[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 9 (Monday, March 8, 1999)]
[Page 364]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Murder of Tourists in Uganda

March 4, 1999

    I was deeply saddened to learn of the brutal violence that erupted 
Monday morning in a nature preserve in southwestern Uganda. Hillary and 
I have extended our profound condolences to the families of the victims.
    Eight innocent tourists from the United States, Great Britain, and 
New Zealand were killed. All of the victims were there because they 
loved Africa. It was a senseless and cowardly murder, apparently 
committed by those who perpetrated the Rwandan genocide in 1994. If this 
attack was intended as a warning to our Nation to stop supporting those 
in the region seeking reconciliation and justice, those who committed it 
should understand that we will not be deterred in any way.
    We will not forget these crimes, nor rest until those who committed 
them are brought to justice. Already, a team of FBI experts is on the 
ground, working with Ugandan authorities to gather the relevant evidence 
so indictments of the perpetrators can be made.
    Let me also underscore our commitment to breaking the cycle of 
violence and impunity that has gripped the Great Lakes region, so that 
all who live in and visit the region can do so without fear.