Ugandan President ‘I Can Finish Kony in 30 Minutes’
by Oketch Bitek, The Monitor.
Sep 3, 2005 (Gulu) — President Yoweri Museveni has said the rebel LRA leader Joseph Kony will not come back to Uganda.
The President said if the Sudan government allows the UPDF to pursue Kony, they can finish him in 30 minutes.
He made the remarks on Thursday in Gulu town during the official opening of the newly built regional Bank of Uganda offices.
Sources who attended the function quoted Museveni as saying, “Kony is now finished. He will not come to Uganda alive. We used to fight Kony with one dimension but now we have a multi dimension. If President Omar Bashir gives me permission, it will not take 30 minutes to finish him.”
The President said even if Kony goes to Khartoum, Ugandan forces will follow him to answer for his crimes against humanity. To prove his point that Kony is now weak, Museveni said the rebel leader is left with 80 people around him and is currently bent on fleeing.
“Kony has now fled with 80 people to north of Torit- Juba Road, beyond the red line. Dominic Ongwen, a rebel commander is the one loitering in northern Uganda and terrorising people in Pader district. I will ask Gen. Bashir that we launch a combined operation with Sudanese army, the SPLA against the LRA,” the sources quoted Museveni as saying.
Museveni said the UPDF will get Kony and he will answer for his crimes against humanity.
“He killed many innocent people, abducted children, raped women and infected young girls with Aids. Why should we forgive him?” the President asked.
On lack of development in the north, Museveni said it is true that northern Uganda has suffered more and is poorer than other parts of the country due to the rebel LRA terrorists activities in the region.
“The NRM government will defeat all the LRA terrorists remaining and will accord northern Uganda the same status like other parts of the country… the problem is Kony and his LRA terrorists… we are trying to bring development to northern Uganda but the war has spoilt pour plans.” Said Museveni.
He added that he has refused ideas being advanced by some people that Kony should be begged to stop atrocities against people in the region.
“We have rejected some people’s request to beg Ladit Kony that you have killed a lot can you now atop?” queried the president.
The function was attended civil heads, business community security personnel and other stake holders.