‘Terrorism hurts growth’

By John Kakande UGANDA’s economic growth has been hampered by a 15-year terror campaign, Uganda’s acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Fred Beyendeza, has said. Speaking at the UN General Assembly debate on international terrorism on Thursday, Beyendeza said Uganda had suffered terrorism by elements who use tactics such as bombing and maiming civilians, the UN Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) said on Friday. “A sustained campaign of terrorism over the past 15 years had had a negative effect on Uganda, preventing it from surpassing an average gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.5 per cent,” Beyendeza said. He said he was encouraged to hear Sudan tell the Assembly that it would no longer allow its territory to be used by the terrorists. “Acts such as the September 11 suicide attack on the US created terror in every society, endangered lives, undermined people’s well-being and constituted a threat to international peace and security,” Beyendeza said. He said Uganda had enacted laws against aiding, financing, or supporting of terrorism punishable by life imprisonment on conviction. Byendeza said the Government would take steps to implement all the measures called for in Security Council Resolution 1373 (which followed the terrorist attacks on the US). Uganda is determined to work with the international community to fight against terrorism.