US Congress passes anti-LRA Bill

Tabu Butagira The US Congress has passed a new law obliging Washington to use its vast resources and leverage to neutralise the elusive Lord’s Resistance Army rebel chief, Joseph Kony.
Wednesday’s overwhelming vote by the House of Representatives, two months after a Senate approval, completes a winding process nudged by several lobbyists and co-sponsors, among them Resolve Uganda.

President Obama now has 10 days within which to sign or veto the new piece of legislation, although under the US Constitution, the Congress could, with a two-thirds majority, still confirm as law any vetoed Bill.

Mr Michael Poffenberger, the executive director of Resolve Uganda, said: “Congress and the American people have given President Obama a clear mandate for action to see one of our world’s most senseless conflicts finally brought to an end. We hope he uses it.”
Officials at the US mission in Kampala said for protocol reasons, they would not readily speak about the benefits of the new legislation until the Executive in Washington decides.

The principle of the Bill is to enable US lead international effort for multilateral action to “successfully protect civilians and eliminate the threat posed by the LRA and authorise funds for humanitarian relief and reconstruction, reconciliation and transitional justice”.
Democratic senator Russ Feingold and his Republican counterpart Sam Brownback, originally introduced the legislation in the Senate on May 19, 2009 and were shortly followed by Representatives; Jim McGovern, Edward Royce and Brad Miller.

The Ugandan military, which in December 2008 led a regional combat but failed to capture or kill Kony, yesterday welcomed the passing of the Bill.
“We welcome the vote and it is an ideal decision for the sake of humanity,” Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye, the Military and Defence spokesman, said of Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act.

The American government already supports, and in some cases finances, UPDF operations – the latest being the ongoing mission in Mogadishu, Somalia. During Operation Lightning Thunder, the US said it offered logistical support and military intelligence but it is not clear if the new law, once signed by Mr Obama, would enable American troops to physically hunt Kony, an International Criminal Court indictee.

Writing in the Huffington Post, Mr Feingold noted: “Our bill does not...encourage a new Uganda-led military offensive against the LRA and does not sanction specific military operation.”