By Editorial Team

The New Vision newspaper reported last week that Gen. Kale Kayihura’s police force and the opposition IPC coalition had struck a “peace deal”. According to the report, the two sides met in the IGP’s Boardroom and had a “…frank discussion and agreed on ways to move this meeting forward and how to continue this interaction”.

The IPC delegation that was led by FDC President Dr. Kizza Besigye also included Joseph Bbosa [UPC Secretary General]; Asuman Basalirwa [JEEMA]; Rtd Maj. Rubaramira Ruranga [FDC] and Mohammed Angualiga

In particular, the report quoted IGP Kayihura to have said that “…it was agreed that the opposition needed to only notify the Police before holding a rally and that there would be an investigation into the Kiboko squad”.

Kayihura further said that “…whereas the opposition raised a number of grievances as to how they are treated by the Police, the meeting agreed on how to avoid unnecessary clashes during the 2011 polls”.

This is an unprecedented development.  All peace loving Ugandans and friends of Uganda ought to applaud it.  Uganda Correspondent certainly welcomes this “ground-breaking” development [as Kayihura put it] and encourages the emulation of such exemplary dialogue between all political protagonists.

If sustained, and we hope it is, it will signal to the world that Uganda has finally embarked on a forward march into political maturity; the very thing that has been missing in our politics for decades and caused us to fight many bitter and costly wars.  Ugandans have seen enough bloodshed and expect mature politics from their leaders.  At Uganda Correspondent, we would like to proudly say thumbs up to Uganda Police and the IPC for the dialogue.