SHOULD UGANDA PULL OUT OF SOMALIA? THINK AGAIN

Today Uganda's leading daily the New Vision made the succinct case for why the country's continued presence in the horn of Africa is necessary now more than ever.

"...To believe that if Somalia goes to the dogs it will have no impact on Uganda, is to ignore the big picture... Recent conflicts in eastern Congo, Burundi, Southern Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, northern Uganda and the continued cattle rustling in north-eastern Uganda and north-western Kenya all have a direct link to the insecurity in Somalia.

It is estimated that there are up to 50,000 illegal small arms in Uganda today because we are right in the middle of a gun corridor that stretches from Somalia to Chad.

It does not take a brilliant mind to work out then, that the lawlessness in Somalia is the engine that drives this trade and this same trade feeds the continued destabilisation of the region.

Beyond altruistic considerations Uganda’s strategic interest dictates that Somalia or any neighbouring country should remain stable and peaceful..."