President Museveni meets International Red Cross chief

President Museveni met with the supremo of the International Committee of the Red cross (ICRC), Mr Peter Maurer, together with Mr Zoran Jovanovic, Head of the ICRC delegation in Uganda.

The ICRC supremo,informed the President that he had called on him to hear his perspective concerning the situation in South Sudan, because as a humanitarian organisation they wanted to know the progress of the peace process and confidence building measures that are taking place to unite the warring factions.

Mr Maurer who has been in South Sudan, Informed the President that South Sudan is their second largest operation world wide, second to Syria and they were worried about the impact of the conflict on the population.

President Museveni informed Mr Maurer and his delegation that his entry point in the peace process was in trying to reconcile the mainstream SPLA/M party with the breakaway factions, and that meetings have been held to this end  “Discussions are on-going to implement what was agreed in these meetings. A critical minimum in stability will be achieved, now that the factions of President Salva Kirr and Mrs Garang are talking”

President Museveni assured the ICRC that the peace process is progressing well and that he is confident that the agreements signed in Kampala will act as major building block on restoring peace in south Sudan.

Mr Maurer thanked President Museveni and the people of Uganda for their good reception and treatment of refugees and his engagement in regional peace process. He pledged that the ICRC will continue to assist in offering logistics and supporting refuges.

President Museveni in response opined that although there is war, humanitarian organisations need to offer support to farmers in the more stable areas, “ so that you are not only providing relief items/food but also building capacity. Provide seeds, implements etc”

He thanked Mr Maurer and his delegation for the courtesy call.