The Monitor (Kampala)
September 10, 2003
Posted to the web September 10, 2003
Emma Mutaizibwa
Kampala
President Yoweri Museveni has warned the Khartoum government against aiding the Lord's Resistance Army.
Mr Museveni delivered the warning while addressing Members of Parliament on the security situation in the country at the International Conference Centre in Kampala on Monday night.
"I was forced to talk to [Sudanese president Omar el] Bashir on the peace deal. But Sudan continues doing things clandestinely," Museveni said.
"Do they know what can happen?"
The president also warned against interference in the internal affairs of Uganda.
"Birds of the same feathers flock together. So the bad outsiders must get a clear message not to interfere with my family. You can only interfere with my family at your own risk," the president said in a stern voice.
The president also made reference to a recent incident in Teso, where his convoy arrived at the scene of a rebel ambush minutes after it had occurred, and said that he would disarm the rebels.
"Recently the LRA tried to ambush me with the B-10 guns they got from Sudan but the presidential guard dispersed them.
"We shall capture those arms from the bandits and that is what we did with [former president Milton] Obote; he could buy arms from North Korea and we would capture them," the president said.
No amnesty for Kony
President Museveni said he was committed to defending the country against any form of aggression.
"It is a mistake for people to think Uganda is a football pitch. They forget that I have been in this fighting business for 33 years," he said.
"We shall not get peace if we take the line of begging," he said. He ruled out extending amnesty to the leaders of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army, including Joseph Kony.
"If you see the atrocities these bandits have meted out at civilians, they should never have been granted amnesty in the first place," Museveni said.
"It is my intention not to renew amnesty," he added. The president said that amnesty would only be extended to people who were abducted.
"There should be a distinction between ring leaders and the victims. We shall not grant amnesty to Mr Joseph Kony, Mr Vincent Otti and Mr Charles Tabuley," Museveni said.
Tough words for MPs
In the heated meeting that lasted about five hours, President Museveni then turned his guns on some MPs, whom he accused of supporting the rebellion.
"Now I hear there are MPs going to Teso telling the people not to defend themselves. I am consulting with the [Director of Public Prosecutions] DPP because I think this is subversion of national security," he said.
"If a criminal rings you, report to police. If you don't you will be arrested for an offence of misprision of treason," he said.
"I would like to warn those politicians who deal with terrorists that if you are convicted you will hang by the neck," he said.
Museveni also warned soldiers lacking in their performance that they would die by firing squad.
Museveni slammed the LRA and Kony as a desperate force that will soon be wiped out if they don't surrender.
"These political and criminal parasites don't mind about other people's suffering. They kill the old, the children, infect others with Aids, and destroy people's livelihood. They are bankrupt and because of their selfish greed, they have no capacity to comprehend other peoples' values," he said.
"I have studied these bandits for long. I will soon finish them off," he added.
'Kony like Pharaoh'
President Museveni equated Kony to the biblical Egyptian Pharaoh, whose heart was hardened by God not to release the Israelites.
"I think God has hardened his [Kony] heart so that he could get a worse punishment," he said.
Museveni described the LRA's incursion into Teso as a desperate attempt to flee combat fire from the UPDF.
"Kony thought that he could go to Teso and would encounter a small force of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit but he is mistaken. We did not remove any soldiers from 4th division and 5th division because we have enough forces in Teso. But I am happy with the people of Teso and Lango who have joined the uprising to fight criminals," he said.
Still drawing references from the Bible, the president equated the struggle against Kony to the story of the road to heaven.
"In the Bible it says the road going to hell is wide and easy. But there is a small path with thorns and stones that leads to heaven," he said.
"Our struggle is the same; it is difficult but we shall succeed in the end," he said.
Barbs for The Monitor
At the same meeting, President Museveni repeated accusations that The Monitor newspaper is a traitor.
In a letter written on Sunday, the president accused The Monitor of being traitors, evil minded, greedy, and of supporting the LRA rebels.
"The Monitor is dead now. It is worried the people of Teso have become militarised. But is it government or Kony who militarised them?" he asked.
"Monitor our dear paper, our dear editor, Mr Wafula Oguttu ... He did not sleep ... He had to write the editorial. This is indeed a strange editor who could write this when people are defending themselves," he said.
Oguttu, who is the editor in chief and managing director of The Monitor, said on Monday that the paper stands for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in northern Uganda.
The president said that peace had returned to the districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader.
He told MPs that sticking to Constitutionalism and strengthening the defence expenditure would solve Uganda's internal problems.
MPs react to Museveni
The chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, MP Simon Mayende (Samia Bugwe South) promised to support the president over Sudan.
"If it is Sudan, Parliament is ready to support you fully to resolve the conflict once and for all," Mayende said.
Mr Omodi Okot (Kole) told Mr Museveni to think about the time after his term in office.
"If you leave office, Mr President, you may be prosecuted for the war. You can see the example of Mr Daniel arap Moi, Fredrick Chiluba and Mr Charles Taylor," he said.
"Mr President you are a Christian and the best solution in Christianity is forgiveness. Are you prepared to fight to the end without considering peace talks as an alternative?" he asked.
In response, the president said: "Because I fear being taken to court I should forgive killers? That is wrong".
Mr Patrick Amuriat (Kumi) and Mr Reagan Okumu (Aswa) accused unnamed government officials of painting a bad picture of some politicians before the president.
Museveni praised Lira Municipality MP, Ms Cecilia Ogwal, on her stand on security matters.
"I know she has confused people in Lango not to vote for me but I have no problem with Ogwal on security matters. Vincent Otti called her the other day but she told him off and she prayed for him to stop fighting.
"She did not know that we knew about their conversation. You know these days it is simple to know what goes on with modern technology," Museveni said.
