UGANDA: ACTION ITEMS ON SOMALIA FROM EUCOM DEPUTY

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