UGANDA/SOMALIA: AMISOM SECURITY FOR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION

UNCLAS KAMPALA 001194 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/RSA BITTRICK AND ORTH; AF/E FOR GAREY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR SO UG SUBJECT: UGANDA/SOMALIA: AMISOM SECURITY FOR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION CONGRESS REF: STATE 99425 ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel, Political/Economic Chief and Defense Attache personnel have raised the issue of security arrangements for the National Reconciliation Congress (NRC) with Ugandan Peoples' Defense Forces Joint Chief of Staff BG Robert Rusoke and UPDF Spokesman Major Felix Kulayigye on July 18 and 20. The talking points and Joint Security Mechanism responsibilities also were given to Minister of Defense Crispus Kiyonga. ¶2. (SBU) Kulayigye stated that Captain Paddy Ankunda's comments were taken out of context. The UPDF is stretched thin and each of the 900 participants in the NRC cannot expect personal security guarantees. Rusoke and Kulayigye both stated that the UPDF considers providing security for the NRC as part of its mandate and would participate on the Joint Security Mechanism. Rusoke emphasized that the AMISOM's top priority is providing protection to the Transitional Federal Government. BROWNING