MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Top negotiators representing the Ugandan government and the rebel group Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) reiterated their commitment to resume stalled peace talks during a teleconference organized by World Vision in Kampala, Uganda.

"The spirit of these talks is tremendously encouraging. Bringing both sides to the table is the best way to help prevent more senseless deaths and abductions of children who have been the primary victims of this 20-year-old, brutal conflict," said Dave Toycen, president of World Vision Canada. The organization has actively advocated for peace in Uganda for many years and has lobbied the Canadian government to do its part to help find lasting solutions. More than 9,200 Canadian donors currently support World Vision's work in Uganda.

During the two-hour teleconference on February 9, the government's chief negotiator, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, LRA peace team leader, Martin Ojul, and LRA spokesman, Godfrey Ayoo, agreed to move forward with negotiations, according to Fortunate Sewankambo, World Vision Uganda's director of communication and advocacy, who moderated the meeting.

The peace talks stalled last December when the LRA representatives walked out in protest after accusing chief mediator Riek Machar, vice president of southern Sudan, of being biased in favour of the Ugandan government. They also rejected the southern Sudanese city of Juba as the venue.

Although the LRA is reluctant to return to Juba, both Rugunda and Ojul agreed on Friday that the venue should not be an obstacle to peace.

"We are ready to work with the LRA to resolve some of the problems barring the peace talks. By the time the talks broke off at Christmas, we had developed good rapport between the two delegations that pushed us forward," said Rugunda. He told the LRA that the government is open to their suggestions of observers from other countries, and is willing to include additional members on the LRA negotiating team.

Speaking from Nairobi, Kenya, Ayoo said,  "The people should be assured that the LRA will not go back to war, and will do everything in our powers to deliver peace."

Two decades of violence in northern Uganda has displaced more than 1.6 million people and tens of thousands of civilians have been killed or kidnapped. The United Nations estimates that the LRA has abducted 20,000 children. The LRA and government signed a truce in August 2006 aimed at ending the long-running conflict.

"It is high time for both parties to sit down and iron out issues for a way forward," said the LRA negotiator Ojul during the teleconference.
 
Both parties recognized the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, which was signed last year, saying they would not return to war. They also agreed to keep channels of communication open, and requested that World Vision organize a second teleconference.

The representatives expressed their appreciation for World Vision's partnership in the peace process and thanked the organization for providing a forum to talk. They also recognized World Vision's humanitarian work in northern Uganda. The organization operates extensive development programs across the country, including a rehabilitation centre in Gulu for former child soldiers who were abducted by the LRA.

Fortunate Sewankambo said that World Vision hopes there will soon be a secure, lasting peace so that millions of displaced people can return home and begin to rebuild their communities. "When the talks began, people were very hopeful about the process. In fact, the number of night commuters went down from 30,000 in June to just 2,500 by the end of December," she said, referring to children and women in rural northern Uganda who walk up to five kilometres to nearby towns each night. They sleep en masse on the streets and in public buildings out of fear of being abducted by LRA rebels. Sewankambo says that since the talks have stalled the "feeling of insecurity has started to rise again" and the number of night commuters is gradually increasing.

In 2004, Sewankambo co-authored an international report published by World Vision Canada entitled Pawns of Politics, Children, Politics and Peace in northern Uganda, which called on governments and the international community to help end the conflict and increase aid to Uganda.

World Vision Canada recently received a grant from the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade for a project in northern Uganda to help increase the capacity of civil society to manage and reduce conflict.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Motivated by our Christian faith, we serve all people regardless of religion, race, gender or ethnicity.

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For more information, or to arrange an interview with Fortunate Sewankambo, contact:

Sharon Marshall, Public Relations
905.565.6200 ext. 2213
416.677.4354 (cell)
sharon_marshall@worldvision.ca