USA stepping up efforts to end rebellion in northern Uganda

KAMPALA, April 25, 2004 (New Vision) — The US has stepped up fresh pressure on the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) terrorists to stop spreading terror.

Speaking outside a closed-door US-sponsored regional conference on terrorism in Kampala on Wednesday 21 April night, the US ambassador to Uganda, Jimmy Kolker said: “In Uganda we have suffered from the LRA. What do the terrorists intend to achieve by targeting children, tourists, theatre-goers or business people? We know it only as murder.

“The LRA has to realize that its behaviour is very unacceptable. We are trying to get Kony to stop his war. We are talking to Sudan. We are exploring other avenues.

“The US proposal is for dialogue. But we need to protect the affected population. We are working governments in the region to reinforce security against terrorism,” he said.

Kolker added: “But the simple truth is that international solidarity against terror is its greatest threat and our most potent weapon.”

The two-day conference, code-named East African Counter Terrorism Initiative (EACTI), is part of the US’ global war on terrorism.

It was opened by the internal affairs minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

It attracted officials from Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Comoros, Madagascar, Eritrea, the US, UK, France, Italy, Japan and Germany.

Kolker said one of the anti-terror strategies is called the Terrorist Interdiction Programme (TIP).

“It is a computer-based entry control programme designed to improve border, aviation and airport security,” he said, adding that the EACTI would assist the region to track, disrupt and prosecute money laundering and terrorist financing operations.