Positive actions occurred last week in Uganda, as peace talks between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government resumed April 13, 2007, after a January 2007 stalemate had ceased all prior agreements and negotiations between the rivals. A peace accord reached in August 2006 between the two parties expired in January 2007, and it was feared that the LRA would resume hostile attacks and abductions in northern Uganda as a result of the treaty expiration.
These encouraging steps toward extending the truce faced a potentially major road- block however, by news of an unrelated violent attack occurring in Uganda’s capital city of Kampala. On April 12, 2007, an Indian man was stoned to death on the streets of Kampala by protesters attending a political demonstration. A large crowd had converged to voice opposition to the Ugandan government’s ongoing negotiations with an Indian-owned sugar cane company intent on expanding their operations into protected forestlands. The crowd became unruly and hurled rocks at police, Indian passersby and businesses, as well as at a Hindu temple. In all, three people were killed, including two Ugandans.
This level of racist violence has concerned the Indian community residing in Uganda as it harkens to the days of past dictator Idi Amin, who displaced over 75,000 Indians from Uganda in 1972, taking over their businesses and homes upon their departure.
Striding Forward (Again) – Peace Talks Resume
Despite the violence seen in Kampala, the Ugandan government decided to go forward with meetings scheduled in Kenya and Sudan to jump start the peace process with the LRA. During a meeting in Kenya, the two sides reportedly reached broad agreement on extending the truce reached in August 2006, and in subsequent meetings in Sudan, LRA leader Joseph Kony met with a United Nations (UN) envoy, and high-ranking Uganda government officials. During the Sudan meeting both sides agreed to a ceasefire, which will extend through June 2007. It was further agreed that the peace accord would lapse only if a formal ceasefire deal was reached prior to June 2007. In hopes of achieving a lasting peace, the two parties announced intentions to convene additional peace talks on April 26, 2007 in Juba, Sudan. These forward strides were much anticipated and have many hoping that a lasting peace can finally be negotiated.
The conflict between the LRA and the Ugandan government has been waged for over 21 years and is one of the longest running rebellions in Africa. Led by Kony, the LRA is notorious for its use of children in combat and overall level of violence. Operating from southern Sudan, the LRA allegedly linked with other rebel groups, such as the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda (ALIR) . In 1999, Sudan and Uganda signed an agreement officially declaring that each would stop providing support to rebel groups, though Sudan has continued to provide protection and bases of operations for the LRA.
The negotiations between Kony and Uganda President Yoweri Museveni are crucial, as they have remained bitter rivals since Museveni entered office in 1986. Obstacles to the peace process are many; however, the most contentious debate has centered on the future of the LRA after the establishment of a final peace deal. Kony and his deputy Vincent Otti are under indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC), and have previously made the dismissal of these charges a conditional element to their attendance at any further peace talks. We believe this will be the greatest hurdle facing any lasting peace agreements.
Stepping Back – Racial Violence Erupts in Kampala
The racial tensions in the Ugandan capital have once again reached a heightened level due to last week’s violence against Indian community members and their businesses. The demonstrations, which began as a means to protest the expansion of the Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (SCOUL), which is part of the Indian-owned Mehta group, have not impacted the negotiations between the Ugandan government and SCOUL on the eventual use of preserved land in the Mabira Forest. However, President Museveni, in a signal of tempering actions, said in statements released the day after the demonstrations, that a final decision had not been made and that the views of the people would be considered. This has also been seen as a means to keep violence from recurring and provide time for law and order to return.
Although Ugandan government officials condemned the violence that occurred on April 12, 2007, many in the Indian community are concerned about their future status. Hundreds of ethnic Indians own businesses or are employed as traders selling electronics, pharmaceuticals, textiles and building materials in Kampala and surrounding suburbs.
In response to their concerns, President Museveni issued a statement of support, indicating that his government would help restore order and peace to the city. So far law enforcement officials have done their part, as police and military personnel have continually patrolled the streets. A leading member of the Indian Association, based in Kampala stated, “On Friday night, we had a meeting with the minister of security, the minister of internal affairs and the inspector general of police and they assured us of security.”
The Way Forward
Although the outburst of violence against the Indian business owners is seen as a step backward for the population, several rays of hope are evident in the way the racial disturbance was handled by the government. President Museveni has ensured that police officials have acted quickly in apprehending the alleged killers of the Indian national and also dispatched his foreign minister to conduct meetings with India’s foreign minister. Dovetailing the violent demonstrations with the ongoing peace talks with the LRA, Museveni appealed to the people stating, “…why not demonstrate against the atrocities of Kony instead of demonstrating against “Indians” and “foreigners”? Ugandans need “foreigners to develop our country.”
Most importantly, Museveni has provided consistent, strategic leadership by assuring the Indian community that they are valued members of the Ugandan populace. If Museveni can continue the same level of concern and dedication to the peace talks with the LRA as exemplified in the aftermath of the Indian racial tensions, lasting peace might finally be achieved between the Ugandan government and the LRA.
