CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
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Uganda |
INTERNAT. RELAT.
The somewhat shaky relations between Uganda and Sudan
are now moving into a diplomatic battle in IGAD‘s conference roomFearing that Sudan will use its influence in Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) circles to push for a negotiated settlement to the 17-year-old conflict which has been takeing place in northern Uganda, James Waphakabulo, Uganda’s Foreign Minister, has asked parliament to release $425,000 so that the government can pay its annual financial contribution to IGAD, thus allowing her to host the October 2003 IGAD Summit, and assume chairmanship of the grouping.
Uganda’s total arrears to IGAD amount to $2.6 million which must be paid. Sudan is presently holding the positions of Secretary-General and Chairman within IGAD, and it’s clear that Uganda cannot hold the Summit unless she pays her contributions.
Uganda is certainly alarmed over Sudan’s manoeuvres, and Ugandan officials fear a possibility of Sudan using IGAD to intervene in Uganda’s internal conflict in the north. Clear signals were forthcoming when Khartoum hosted a three-day IGAD summit (starting 1 September), dealing with internally displaced people (IDP)s in the region. Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Lt.General Moses Ali, who is also in charge of refugees and disaster situations, says there are presently about one million IDPs in Uganda’s conflict zones.
IGAD is mandated to resolve, manage and prevent conflicts, in addition to fighting desertification in six East African countries, and has been active in spearheading attempts to resolve Sudan’s civil war. However, recent remarks by Sudan’s ambassador to Uganda, Sirajuddin Mohammed, describing the northern insurgency as a «political problem requiring a negotiated solution», is worrying officials who fear attention could be turned on Uganda.
Rebels have stirred matters further when a shadowy coalition, the Uganda National Coalition Army, which is said to include Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and Uganda People’s Army personnel called for a mediated settlement. A statement signed by a certain Major Majik has been distributed in eastern and northern Uganda.
Uganda’s image abroad
Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni is still sticking to a military solution to solve his problems in the north, and has threatened to radically increase the size of his armed forces.
Nevertheless, there is presently a great deal of pressure on the President to seek a negotiated solution to the conflict in the north — and this at a time Uganda’s political fortunes in the region are weaker. Reports em-anating from the Foreign Ministry indicates that Ugandan involvement in regional conflicts, has dented that country’s image internationally, and the Ministry has to work hard to improve the country’s image abroad.
Uganda’s standing internationally suffers partly because she is not seen as being honest when it comes to bilateral agreements. In March 2002, Uganda and Sudan agreed to stop helping each others rebels, and Sudan allowed Ugandan troops to undertake «hot pursuit» of LRA rebels into Southern Sudan.
Sudan is now accusing Uganda of giving continued assistance to the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and was alarmed when the SPLA, in an undercover operation, kidnapped Sudanese nationals in Kampala.
The situation is also complicated by Uganda’s failure to honour its financial commitments to regional and international organizations. The Foreign Ministry says there are arrears totalling about $7.5 million still owing to international organisations such as the Kagera Basin Organization and IGAD. This has prevented Uganda from effective participation in regional groupings.
Foreign Minister Wapakabulo says it’s all-important that these arrears are paid. At the same time, the Foreign Ministry is fully aware that «there is need to rationalize participation in regional groupings, with a view to achieving cost-effectiveness in foreign affairs».
- Crespo Sebunya, Uganda, September 2003 — © Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment