Matek
Museveni declares Teso fighting over
By Badru D. Mulumba
Jan 2, 2004
KAMPALA â President Museveni has signalled an end to the Teso rebel insurgency.
And it is a matter of time, Mr Museveni says, before the UPDF kills rebel leader Joseph Kony.
âThe Kony terror in the northeast has been defeated decisively. Many Kony fighters were killed,â Museveni declared.
This is about the second time in as many months he is declaring an end to the war, since the UPDF launched Operation Iron Fist early last year, under a bilateral protocol that allows the army to pursue the Lordâs Resistance Army rebels deep into the Sudan.
âGiven the improved equipment of the UPDF, it is only a matter of time before the UPDF kills Otti and Kony just as we killed many of the bandit leaders,â he said in his New Yearâs message to the nation.
âThe north will get peace.â
Museveni said that 568 rebels returned from the bush, and 7,299 abductees liberated in 2003.
âThe remnants of Kony have now fled back to the Acholi area. The few that were remaining in the Lango area are being swept by the UPDF,â he said.
Added the President: âIn particular, I need to salute the people of Teso and the people of Lango, as well as their leaders, for rising up against these hoodlums. I also salute the people of Acholi for standing up against these killers all those years. Apart from a few irresponsible leaders, the Acholi people have long resisted these killers.â
Vanilla woes
While calling for diversification, Museveni warned that vanilla prices are headed down.
Vanilla recently caught on like wild fire â especially in Mukono, with reports of thefts and murders, because of the rocketing prices. A price per kilo doubled to about $26 in the month of June.
âThe vanilla prices are now very high because of the shortage in vanilla supply that was created by the turmoil in Madagascar â the former big supplier,â Museveni said.
Consequently, there was a 10 percent drop in production, yet demand grew at an estimated 10 percent owing to increased interest from soft drinks manufacturers who use vanilla for flavouring.
About 2,000 tonnes of processed vanilla were needed, but there was an estimated 200 tonnes shortfall.
âMadagascar has now settled down,â Museveni said. âIn time, the price will come down like it happens to all raw materials. Therefore, our Mukono people should emulate their compatriots in Bundibugyo. They should have a package of homestead activities: vanilla, fish, fruit, cocoa, coffee, forestry, dairy.â
He noted that commodity exports fetched $452.6 million and service exports $556.5 million by October.
He said that Thailand needs bananas to make juice, and Japan needs banana fibres to make pepper, while Uganda could increase tenfold its earnings from coffee because for the very first time, it is selling roasted and ground coffee to European supermarkets.
 2003 The Monitor Publications
