Political harmony critical

UGANDA is well on the way to normalising relations with Sudan. The presence of Sudanese President Omar Bashir was probably the most politically significant point of President Yoweri Museveni's swearing-in on Saturday. We have been at loggerheads for the better part of the last decade, owing mainly to mutual suspicion, Uganda accusing Sudan of supporting rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army and the ADF, and Khartoum blaming Kampala for backing the SPLA rebellion. Relations reached a nadir in April 1995 when diplomatic relations were severed. Museveni announced on Saturday that the ties would be restored. This is a fine point for him to begin his second and final term in office. It was significant that most of Uganda's neighbours were represented at the ceremony, with Kenya President Daniel arap Moi making a strong plea for regional economic co-operation. Social and economic integration is a short-term strategy for advancement for this part of the continent, with the East African Community and Comesa being the fulcrum. These two bodies need all the political support they can get, and primary to this is good relations between all capitals. An economic market cannot function in an icy political environment. But it is also going to be important to address squarely the issues that led to the freezing of ties in the first place. The SPLA rebellion is a complicated and old historical issue, for which the support of many nations and multilateral organisations has to be sought. The LRA is a more straightforward issue. Kony, who is an indiscriminate killer, has to be denied bases in the Sudan, and Ugandans who were abducted into the interior should be returned home. For all these issues, last week's political goodwill has shown the way forward. Ends