The defense state minister, Ruth Nankabirwa, said yesterday that there was no further chance for a ceasefire between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army. The defense minister said peace talks were dead, and the LRA will be defeated by military means. These statements came at a one-day conference in Lira district about the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund. Read more at AllAfrica.com.

Alertnet reports that contact between Betty Bigombe, the chief peace negotiator in northern Uganda, and rebel leadership has faltered of late. Ms. Bigombe had been in cellular contact with Vincent Otti, LRA second-in-command, but Otti has recently broken the lines of communication, possibly because of the Ugandan military's recent increase in the intensity of its operations against the LRA especially in southern Sudan.

IRIN Alertnet notes, "Talks to end the rebellion have achieved very little progress over the year, mainly due to the mistrust between the two parties. The mediators maintain, however, that the talks were still on course.

The Ugandan government has a three-pronged approach to fighting the LRA: military means, peace talks and immunity from prosecution for rebels who surrender to the government. Museveni has been accused, however, of preferring the military option, and told IRIN he did not 'believe in the magic of the peace talks.'"

Uganda-CAN's policy platform of advocating for more robust international attention and involvement in the process could be the needed catalyst to bridge mistrust between rebels and the Ugandan government.

Stephen Okello, Uganda-CAN director of operations in Uganda, weighs in on the challenge for sustainable peace in northern Uganda -

The challenge of sustainable peace in northern Uganda calls for urgent and innovative thinking. One aspect of this is the growing recognition that the structural, social and human aspects of conflicts need to be pursued together with the macro-economic development planning and goals.

Unfortunately, it is sad to note that there has been a continued breakdown of social structures, customs and human security due to political, civil, inter-tribal and/or armed ethnic tensions as witnessed today.

Recognizing, however, recent efforts by government and other stakeholders at bringing peace in northern Uganda, Uganda-Can shares with many others the view that the conflict management and resolution can lead to better understanding and building of strong relationships among many Ugandans. This would set the foundation for reconciliation among diverse groups or people with different ethnic backgrounds including people with incompatible socio-cultural values.

Development organizations and donors are however increasingly aware of the importance of participation and broad partnerships, to promote sustainable development and poverty reduction as a mainstream strategy to bring sustainable peace in northern Uganda.

Betty Akech, MP from northern Uganda, writes an Op/Ed in today's New Vision, proclaiming that the government in Uganda remains committed to working for an end to the long-standing conflict in the north.

She writes, "Dr. Garang made it categorically clear that the peace he had brought to Southern Sudan could not be meaningful unless it spread into northern Uganda. He would help the government of Uganda pacify Northern Uganda. No wonder, therefore that the people of Uganda and the north in particular have been devastated by his death. Some people in the north have been heard saying that they are orphans, and perhaps destined to doom!

I would like to re-assure Ugandans and the people of the North that the candle for peace is burning brightly and will not be easily blown out by the death of Dr. Garang. At worst, the process of peace may be slightly delayed, but not destroyed." Read her Op/Ed at AllAfrica.com.

In today's Daily Monitor in Uganda, Emmanuel Gyezaho asks, "Would the demise of Lt Gen Garang as result spell doom for the peace efforts in Northern Uganda?" While the Government of Uganda suggests not, many observers are worried that instability in southern Sudan will fuel the war in northern Uganda. Vice versa, many believe the LRA may fuel instability in tenuous southern Sudan, spoiling the Sudanese Comprehensive Peace Agreement and catalyzing cycles of regional violence.

The article concludes by mentioning the critical role of the U.S. government in supporting and playing an active role in the peace process in northern Uganda. John Prendergast, special advisor to the ICG, claims that peace in northern Uganda and the region will be unlikely unless "the United States gives strong support to the peace process and to the effort to put military pressure on the LRA so that it participates in the peace process. The US is the key factor and will play the most important role going forward."

Read this important article at AllAfrica.com.

Today's Daily Monitor includes an article about victims of the LRA speaking out on the treatment of arrested rebel commanders. The article highlights a study conducted by the International Centre for Transitional Justice about attitudes in northern Uganda towards mechanisms for justice. The ICTJ report calls for a comprehensive peace and justice strategy that sees peace and justice as complimentary instead divisive.

Lt. Colonel Shaban Bantariza, the Ugandan army spokesman, has said that the death of Dr. John Garang will not give strength to the Lord's Resistance Army. Today, The New Vision reports on mixed reactions about the impact of Dr. Garang's death on the prospects for peace in northern Uganda. Honorable Reagan Okumu, MP from Gulu, remarked that the death of Dr. Garang is "a blow to our peace process."

Uganda-CAN believes the tragic death of Dr. Garang could be a blow to the hopes for a revitalized peace process in northern Uganda, but it could also be an opportunity to carry on Dr. Garang's legacy to work for a swift and lasting resolution to the related conflicts in southern Sudan, northern Uganda and Darfur. We hope and will work towards the latter. It is time for a substantive discussion on how to build a comprehensive peace strategy for Sudan and Uganda.

The Weekly Observer reports that Betty Bigombe wants the government to do more to promote negotations that could resolve the long-standing conflict in northern Uganda. Bigombe criticized the government's policy of 'talk and fight,' claiming it makes the establishment of serious negotiations extremely difficult. On the other hand, Bigombe also noted that the LRA's lack of political demands is a hindrance to peace efforts.

At the launching of a new study about the obstacles to a peace process in Uganda, Bigombe called for confidence building led by the Government of Uganda to build trust for peace talks. While acknowledging the government's recent efforts to reach out to rebels, she said more must be done if peace is to come to northern Uganda.

The Daily Monitor in Uganda is reporting today that right before his death, Dr. John Garang and President Yoweri Museveni were discussing ways to bring peace to northern Uganda after 19 years of conflict. Garang made it clear that there cannot be peace in southern Sudan or northern Uganda without an end to the Lord's Resistance Army.

Uganda-CAN calls upon all parties to keep the legacy and vision of Dr. Garang alive by working intensely for a swift, peaceful and lasting resolution to this conflict.

The Monitor, in an editorial in today's paper, remarks that the death of John Garang strikes a major blow to the prospects for peace in northern Uganda and the wider region. The Monitor, along with Uganda-CAN, hopes that Garang's successor will make working for peace in northern Uganda a priority.

The sudden, unexpected death of Sudanese VP and SPLM leader John Garang could be potentially deadly for prospects for peace in Sudan and the wider Great Lakes region. As riots ensue in Khartoum and southern Sudan, many worry that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between north and south in Sudan will crumble.

It is critical that steps are taken by the Sudanese government, the SPLM and the international community to support the peace agreement. Yet, even more, there must be steps to enact a comprehensive peace strategy that addresses the related conflict in northern Uganda and genocidal crisis in Darfur. Without appropriate attention and action to these areas, they could be spoilers in hopes for real and lasting peace in the region.

The coming days will be critical. The United States government should express support - symbolic and substantive, diplomatic and financial - to peace processes for all three conflicts. Through sustained attention and involvement, the U.S. can help avert an even greater and more deadly crisis in the days and months ahead.

The New Vision reports today that President Museveni has said he is willing to establish a limited ceasefire area to facilitate talks between the Government of Uganda and Joseph Kony, the rebel leader of the Lord's Resistance Army.

This is a real hopeful sign for the work of Betty Bigombe to revitalize a substantive peace process. However, it is critical that the United States government direct more attention and assistance to this work to provide accountability, structure and trust-building to the process to ensure its success. International attention and action to support the work of Miss Bigombe is vital to see that this opportunity is seized.