§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what warnings of a threat to British nationals in Uganda his Department received prior to 1 March. [75486]
§ Mr. Tony Lloyd[holding answer8 March 1999]: This Department has received no warnings of threats to British nationals in Uganda from Rwandan Interahamwe rebels prior to 1 March 1999. FCO travel advice of 19 February did, however, draw attention to periodic rebel activity in the Uganda/Congo/Rwanda border areas around the Kisoro district, and mentioned that, although the situation was currently peaceful, it could change quickly.
There have in the past been a number of threats to UK interests in Uganda from other sources, including the Lord's Resistance Army and the Alliance of Democratic Forces.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the reported killings of 15 Rwandan militiamen by Ugandan forces. [75770]
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§ Mr. Tony LloydWe are aware of reports originating in Uganda of the killing of a number of Rwandan militiamen by Ugandan and Rwandan Government forces operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Given the difficulty in obtaining reliable information from this remote area, we are unable to confirm the reports.
A three man UK Police Team arrived in Kampala on Friday 5 March to assist the Ugandan authorities in their investigation into the murders of the four British tourists in the Bwindi National Park. We expect the Government of Uganda's follow up to this incident and the investigation to take full account of international human rights standards.