Rwanda, Uganda intensify anti-terrorism initiative

Officials from Rwanda National Police (RNP) joined their counterparts from Uganda in a bid to discuss initiatives on how to increase their surveillance and awareness campaigns against terrorist activities along border posts.

Intelligence officers from both countries met in Kagitumba town, a border town in Nyagatare District, on December 15, where they engaged in a high level discussion about the activities of terrorist groups like FDLR, and also reminded migration officers to be vigilant against any suspicious individuals.

The head of the Rwandan delegation, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), John Baptiste Murangwa, the Director of Counter Terrorism Unit, reminded the participants that terrorism is a major threat to the world’s development, as was witnessed in the 2001 attacks on the American World Trade Center Twin Towers, embassy bombings, the 1998 embassy bombings in Nairobi, the 2010 attacks on Uganda by Al Shabaab and the most recent West Gate Mall attack in Nairobi by Al Shabaab in 2013.

“Terror attacks and networks across the region are creating a shift in the security system. No single state in the region can claim that it is exonerated from such attacks. Therefore, there is need for deliberate renewed commitment of the partner states between governments, private sector and security institutions in fighting the vice,” CSP Murangwa said.

“Our region is infested with terror groups such as FLDR in Eastern DRC, LRA, Al Shabaab and Boko Haram among others. Most of them are driven by political ideologies like genocide, or reactionary myths or radicalism. They are the agents of destruction – but we are the agents of peace and we should ensure that we win this war.”

The Ugandan Chief Technical Officer for Counter Terrorism, Assistant Commissioner of Police, David Wasswa, warned that terrorists always mingle with the public like harmless people and usually hit when it is least expected, which is reason enough to always be on the lookout even when there seems to be peace.

“Terrorists always seek for targets that are symbolic such as government heads or national landmarks. They also target places with many people such as markets, hospitals or hotels, or important infrastructure. No single nation can defeat terrorists alone and that is why we must work together,” he said.

“The most important effective solution requires a holistic government approach and unity amongst all agencies. We should remind our people that they have a huge role against these terrorists and should report any suspicious objects or individuals before it is too late.”

It is said that terrorist cells are heavily funded through money laundering, an illegal act that should be curbed in order to cut terrorists from their life source.

In his presentation, the acting Director of the Financial Investigation Unit, Chief Inspector of Police, David Bwimba, warned that money laundering has enabled to illegally fund terrorism – and is connected to other international crimes such as tax evasion and drugs trafficking.

“There still exists a lack of awareness by all institutions involved about the linkage between money laundering and terrorism and we need to do more awareness, both in government and private business organizations,” he said.

“Financial institutions should ensure that business is conducted in the conformity with high ethical standards.”

The meeting, which is part of other series that happened in the past, and others that will follow, is in line with the memorandum of understanding signed between the two forces in April 2012 to enhance bilateral cooperation.

The cooperation also includes collaboration in management of disasters, sharing of experiences, mutual assistance in tracking, arrest and repatriation of suspects and conducting joint operations.

It is also in line with the April 2014 decision by the East African Community member states which resolved to implement a common anti-terrorism strategy to combat terror and other transnational crimes. They then reached a decision to adopt the Regional Counter Terrorism Strategy at the 12th East African Community Extraordinary Heads of State Summit held in Arusha, Tanzania.