Obama sends more troops to capture Kony
A picture of a CV-22 Osprey, a decisive game changer. PHOTO BY AGENCIES
By RISDEL KASASIRA
Posted Tuesday, March 25 2014 at 02:00
Posted Tuesday, March 25 2014 at 02:00
In Summary
Good reinforcement. UPDF welcomed the move that
brings the officially acknowledged number of American troops
participating in the LRA hunt to 250.
US President Barrack Obama has ordered the deployment of an additional 150 Special Forces and aircraft to boost the hunt for the Lord’s Resistance Army rebel leader Joseph Kony in the thick jungles of central Africa. The deployment comes just weeks after the US government threatened to “review” its bilateral relations with Uganda after President Museveni signed the law that criminalises homosexuality.
US President Barrack Obama has ordered the deployment of an additional 150 Special Forces and aircraft to boost the hunt for the Lord’s Resistance Army rebel leader Joseph Kony in the thick jungles of central Africa. The deployment comes just weeks after the US government threatened to “review” its bilateral relations with Uganda after President Museveni signed the law that criminalises homosexuality.
But the Public Affairs officer at American
Embassy, Mr Daniel Travis, told the Daily Monitor yesterday that his
country can help protect both rights of LRA war victims and sexual
minorities.
“Ensuring justice and accountability for human
rights violators like the LRA and protecting LGBT rights aren’t mutually
exclusive. We can and must do both. We continue to look at additional
steps we may take to work to protect LGBT individuals from violence and
discrimination, and to urge Uganda to repeal this abhorrent law,” he
said.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces welcomed the deployment of extra forces that brings the officially acknowledged number of American troops participating in the LRA hunt to 250.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces welcomed the deployment of extra forces that brings the officially acknowledged number of American troops participating in the LRA hunt to 250.
“We have bilateral relations with the US to end
the LRA insurgency and we are still looking for him (Kony). We welcome
any extra effort that comes to help us end this problem,” UPDF
spokesperson Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, said yesterday.
Mr Travis said the deployment of CV-22 Osprey aircraft will enable quick troop movement in the war theatre.
Mr Travis said the deployment of CV-22 Osprey aircraft will enable quick troop movement in the war theatre.
“Our African partners have consistently identified
airlift as one of their greatest limiting factors as they search for
and pursue the remaining LRA leaders across a wide swath of one of the
world’s most remote regions,” he said. The Americans help the African
Regional Task Force that includes Uganda, South Sudan, Central African
Republic and DR Congo to gather intelligence on the LRA and its elusive
leader.
The Enough Project’s Ugandan researcher on LRA, Mr
Kasper Agger, yesterday observed that the CV-22 Osprey is “a decisive
game changer”. “The US and their African partner forces will now be able
to act swiftly to apprehend Kony who continues to terrorise civilians
in remote corners of central Africa. The deployment confirms US resolve
to the mission and sends a strong signal about the Obama
administration’s commitment to atrocity prevention,” he said.
Comments to Article from Ugandans
Comments to Article from Ugandans
US cuts funding to tourism, religious council
By RISDEL KASASIRA
Posted Wednesday, March 26 2014 at 02:00
Posted Wednesday, March 26 2014 at 02:00
Kampala.
The US government has continued to
cut aid to Uganda with the tourism sector and the Inter-Religious
Council of Uganda becoming the latest to experience cuts because of the
anti-gays law.
At least $6.4 million (about Shs16 billion) intended for Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) to fight HIV has been diverted to other organisations while $3 million (about Shs7 billion) designated for tourism and biodiversity promotion will be redirected to NGOs working on biodiversity protection.
At least $6.4 million (about Shs16 billion) intended for Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) to fight HIV has been diverted to other organisations while $3 million (about Shs7 billion) designated for tourism and biodiversity promotion will be redirected to NGOs working on biodiversity protection.
The Washington Post quoted the US National
Security Council spokesperson, Mr Jonathan Lalley, warning they would
continue “to look at additional steps we may take, to work to protect
LGBTs from violence and discrimination and to urge Uganda to repeal this
abhorrent law”.
But the IRCU, an organisation that brings together
different religious groups, told the Daily Monitor yesterday that they
had not received any official communication about aid cuts.
“We have not been officially informed about the cuts. We are waiting for official communication,” the IRCU spokesperson, Ms Nuliat Nambazira said.
“We have not been officially informed about the cuts. We are waiting for official communication,” the IRCU spokesperson, Ms Nuliat Nambazira said.
The Public Affairs officer at the American embassy
in Uganda, Mr Daniel Travis, said they are still looking at how they
can protect LGBT.
