Uganda fails to arrest bomb suspect in Tanzania

Moscatello (centre) talks to Kayihura (right) and James Mugira, the CMI boss (left), after the opening of the meeting UGANDA cannot apprehend a Tanzanian accused of involvement in the Kampala July 11 terror attacks owing to procedures involved in handing him over. The suspect, according to the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, brought the killer devices into Uganda. We cannot bring him here because of the long process involved. We should look at the possibility of overcoming natural borders in fighting crime, Kayihura stated yesterday, adding that countries need to establish other mechanisms other than extradition to help in arresting terror suspects. He cited the cooperation among states under the East African Community as an avenue that can be exploited in such instances. A judge in Kenya recently made a ruling, which stopped a citizen from being extradited to Uganda where he is wanted in connection with the bombings. Kayihura was speaking yesterday during the opening ceremony of an eastern Africa counter-terrorism workshop at Protea Hotel in Kampala. Security personnel from Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, the Comoros, Djibouti and Ethiopia attended. Organised by Interpol, the two-day event will discuss terrorists travel routes to and from Somalia, the base of the al-Shabaab, threats to specific countries and use of Interpol tools to battle terror. Cooperation among security agencies, Kayihura stressed, was vital if the acts of terrorism and their perpetrators are to be curtailed. The fight against terrorism is undermined by failure to appreciate the gravity of the act. We should discuss ways of broadening the network. If we dont, I am afraid we will give the terrorists an opportunity to stage more attacks, he said. He pointed out that the attackers are sophisticated and motivated, characteristics that need superior capabilities to fight the menace. Kayihura hailed Interpol, FBI and the Kenyan Government for the help rendered after the July 11 attacks. Interpol assistant director in charge of public safety and terrorism Laurent Moscatello noted that hosting the workshop and sending a peace-keeping mission to war-torn Somalia had showed a good example to the rest of Africa. Pledging support to Uganda and other countries, he demanded that everyone joins the fight against the global problem.