Goss to Force LRA Out of Sudan After November

THE Government of South Sudan (GOSS) will attack the Lord's Resistance Army rebels if Joseph Kony does not sign the final peace agreement by the end of this month.

Martin Majut Yak, the director of presidential affairs in the South Sudan government, yesterday said his government had the capacity to "finish off" the LRA in seven days.

"We shall not allow them to continue attacking and killing our people. We will not tolerate the brutality," he told journalists in Kampala.

LRA leader Kony has twice failed to turn up for the signing of the final peace agreement with the Ugandan government.

Kony, Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ogwen are indicted at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity. According to the Ugandan Government, the LRA could be saved from trial if they sign the agreement.

Majut is in the country to meet the Sudanese community, especially students.

He said his government was encouraging students to study in Uganda.

Currently, there are over 4,000 Sudanese students at various institutions across the country.

Makut said President Salva Kiir of South Sudan had donated $810,000 (about sh1.5b) to sponsor 1,850 students in Uganda.

"Uganda is like our second home and we encourage our students to come to Uganda for education," he said.

He will also deliver $187,500 (about sh338m) to Sudanese students in Kenya. Majut is also in the country to brief the Sudanese community about the progress in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace agreement and the challenges facing Sudan.

On just-concluded census in Sudan, Majut said:"We shall contest the results of that referendum because we understand that they reduced our numbers so that it can affect us during the national elections."

He added that his government would ensure that Ugandans living or doing business in Juba are safe.