Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan, lies on the banks of River Nile. It is still a dusty town with a bare minimum of social and economic infrastructure. But work to overcome these shortfalls is visible.

It is this city, 'The City of Peace' as it will be possibly remembered, that is host to peace talks between the Government of Uganda and LRA. Juba Raha, one of the hotels in Juba, has therefore been a hub of activity with swarms of people doing their private business and others peeping through the windows to see and know whether and when peace will finally return to north and northeastern Uganda. And peace indeed and surely seems to be returning to these sub-regions as a result of several of factors.

The amiable, careful and convincing Vice President of Southern Sudan, Dr Riek Machar, together with his mediation team, has steered the peace process to a point of no-return. The carefully selected team gives credence and hope to the peace process.

Former President Joachim Chissano of Mozambique, the UN secretary general's special envoy to the LRA-affected areas, together with observers/peace guarantors from South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, and DR Congo, has equally played a fundamental role.

These two teams have not tired of their responsibility and obligation to bring peace to all of Uganda. Over the last one year, the two peace delegations have worked incessantly despite the differences that often arise as negotiations hot up. Suspicion and mistrust that characterised the initial stages of the negotiations have more or less ended.

Harmony in camp

The two delegations freely visit each others camp on their own volition to share ideas. During breaks, chats and fun fill the air, but serious work goes on during the plenary and other consultative meetings because that is what we are in Juba for.

The traditional and religious leaders have also played a very important role in explaining the rituals and the morals necessary for peace to be achieved and maintained. MPs and LC-V chairpersons from LRA-affected areas have also been a source of encouragement whenever they have been in Juba.

The international community has been of great support too. Ugandans can therefore breathe with a sigh of relief that the peace process has reached a point of no-return. Even cynics and sceptics have recognised this and joined the bandwagon.

From north and northeastern Uganda stories abound of IDPs returning to their villages, at least up to their parishes, hardships and uncertainties notwithstanding. In Acholi 50-60 percent of the population earlier in IDPs is reported to have returned to the villages. In Teso and Lango the percentage is about 70 percent.

On the other hand, gallant UPDF and other security agencies report that acts of human rights violations (abductions, murders, rapes, robberies) by the LRA have not been witnessed for about a year.

Battle guns have similarly fallen silent and social life, especially in Gulu town, is at its peak with nightclubs working in overdrive. Night commuters have all but disappeared. Hopes of families long disintegrated by the conflict reuniting are a reality. There is reason to smile, after all.

But there is more work to be done. So far agenda item numbers 1, 2 and 3 have been signed - vis, cessation of hostilities, comprehensive solutions, and accountability and reconciliation respectively.

On the latter, we are yet to widely consult all interested parties for their input towards mechanisms of implementation. Negotiations on these will constitute the last phase of agenda item number 3 when peace talks resume at the end of this month.

History looms

The delegations would then embark on items 4 and 5; permanent ceasefire and disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration.

When all these are achieved it will mark a turning point in the history of Uganda.

The writer is the government spokesman at the Juba peace talks.