that parliament approves, the other aspects allows the president to act because he may need the element of surprise or secrecy which are common with military operations. But the law also requires the president to report to parliament within 14days. In case parliament is in recess, the speaker is commanded by the constitution to recall parliament to consider the matter.
Parliament can then say what you did is wrong so withdraw the army, and in this case the army has to be withdrawn. So, I wasn’t surprised because this is a surprise operation. But my very reliable information is that even those in government including the prime minister and the Vice President didn’t know. It’s only the President, the army command and some commanders on the ground who knew.
The fact that Parliament was not consulted does it mean that the cabinet is disregarding the value of Parliament.
There is no question of any vagueness in the law it’s clearly spelled out when you can deploy with or without consulting the parliament and what you must do subsequent to the deployment. The parliament can only receive information from the government on the progress and demand explanation from the government on this conflict. Parliament has no other mandate on this issue.
Does the current UPDF offensive against LRA signal the breakdown in the Juba peace process?
Not necessarily, I have said that what people sometimes forget is that since the negations and the cessation of hostilities agreement even LRA its self has launched an assault against UPDF. They [LRA] then said it was pre-emptive or self defence, they have even been attacking SPLA. But these things happen especially since we are dealing with the belligerent. It’s like a quarrel between man and wife where in the middle of the dialogue fights can still break up.
What has the peace process achieved that is likely to be lost with the resumption of war?
In the first place, all sides to this conflicts and the international community have realised the value of this peace process and its impact on the people of northern Uganda. People are now leading a normal life, the saving that government has made on the account that there has not been any fighting which could be used for something else. The relief that the international community have had in seeing that now their support to the north in now gearing towards reconstruction and development. We want this to continue. All sides including Kony want this current peace to continue.
What do you think will be the likely effect of this resumption of war?
There will be anxiety amongst the people. We are also challenged because this is the first since the peace process began the government of Uganda has militarily acted. The biggest question it is likely to cause is that can the government of Uganda remain a trusted partner in this peace talks in the eyes of LRA and in the eyes of the people. Has the government accounted how the LRA is going to respond? Is this military operation sustainable? There are a lot of negative possibilities, we have to wait. For example if there is one attack on the north by LRA during this festive season, it will create a terrible impact.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/inside_politics/I_wasn_t_surprised_by_attack_on_Kony_77181.shtml
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