The Commander in Chief of the armed forces in Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni has vowed that government will spare no effort at ensuring that terrorism activities that have cropped up in the capital Kampala are stopped.
Warning those perpetrating the terror, Gen Museveni said that when security forces catch up with the terrorists, they should not attempt to run but rather surrender or else they shall be killed in the process.
Mr Museveni’s stern warning comes days after police and sister agencies in Namuwongo, Kampala, shot dead a terrorism suspect and arrested two others following a tip off from another group that were arrested and charged for their involvement in the double murder of Nantogo Brenda and Kayondo Haruna; and the attempted assassination of Transport Minister, General Katumba Wamala.
Mr Museveni who was the Chief Guest at the swearing-in ceremony on July 8 of the 15 ministers who missed out last month, announced a series of measures that are aimed at nipping the re-emerging security threats in Kampala and Karamoja regions.
“And terrorists, I am warning you, dont run. If we come, surrender! If you try to run, you are dead. You have been looking for trouble but now you are going to get it. You have been killing our people, but now you are going to die. Your only way out is to surrender,” Museveni warned.
According to the CIC, government is going to intensify technological means like putting digital monitors in every car and motorcycles.
If you try to remove them, we will see you and go after you. Previously the country was faced with terrorists such as Kony in the north, ADF in the Rwenzori region who were attacking people but were defeated after the army developed capacity to defeat them in forests and mountains,” he revealed.
The president further revealed that it is until four years ago when urban terrorism emerged four years ago however, urban terrorism emerged and started a new way especially the ADF who would plant bombs but were still defeated.
“They started a method of assassinations. They started with Sheiks who didnt agree with them, Magezi who was prosecuting them and other people. They were using three things; concealment, large numbers of people and fast moving by boda bodas. I pointed out all these in Parliament urban based terrorism and measures to defeat it,” he said.
He advised security forces to continue using human source information but use digital technology to detect and following up criminals.
These criminals are like jiggers. A few times, that jiggers entered my feet. You would feel the whole foot itching. If not wise, you cut off whole foot. But I would look for the eye of the jigger where it is, then go for the eye and push and get it out and burn it. I told police. Look for the jigger, dont cut the foot, the President said.
He explained that during the initial killings, there were no cameras. When government installed the cameras, criminals went silent until recently when they came out and tried to kill Gen. Katumba Wamala but instead ended up killing his daughter and driver.
“We now went for them. They had covered themselves thinking they were clever. Our people were able to use cameras. They were able to identify some of the people and when we got hold of those, they told us the others. We have broken that group. Three of them were killed trying to fight the police. The others are going to be charged in the courts of law. Others are on the run but we shall get them,” he said.
According to Museveni, when a robbers robbed 400million in Nansana, they took it to Congo to finance terrorism adding that he is in talks with the regional friends about the ADF group linked to ADF in Congo.
“The other day when they killed Susan Magara for ransom, these fellows went to buy land in Mukono and Buikwe to support activities of ADF. Surrender! Tell us you may go to jail, courts may condemn you to die but you are not dead yet, or maybe the President may reduce the sentence. But thinking that you will continue killing our people and continue to survive, you are deceiving your selves, you will die,” he warned.
Commenting about cattle rustling in Karamoja, he said rustlers were making a comeback and bringing trouble to karamajongs but advised them to stop as they are organising the army to hunt them down.
“We are going to launch a very serious offensive in Karamoja and those involved will regret why they are doing what they are doing,” said Museveni.
On the issue of Social Media, President Museveni said security services should quickly investigate and follow up individuals who peddle false news on social media.
“We need to solve this issue. It is not security but an idiotic problem.Social media has been saying Museveni is dead. When I went to Bombo people were looking. Because they had been told by social media that Museveni is dead. Security service needs to solve that problem. They need to check and locate quickly, the one who tells such as story and waste peoples time. They should go for you, locate where you are and come for you. If you are in Europe, we denounce you. Say go to hell!” he said.