Uganda to host US-run counter-terrorism training facility

KAMPALA, May 2, 2004 (New Vision) — A counter-terrorist institute to monitor and combat terror in Africa is to be established in Gulu with support from the US.

Army spokesman Maj Shaban Bantariza last week said: “Those are security matters. We cannot discuss them. Certainly we are cooperating closely with anti-terrorist alliances like the US to get rid of the menace of terrorism.”

The US embassy spokesperson, Mark Schlachter said: “The entirety of the US counter-terrorism activities in Uganda are encapsulated by the East Africa Counter Terrorism Initiative (EACTI) and are designed to enhance the capacity of Ugandan institutions to deal with any terrorist threats.”

The Paris-based Indian Ocean Newsletter, in its latest edition reported that shortly before a recent EACTI meeting in Kampala, a group of 17 American anti-terrorism experts came to Uganda to evaluate the possibility of setting up the counter-terrorist institute.

The paper said that the US would meet the costs of building, equipment and provide instructors.

The institute is to coordinate the training and activities of anti-terrorist units in the region.

The paper reported that the institute would also enable the US to monitor terrorist activities in other African countries like Sudan, Egypt, Libya and Chad.

It added, “The group was composed of elements from a combined unit based in Florida (the base of the US Central Command), experts from the Department of Defence and three FBI agents.”