Ugandan army won’t redeploy in southern Sudan, says Museveni

By Carolyne Nakazibwe, The Monitor

NAKASERO, Uganda, Feb 12, 2004 — President Yoweri Museveni has said the UPDF is concentrating on wiping out rebels inside Uganda before thinking about stepping back into the Sudan.

“Ugandans cannot go on dying like this,” he reportedly said at State House, Nakasero on Tuesday.

Museveni was meeting The Monitor’s Managing Editor Editor Mr David Ouma Balikowa and New Vision’s News Editor Mr J.B Wasswa.

At the meeting, the president told the editors that the rebel insurgency is in its dying moments.

He described last Thursday’s killings in Abia displaced people’s camp in Lira district as a “hiccup” which was being followed up.

Suspected LRA rebels clubbed scores of people to death in camps and several others escaped with severe injuries.

“When I came back I was very angry with the commanders and sent a message for them to hunt for the culprits,” Museveni reportedly said.

He also said that since the incident, the army has killed six rebels, captured two, while four others have surrendered with weapons.

This is the second time the president is discussing the Abia incident with media bosses from Uganda’s two dailies in less than a week.

The president first met with The Monitor’s Managing Director Mr Wafula Oguttu and New Vision’s Editor-in-Chief Mr William Pike on Saturday at the State Lodge.

In the latest meeting, Museveni said the “bandits” had been wiped out of Teso and Lango was becoming clear.

He again commended the Amuka Group, a militia in Lango for its bravery.
He said the operation in Lango was going very smoothly until that (Abia) “hiccup.”

The Minister of state for Information Mr Nsaba Buturo and the president’s Deputy Press Secretary Mr Onapito Ekomoloit attended the meeting.