Assessment of Policy and Institutional Approaches to International Terrorism in Uganda

Abstract

Introduction Uganda is one of the countries that have suffered the consequences of international terrorism and remains among those targeted for more terrorist attacks. Different approaches have been used to contain international terrorism and domestic collaborators in Uganda. Particularly lethal terrorist groups for whom policy and administrative responses were formulated in the case o Uganda inlude al-Shabaab, the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). Using an intensive desk review methodology the study established first, that almost all terrorist groups operating in Uganda and East Africa in general seem to draw material support, training and profound inspiration from the Middle East terrorist organizations. Indeed, the local terrorist groups have adopted the same terrorist strategies such as use of female and child suicide bombers against civilian targets, use of suicide vests, and making of declarations of alllegiance to Middle East based terrorist outfits. Second, the major policy and institutional approaches employed include those which accentuate continuous efforts to design and execute antiterrorist legal instruments, establishment of specialist security, administrative, and legal agencies. Third, results suggest that reforming existing administrative structures, procedural responses to terrorism, and coordination of government agencies’ security roles with those of other countries through Interpol constituted yet another strategic response against terrorism. Fourth, the policy and institutional approaches which have been used in Uganda appear to have been boosted by recent successful operations against terrorist networks in East Africa, including Kenya, Somalia and Uganda. Overall, results suggest that the security and legal responses, their levels of success, and the challenges encountered will continue to provide the basis for appropriate terrorism policy responses which must be coordinated at national, regional, and global levels.