UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
Uganda: Rebel Group Threatens Foreigners, 4/22/99

Uganda: Rebel Group Threatens Foreigners, 4/22/99

UGANDA: Rebel group threatens foreigners

NAIROBI, 22 April (IRIN) - Diplomatic missions and humanitarian agencies in Uganda on Thursday confirmed they had received threats from a rebel group based in western Uganda.

The little-known group, the National Union/Army for the Liberation of Uganda (NALU), based in Kisinga in Kasese district, in a letter dated 4 April, warned Canadian, European and US nationals that it would "shoot and kill" them, diplomatic and humanitarian sources told IRIN.

Top of the list were British, North American, Scandinavian and German nationals because their countries "are supporting the current dictatorial, militaristic, despotic, corrupt and undemocratic regime," the letter reportedly said.

Missions and agencies have taken some precautionary measures. "Beyond issuance of the advisories we cannot do much, but we have told our nationals the area is unsafe," a diplomat told IRIN. Another said that despite the group's insignificance, "we cannot dismiss it totally, although their letter was quite unspecific".

Some analysts say this group is a mouthpiece rather than an organised group and should not be given too much credence "because its capability is doubtful".

However, according to David Ouma Balikowa, the deputy editor of Uganda's independent daily newspaper 'The Monitor', "you cannot dismiss anything in Uganda". He told IRIN that NALU works very closely with the more threatening Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) who have been active in the Bundibugyo district of western Uganda.

[ENDS]

Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1999 18:08:09 +0300 (EAT) From: IRIN - Central and Eastern Africa <irin@ocha.unon.org> Subject: UGANDA: Rebel group threatens foreigners [19990422]

Editor: Dr. Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D

Previous Menu Home Page What's New Search Country Specific