UPDF to stay in Sudan
Nov 07, 2002
The UPDF military operations against the LRA in southern Sudan will go on pending a new protocol being negotiated with the Khartoum government, army spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza said
By Richard Mutumba
The UPDF military operations against the LRA in southern Sudan will go on pending a new protocol being negotiated with the Khartoum government, the army spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza, said yesterday at the weekly press briefing.
The Sudanese ambassador to Uganda, Yousuf Hamid Sirajuddin, said, “Uganda’s presence in the Sudan is illegal since the protocol expired on September 14. Negotiations are going on to legalise and extend their stay,â€
The envoy said renewal of the protocol took long because Sudan was waiting for a formal request from Uganda. He said the new protocol will be out within a few days.
Bantariza said Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA, had not been able to sneak out of Sudan.
On the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Bantariza said some opportunistic armed groups had taken advantage of the departure of foreign forces from the region to start destabilising areas on the border.
He said the UPDF had deployed in the area and was handling the situation effectively.
Bantariza dismissed reports that the LRA was exchanging captives with arms. He said this could have been so in the past, but was not the case presently.
The Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry, Prof. Edward Rugumayo, also briefed journalists on government’s efforts to ensure standards of Uganda’s exports.
Rugumayo said the Uganda Investment Authority, the Uganda Tourism Board and the Export Promotions Board will merge into one company next financial year.
The UPDF military operations against the LRA in southern Sudan will go on pending a new protocol being negotiated with the Khartoum government, the army spokesman, Maj. Shaban Bantariza, said yesterday at the weekly press briefing.
The Sudanese ambassador to Uganda, Yousuf Hamid Sirajuddin, said, “Uganda’s presence in the Sudan is illegal since the protocol expired on September 14. Negotiations are going on to legalise and extend their stay,â€
The envoy said renewal of the protocol took long because Sudan was waiting for a formal request from Uganda. He said the new protocol will be out within a few days.
Bantariza said Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA, had not been able to sneak out of Sudan.
On the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Bantariza said some opportunistic armed groups had taken advantage of the departure of foreign forces from the region to start destabilising areas on the border.
He said the UPDF had deployed in the area and was handling the situation effectively.
Bantariza dismissed reports that the LRA was exchanging captives with arms. He said this could have been so in the past, but was not the case presently.
The Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry, Prof. Edward Rugumayo, also briefed journalists on government’s efforts to ensure standards of Uganda’s exports.
Rugumayo said the Uganda Investment Authority, the Uganda Tourism Board and the Export Promotions Board will merge into one company next financial year.