Mercy Nalugo, Yasiin Mugerwa & Charles Mwanguhya
6 June 2008
Kampala — President Yoweri Museveni announced yesterday that his government is ready to "destroy" the Lord's Resistance Army rebel leader, Joseph Kony.
Kony, currently believed to be hiding in the DR Congo Garamba forest, has since refused to sign a final peace settlement to the 20-year-old rebel insurgency in northern Uganda.
The sticking point appears to be the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Kony, and some of his generals. Kony says he will not sign a peace deal until the warrants are withdrawn.
Giving his annual State of the Nation address in Parliament yesterday, Mr Museveni assured Ugandans that the army is ready to flush Kony out of the DRC if President Joseph Kabila and the UN give Uganda a go-ahead.
"I can assure all of you Ugandans that Kony cannot disturb the peace in northern Uganda given the nature of professionalism of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces. We now have sophisticated equipment and are ready to respond," he said.
"Since Kony is in Congo, it is now the responsibility of Kabila and the UN to call on us. Incase Congo asks for our assistance, we are ready and prepared to go and destroy him," Mr Museveni added.
He warned that if Kony comes back to Uganda, the army shall "destroy" him like it did in Teso region.
He noted that the security of the country "is excellent" adding that the army is ready to deal with any armed forces that may pose a threat to the security of the country.
The President's strong warning to the LRA comes as a result of the failed peace talks.
Early this week the army announced that the negotiations are no more since Kony has not responded positively and that they would use a military approach to silence him with full support of other countries in the Great Lakes region.
Commenting on the rising crime rates in the country, President Museveni warned that whoever shall be found in possession of a gun illegally will be courtmartialled.
"We are going to try all those found with guns in the court martial. Let us save you [referring to the Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki] from dealing with those caught with guns," he said.
He said when such criminals are tried in the court martial, "Uganda will remain peaceful".
"Those holding guns are volunteers and they were not recruited by the army. Let's deal with them once and for all," he said.
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