On 15th December 2021, according to our media source, Natalie E. Brown the Ambassador of the United States (US) Mission in Uganda, while addressing journalists on the Embassy’s 2021 report to the Ugandans that explains the U.S partnership and assistance for the past one year in areas of health, education, democratic values among others.
She said that they have an active dialogue with Ugandan officials regarding the security in the country.
Asked why the released report is silent about the security partnerships, the Ambassador said that there is no new assistance in the security sector.
She said that what they do in partnership with Uganda and security is mostly in Somalia, for AMISOM, for the mission there of which Uganda is the largest troop contributing country helping to try and bring some safety and stability to that area, that what they do is actually in Somalia so that is why it is not reflected in their report.
She added that for almost 60 years, the US has been working in partnership with Ugandan institutions and people and that there is strong dialogue, sharing of information, discussion of security concerns and exploring ways that they can work together to address some of the coming threats like terrorism.
Brown revealed that the US has an active dialogue with Ugandan officials on security but declined to reveal details.
Addressing the Uganda People’s Defence Forces-UPDF entry into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in pursuit of the Allied Democratic Forces-ADF rebels, the Ambassador said that security within the country and the region is a very important topic.
That they have seen in the last couple of weeks what is happening along the border between Uganda and DRC and the unfortunate attacks here in Kampala in November that claimed lives, and in all those development they talk about the growth and the need to have a secure environment.
Brown added that there is a threat not just in Uganda and neighboring countries but to all people around the world posed by the terror networks.
She further said that United States is committed to working with partners to address terror threats.
The Ambassador commended the strong communication and partnership that is happening currently between Uganda and the DRC, noting that they think that it is also extremely important that both Uganda and the DRC coordinate closely with MONUSCO (The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) which has a presence in the region to address the threat.
She says that there is need to make sure that there is maximum effort to minimize the threat on civilian population.