Terrorism Fears Linger On After Bin Laden’s Fall

Tabu Butagira

3 May 2011

The reported killing of alleged terror mastermind, Osama bin Laden, may politically buoy President Obama’s government that claimed credit in its carefully-worded announcement yesterday.

But in Kampala- a close US military ally in the Great Lakes region, there is vagueness about its significance amid contradicting local opinions.

“It is a big relief to us who have suffered at the hands of terrorists,” said Brig. James Mugira, the chief of Military Intelligence. The institution Brig. Mugira heads is tasked with collating, analysing and interpreting sensitive information to detect and thwart military threats against Uganda, or its interests abroad.

It suffered a setback on July 11, last year when two bombs allegedly planted by al Shabaab, which the military says is an al Qaeda affiliate, killed at least 76 people in Kampala.

The attacks blamed on the Somali radicals were to avenge UPDF’s continued military operations, at the behest and pay of the US, in Mogadishu since 2007.

By siding with Washington early, Uganda’s security forces have been trained; received logistical supplies, top armament and cash transfers. Until the walk-to-walk demonstrations erupted on April 11, President Museveni largely escaped public criticism by the US, allowing him, according to critics, turn into a despot.

“It is an historic moment in the fight against global terror,” Fred Opolot, the executive director of Uganda Media Centre, said of bin Laden’s demise. “Uganda shall continue to support the ongoing fight against global terrorism and renew its commitment to bring to justice those who commit acts of terror in the country.”

A top Ugandan security analyst said the death of bin Laden affords Obama’s administration the liberty to spread its operational resources to chase other leaders. But at worst, it strips dictators allied to the West of the most vital scapegoat they have employed to demonise opponents at home and solicit unconditional American support.

According to Makerere University Political Science Professor Aaron Mukwaya, the threat of terrorism will linger on as long as governments do not address the causes of disillusionment, poverty and injustice that drive citizens into hopelessness and extremism.

He argues that bin Laden’s killing yesterday will have insignificant or no bearing in Uganda because the al Qaeda chief has been on the run and detached from active engagement for years, and has no brutal signature here. The US last evening pledged continued cooperation with Kampala in diminishing fresh terror attacks echoed by the al Shabaab.

Kenya rejoices

“Uganda is already playing a constructive role in the fight against global terrorism,” said Mr Joann Lockard, the Public Affairs Officer at the US embassy in Kampala. “Even if Osama has gone away, it does not mean that terrorism has gone away.”

The Lord’s Resistance Army rebels and Jamil Mukulu’s Allied Democratic Front remain the physical face of that radical threat and their elimination is top on government’s agenda, said Brig. Mugira.

Meanwhile, Kenyan leaders yesterday welcomed the death of bin Laden, the man behind the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi.

President Mwai Kibaki said it brought justice for 224 people, mostly Kenyans, who were killed in the bombings in Nairobi and Tanzania’s main city Dar es Salaam. Kenyan security services are now on high alert in case of revenge attacks.

A senior official in Kenya’s internal security ministry, Mr Francis Kimemia, told the BBC the US should also target al-Qaeda cells in East Africa.

AllAfrica – All the Time