Kony will be brought to justice - AFRICOM

By Henry Mukasa

The Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) Gen. Carter F. Ham has stated that he is confident the Lord's Resistance Army chief, Joseph Kony will be brought to justice.

"I am confident Joseph Kony (LRA leader) will be brought to justice. I am not confident when it will happen,' Gen Ham remarked in an interview with New Vision.

'It is looking for a small group in a vast rugged area. The capture of Acellam is a good step. The questions that will be asked Acellam will help the forces learn about the status of LRA,' he pointed out. The US has contributed 100 special forces to help UPDF and other regional forces in the hunt for Kony.

The LRA field commander, Maj. Gen Caesar Acellam was captured recently by the UPDF on the banks of the River Mbou in the Central African Republic.

In the interview, Gen. Ham saluted the UPDF for the successes in efforts to stabilise Somalia and ridding Mogadishu of the Al Shabaab militants.

'There is no question that from a security point of view Somalia has improved. The Uganda people should be proud of the professionalism of the soldiers in Mogadishu,' Gen. Ham said .

"Uganda has provided the AMISOM force commander and the largest number of troops. They have been effective and brave. Sadly there were casualties who and their families should not be forgotten," he added.

Gen. Ham, who heads heads the US African Command based in Stuttgart - Germany was in the country to attend the conference of Land Forces Commanders of Africa that closed at Munyonyo on Friday.

On the conflict between Sudan and South Sudan, Gen. Ham insisted that the best way out is a negotiated settlement.

"There is no military solution to the conflict between the two. The US has sent a special envoy to seek opportunity for a peaceful solution. The challenge to the two nations is whether their actions match their words,' Gen. Ham explained.