MISSION KAMPALA CONCURRENCE FOR FY09 HORN OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L KAMPALA 000112

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER
SUBJECT: MISSION KAMPALA CONCURRENCE FOR FY09 HORN OF
AFRICA - COUNTERINSURGENCY ENGAGEMENT 1206 PROPOSAL

Classified By: Ambassador Steven A. Browning, Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)
.


1. (U) Summary: U.S. Mission Kampala has reviewed and
supports S/CT's proposal to provide training in Best
Practices and Lessons Learned in Counterinsurgency Operations
to Uganda to help build its capacity to perform these
operations in an effective manner that respects human rights.
Mission Kampala concurrence for this project is based on
assurances from Washington that the project will be
sufficiently flexible to allow for Mission input in shaping a
program that reflects both local conditions and the ability
of the Mission itself to adequately manage it. End summary.


2. (C) The threat of terrorism is on the rise throughout the
Horn of Africa, with Somalia serving as its epicenter.
Al-Shabaab, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization,
now exercises control over large segments of Southern
Somalia, and has sheltered and worked alongside al-Qaida (AQ)
operatives in East Africa. Uganda's military and diplomatic
efforts to the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM)
elements have encountered a number of setbacks. Al-Shabaab
now exercises control over large segments of the southern
Somalia. Al-Shabaab also shelters and works alongside
al-Qaeda operatives in East Africa. Uganda is at risk of AQ
and al-Shabaab attacks because of its strong support for
AMISOM. We note that the U.S. Mission was a selected target
for the 1998 East Africa embassy bombings, but that the
attack was foiled by the Ugandan authorities. Uganda is also
a transit point for regional AQ operatives traveling from
Sudan to Somalia and other regional states.


3. (C) There is a need to improve on GOU COIN programs
related to law enforcement, maritime security, legislative
reforms and intelligence sharing. Traditionally, successful
GOU military COIN programs focused on the internal conflicts
with the Lord's Resistance Army, the Allied Democratic Forces
and pastoralist conflicts in Karamoja. However, COIN
programs are a multi-faceted doctrine based on coordination
of military and civilian security organizations. Mission's
observations are that although the military component of COIN
is robust, civilian COIN efforts are weak, especially those
related to law enforcement, maritime security, legislation to
support the civilian branches and intelligence sharing
between security agencies. Section 1206 could assist with
providing non-lethal training and equipment to the civilian
agencies that counter AQ and Al-Shabaab threats to Uganda.


4. (C) Mission Kampala looks forward to helping to develop
and implement a 1206 project in Uganda that is in line with
local conditions and realities and for which the Mission has
the adequate management resources and capacity.

BROWNING
BROWNING