EAC MEETING AND UPDATE ON KAMPALA CONFRONTATIONS

UNCLAS KAMPALA 001045 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC PINS ASEC PGOV MOPS UG SUBJECT: EAC MEETING AND UPDATE ON KAMPALA CONFRONTATIONS REF: KAMPALA 01044 ¶1. (SBU) The Mission's Emergency Action Committee (EAC) convened at 1000 hours to coordinate its security posture in response to ongoing violence and riots in Kampala (reftel). ¶2. (SBU) The RSO noted that rioting was spreading as unemployed youths and others take advantage of the deteriorating security situation. There are no indications that any of the rioters are targeting Americans or Westerners. ¶3. (SBU) The EAC recommended that U.S. Mission employees remain where they are until we are able to reassess the situation later on this afternoon. However, those employees, both direct and local hire, wishing to leave work early were given authorization to do so. As of 1400 hours, all American Mission employees, TDY staff, and Peace Corps Volunteers were safe and accounted for and have been told to coordinate any travel regarded as essential with the RSO. ¶4. (SBU) The Mission initially advised the International School of Uganda (ISU),where approximately 80 U.S. Mission children attend school, to hold children at the school until further notice. Subsequently, during a lull in the unrest, the Mission recommended that students be sent home early at 1330. As of 1400, buses are enroute, accompanied by Mission-facilitated Ugandan Police escorts. While the area around ISU is not affected by the riots, the Entebbe road which links ISU to central Kampala, is the site of continued protests, burning tires, and sporadic gunfire. The Mission is also coordinating with two other local schools where Mission children are located to ensure that these children are also safe. ¶5. (SBU) The Mission is reviewing its communication procedures to include phone trees, radio networks, SMS capability, and cell phones. Increased cell phone usage in Kampala is hampering communications. ¶6. (SBU) Post is drafting for Department clearance a warden message and travel warning advising American citizens of the Mission's decision to instruct employees and dependents to defer all but essential travel within Kampala and between Kampala and the airport in Entebbe until further notice as continued unrest is likely. With the King of Buganda still planning on visiting Kayunga District on Saturday, September 12, and the Ugandan Government insisting that the visit will not go forward, we expect more confrontations tomorrow. LANIER