VZCZCXYZ0012
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKM #0342/01 0591228
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 281228Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY KAMPALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8318
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KAMPALA 000342 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/17 
TAGS: PREL EAID KPKO MOPS ET SO ER KE UG
SUBJECT: UGANDA: ACTION ITEMS ON SOMALIA FROM EUCOM DEPUTY 
COMMANDER GENERAL WARD'S VISIT 
 
Classified By: P/E Chief Kathleen FitzGibbon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d 
). 
 
¶1. (C)  Summary: Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command 
General William Ward, discussed a wide range of issues with 
Ugandan military and civilian officials during his visit to 
Uganda from February 27 to 28.  Ward praised President 
Museveni's commitment to regional stability.  Senior military 
officers briefed Ward on deployment preparations for Somalia. 
 Ugandan officials requested U.S. assistance in providing 
coastal security off Somalia, intelligence-sharing, donor 
assistance to rebuild Somalia's wrecked infrastructure, and 
U.S. pressure on the Transitional Federal Government to be 
inclusive.  End Summary. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MUSEVENI 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶2.  (C)  President Yoweri Museveni told General Ward that 
many security problems were not difficult to solve. 
Outsiders, however, often under or overestimated the 
problems.  Museveni said that Uganda had resolved many of its 
own issues and regional disputes, often alone.  Museveni 
stressed the problem of Arab fundamentalism and the 
instability caused by undemocratic forces in the region.  He 
explained to Ward Uganda's doctrine of only fighting just 
wars, and the necessity of clearly defining the purpose of 
any mission.  General Ward emphasized that the U.S. 
understands the importance of African countries resolving 
African problems.  He added that the U.S. is cautious about 
becoming involved if it would create more problems.  There 
are times when it was better for the U.S. to play a 
supporting, not lead role, stated Ward.  Museveni agreed and 
added that there were instances when the support of 
international partners was helpful.  Museveni said that 
Uganda has the courage to undertake difficult missions, but 
not the money.  He expressed appreciation for the logistics 
support from the U.S. for the Somalia deployment. 
 
¶3.  (C) Ward urged Museveni to send his best military 
planners to the the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) 
planning cell.  Ward argued that Uganda had an important 
stake in the current and future details, particularly on 
resources for the deployment.  During his visit to Addis 
Ababa, Ward noted that the African Union's planning cell was 
one element of the process that was not adequately resourced. 
 Museveni agreed and said that the most successful operations 
in Africa have been at the regional, not AU level.  General 
Ward encouraged Museveni and his Kenyan, Ethiopian, and 
Tanzanian counterparts to remain engaged on the political 
front in Somalia.  Museveni assured Ward that Uganda was 
cooperating with its neighbors on Somalia and other security 
issues.  He admitted that there was a tendency to send weak 
personnel to fill certain AU positions, but agreed that 
Uganda would pay more attention to the planning element. 
 
¶4.  (C)  During a February 27 press conference, Ward 
explained the genesis of the new Africa Command.  Both Ward 
and Museveni rejected the notion that Uganda's deployment to 
Somalia was an example of the U.S. using proxies to fight the 
global war on terror.  Museveni explained his longstanding 
commitment to fighting terrorists.  Museveni also said that 
Uganda would need a "green light" before it could exercise 
any military options against the "terrorist" Lord's 
Resistance Army in the Congo. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
SOMALIA DEPLOYMENT REQUESTS 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶5.  (C)  Ugandan military and civilian officials made several 
requests during meetings with General Ward.  Chief of Defense 
Forces Aronda Nyakairima said that during a recent visit to 
Mogadishu, that he learned of many Islamists who had fled to 
Yemen to regroup and return to Somalia.  Aronda asked Ward 
for U.S. help in patrolling Somalia's long sea border to 
interdict them.  Without a secure sea border, Uganda's 
ability to stabilize the situation would be undermined. 
General Ward said that he would raise this issue with the 
U.S. Central Command, in whose area of responsibility Somalia 
falls. 
 
¶6.  (C)  The second request was to share intelligence. 
Aronda and General Wamala Katumba, the Commander of Uganda's 
Land Forces, told General Ward that the peace support mission 
would be intelligence-led.  Aronda said that an officer was 
selected to fill a liaison position in Djibouti and another 
for the African Union.  On the political side, the Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs would appoint a career foreign service 
 
officer to handle political issues.  Aronda stated that 
individuals that are undermining peace and stability needed 
to be identified and prevented from causing trouble.  Aronda 
identified three subversive elements: the remnants of the 
Islamic militias, warlords, and free-lance militias.  These 
groups believe it is best not to have a government in 
Somalia.  It will be important to be able to "weed them out" 
without hurting the general population. 
 
¶7.  (C)  Thirdly, Aronda and Minister of Defense Crispus 
Kiyonga stressed the importance of the peace-building effort, 
especially pressure on the Transitional Federal Government to 
be as inclusive as possible.  Aronda estimated the length of 
the Ugandan deployment to be eighteen months, which would 
provide enough time for Uganda to train security forces. 
However, the donors needed to help restore basic services to 
Somalia, such as water, health care, and education so that 
the Somali people begin to value having a government. 
Ambassador Browning said that the Embassy would help Ugandan 
officials make contact with members of the International 
Contact Group.  This would give Uganda a better picture of 
what types of development actitivies were being planned. 
 
¶8.  (C)  Defense Permanent Secretary Noble Mayombo asked when 
the funds for sustaining the contingent would be available. 
The Ambassador said that the Congressional notification had 
been made and that the Embassy would follow up.  Earlier, 
Aronda also asked when the training for another battalion 
would begin. DATT responded that the African Contingency 
Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) officers would 
return later this month to plan the arrival of the trainers. 
 
- - - - 
COMMENT 
- - - - 
 
¶9.  (C)  General Ward's visit further demonstrated to the 
Ugandan Government the U.S. Government's commitment to work 
with Uganda on peace and security issues.  President Museveni 
and other civilian and military officials expressed 
appreciation for U.S. assistance, particularly the hard work 
of the Defense Attache. 
 
BROWNING