INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Uganda: 2003 Annual Terrorism Report

Published: Tue 2 Dec 2003 01:06 PM
P 021306Z DEC 03
FM AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2497
UNCLAS KAMPALA 002587
STATE ALSO FOR S/CT - REAP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER UG
SUBJECT: UGANDA: 2003 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT
REF: STATE 301352
1. Kampala's submission for the 2003 Annual Terrorism
Report is keyed to reftel as follows:
A) SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS TAKEN BY HOST GOVERNMENTS TO SUPPORT
THE GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST TERRORISM, PARTICULARLY LAW
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST AL-QAIDA OPERATIVES, BUT
INCLUDING DIPLOMTIC EFFORTS AND ACTIONS TO BLOCK TERROIRST
ASSETS, ENACT NEW COUNTERTERROISM LAWS, AND RATIFY EXISTING
TREATIES.
The Ugandan Government stands firmly against terrorism,
both local and international, and has consistently offered
cooperation to support the global coalition against
terrorism. In 2002, the Government enacted the Suppression
of Terrorism Act, which imposes the death penalty for
terrorists and potential death penalty for their sponsors
and supporters. The Act's list of terrorist organizations
currently includes Al Qa'eda, the Lord's Resistance Army
(LRA), and the Allied Democratic Front (ADF). The GOU
supports all 12 counterterrorism treaties and conventions
and responded to UNSC 1373. It is currently working to
ratify or adhere to those counterterrorism treaties and
conventions not having force of law. A new anti-money
laundering bill is slated to go before Parliament for
adoption in early 2004.
B) DESCRIBE THE RESPONSE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM OF EACH
COUNTRY TO ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND/OR
SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM DURING 2003,
INCLUDING ANY HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECTIONS RELATING TO
TERRORISM. PARTICULAR ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO HOST
GOVERNMENT ACTIONS REGARDING ACTS OF TERRORISM AGAINST OR
AFFECTING U.S. CITIZENS OR FACILITIES.
Uganda's judiciary had no explicit international terrorism
cases in 2003. In the past, the ADF and some members of a
radical faction of the Ugandan Muslim community have been
accused of terrorist bombings in urban areas. In such
cases, suspects have been arrested and prosecuted. There
were no bombings in 2003, although there were many fatal
attacks by the LRA against civilian targets in northern
Uganda. There were no incidents of terrorist activity
directed against or affecting U.S. citizens or interests in
2003.
C) DID THE HOST GOVERNMENT EXTRADITE OR REQUEST THE
EXTRADITON OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS FOR PROSECTION DURING
THE YEAR? PARTICULAR ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO HOST
GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO U.S. REQUESTS FOR EXTRADITION OR
ASSISTANCE IN TERRORIST CASES.
The Government of Uganda did not extradite or request
extradition of any terrorist suspects during the year.
There are currently no extradition treaties in effect
between the United States and Uganda.
D) DESCRIBE ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO HOST GOVERNMENT
PROSECTION AND /OR EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS.
The Government of Uganda's ability to respond effectively
to terrorism is hampered by insufficient funding and
inadequate training of its security forces and judiciary.
Security organs generally coordinate poorly among
themselves, although the situation is improving with donor
assistance. Cases often languish in the judicial system and
suspects can spend years waiting for trial, despite the
best efforts of the government to reduce the backlog. There
is no extradition treaty between the United States and
Uganda and the lack could hinder effective U.S.-Uganda
counter terrorism efforts in the future, but discussions
were continuing between USG and GOU officials at year's
end.
E) DISCUSS HOST GOVERNMENT RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECTION.
THESE WOULD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, PUBLIC
STATEMENTS BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OR OFFICIAL NEWS
AGENCIES FOLLOWING A TERRORIST INCIDENT (IN OR OUTSIDE THE
COUNTRY) AND EFFORTS BY HOST GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE
TERRORIST INCIDENTS OR TO ASSIST WITH INTERNATIONAL
TERRORISM INVESTIGATIONS.
The Government of Uganda has consistently condemned
terrorism, including the 1998 Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam
Embassy bombings and the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.
Uganda was one of only four sub-Saharan African countries
to publicly support Coalition actions in Iraq. President
Museveni regularly condemns attacks which intentionally
target non-combatants.
F) DESCRIBE MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN IN
2003 BY THE HOST GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING STEPS TAKEN IN
INTERNATIONAL FORA
The Government of Uganda continued "Operation Iron Fist, an
offensive launched in March 2002 to destroy the LRA in
southern Sudan and northern Uganda. The LRA has
successfully evaded capture and continues to carry out
reprisals against civilians, even expanding attacks into
eastern Uganda. At year's end, there were an estimated 1.4
million internally displaced Ugandans, most of whom were
dependent on humanitarian food assistance. UN Under-
Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland
visited in November 2003. He called the ongoing conflict
in northern Uganda the "greatest humanitarian crisis in the
world" that has not come to the attention of the
international community.
G) DESCRIBE ANY SIGNIFICANT HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, TERRORIST, OR TERRORIST GROUPS,
INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL
SUPPORT OF TERRORISTS OR THEIR ACTIVITIES; DIPLOMATIC
SUPPORT THROUGH DIPLOMATIC RECGONITION;MISUSE OF THE
DIPLOMATIC POUCH AND OTHER DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES TO SUPPORT
TERRORISM; PROVISION OF SANCTUARY AND /OR PRESENCE OF
OFFICES OF TERRORIST GROUPS; PROVISION OF TRAINING OR
TRAINING SITES; PROVISION OF WEAPONS; AND POSITIONS TAKEN
ON TERRORISM ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL FORA
The Government of Uganda does not lend support to
international terrorism or terrorist groups.
H) HAS THE HOST GOVERNMENT MADE ANY PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN
SUPPORT OF A TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY ON A TERRORISM
ISSUE?
In 2003, the Government of Uganda made no public statements
of support of a terrorist-supporting country on a terrorism
issue.
I) DESCRIBE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SINCE 2002, POSITIVE OR
NEGATIVE, IN THE HOST GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TOWARD
TERRORISM, INTERNATIONAL OR DOMESTIC. WHAT IS RESPONSBIBLE
FOR THIS CHANGE?
There was no change in the Government's strong support
against terrorism in 2003.
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