President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to bring the Burundi conflict to the attention of other EAC heads of state so as to bring about peace in the region.

This was revealed in a meeting the president had with France’s Director for Africa and Indian Ocean Remi Marechau and its envoy to the Great Lakes region Ambassador Sophie Makame in London.

“We need a consensus on Burundi as a region. When I take up the chair of EAC at the next summit, I will raise this issue so that we can have a decision. We should never neglect any opportunity for dialogue. We need to ease tensions with regional players,” he said.

The two diplomats were accompanied by Uganda’s Ambassador to France Nimisha Madhivani at his residency at the Taj Hotel, St. James Court in London.

Museveni had travelled to London to attend the International Conference on Somalia.

Museveni who is a mediator in the Burundi peace process will assume the EAC chairmanship at the next summit while former Tanzania President is the lead facilitator. Amb. Makame said the facilitation of the peace process needs to be given more support and that they want to see a gesture to open up to dialogue by all stakeholders.

There has been a growing concern over the political situation in Burundi, the lack of progress in implementing resolution 2303 (2016) and the lack of engagement by the Government of Burundi thus the need to involve the regional leaders.

Presidents of the six countries making up the East African Community will gather for the 18th EAC Ordinary Heads of State Summit meeting in Arusha this May include Summit Chair, President John Magufuli (Tanzania), President Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi) and for the first time, Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan.

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Uganda recently announced that its UPDF troops pulled out of Central African Republic but according to the latest human rights watchdog, the soldiers went to CAR to enrich themselves than fighting Joseph Kony.

But as UPDF pulls out, its soldiers are accused of having sexually exploited or abused at least 13 women and girls since 2015, including at least one rape, and threatened some victims to remain silent, Human Rights Watch said today.

It’s against that background that Human Rights Watch has requested the US government to halt military support to UPDF until investigations are complete and the abusers held to account.

“MINUSCA should not consider accepting any Ugandan troops for the UN mission until allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse have been credibly investigated and abusers held to account, Human Rights Watch said,” the Human Rights body appeals.

According to a report released today by Human Rights Watch, a total of 13 women and 3 girls interviewed in early 2017 described the exploitation and abuse since 2010 by Ugandan soldiers in the southeastern town of Obo, where Ugandan forces were based.

However, responding to the allegations in the report, UPDF Spokesperson, Brig. Richard Kalemire acknowledged that there are elements within the army that went to CAR not to fight but to exploit women. Kalemire revealed that as an institution of ‘clean’ record, the army has instituted an investigation in the allegation.

“We have taken note of what is contained in the report. There are elements within the UPDF that have been exploiting women in CAR but our record is clear on errant soldiers” Kalemire said.

Adding “There are already some soldiers that are before the court martial and once found guilty , they will be punished”

Two of the women were girls when the exploitation or abuse took place. Two women and one girl said that soldiers threatened reprisals if they told Ugandan and United Nations investigators about the abuse.

“As counter-LRA operations wind down, Uganda’s military should not ignore allegations of sexual exploitation and rape by its soldiers in the Central African Republic,” said Lewis Mudge, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“Ugandan and African Union authorities should conduct proper investigations, punish those responsible, and make sure that the women and girls who were sexually abused or exploited get the services they need.”

Fifteen of the women and girls interviewed said they became pregnant, but in each case the soldier who fathered the child left the country and has not provided any support.

“The 16 cases documented by Human Rights Watch clearly under-represent the full extent of sexual exploitation and abuse by the Ugandan forces, not only because sexual violence is generally underreported, but also because others, including the UN and local health workers, have documented other cases, Human Rights Watch said. In the Central African Republic, women and girls often do not report sexual violence or exploitation due to shame, stigma, or fear of retaliation.”

The report further states that in 2016, the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights reported 14 cases of rape by Ugandan forces in the country, including cases involving victims who were children at the time. Four of these cases are among those Human Rights Watch documented.

According to an internal UN report from 2016 obtained by Human Rights Watch, UN investigators in Obo registered 18 cases of sexual violence or harassment by Ugandan soldiers against women and girls who were afraid to give details out of fear of reprisals. The report states that investigators also obtained information about 44 women and girls with children fathered by Ugandan soldiers; the UN team interviewed 12 of them, all girls.

In January 2017, the BBC reported cases of rape by Ugandan soldiers in the Central African Republic, including of a 12-year-old girl who gave birth. The Ugandan military said at the time that it conducted an investigation in Obo and found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Human Rights Watch submitted a series of questions about the allegations to the Ugandan Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs on April 20, including about any investigations or disciplinary action, but the ministry has not replied.

The Ugandan military has been deployed in the country since 2009 as a part of the African Union’s Regional Task Force to eliminate the Uganda rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), but recently announced it is withdrawing its troops.

While in Obo, Ugandan forces received logistical and intelligence assistance from the United States.

“The US government should condition future support for the Ugandan military on Uganda promptly and thoroughly investigating the allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in the Central African Republic and punishing the abusers, among other concerns, Human Rights Watch said.”

Rape; sex in exchange for money, goods, or services; and sex with anyone under 18 by African Union (AU) military, police, or civilians qualify as sexual exploitation and abuse, and are prohibited by the AU. The AU states a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse.

This is not the first time the UPDF is being accused of abuse and sexual exploitation.

In 2014, Human Rights Watch’s report indicated that AU soldiers in Somalia mainly from UPDF, relying on Somali intermediaries used a range of tactics, including humanitarian aid to coerce vulnerable women and girls into sexual activity.

“They have also raped or otherwise sexually assaulted women who were seeking medical assistance or water at Amisom bases,” the press release said

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There was a scuffle in Kakiri, the headquarters of Uganda Peoples Defence Forces First Division, after the deputy division commander, Col Joseph Balikkudembe assaulted a fellow officer at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel during a meeting.

According to sources that attended the meeting, Col Balikudembe pounced on the battle-hardened Lt. Col. Robert Ruteinama, the commander of 301 brigade and punched him in the presence of junior officers.

Col. Balikudembe accused Lt. Col. Ruteinama of indiscipline after the latter attended the meeting adorned in civilian clothes.

Col. Balikudembe accused Lt. Col. Rutainama, who is known in the UPDF as being among fearless and courageous officers who have spent their entire military career at the frontline.

After the scuffle, Col. Balikudembe ordered for disarmament of Lt. Col. Ruteinama and his bodyguards.

Subsequently, there was tension in the barracks because of fear that Lt. Col. Ruteinama might seek revenge.

By press time it was not possible to get comment from the army spokesperson Brig.Richard Karemire.

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The Buganda Kingdom initiative to equip people living on Kabaka’s land with 49-year lease titles is facing criticism by emissaries of ‘detractors’, the Katikiro Charles Peter Mayiga has said.

Mr. Mayiga, who has now served as Katikiro for four years, made the disclosure at a press conference organized specifically for the Online Media Association (OMA) practitioners at Bulange, Mengo.

He outlined the five core principles of his tenure as: preservation of cultural heritage and identity; sharing of power; hard work; ensuring unity and the protection of kingdom land through initiatives like ‘Ekyapa Mu Ngalo’ under the clarion call of ‘Enkola ey’omulembe omupya’.

It should be recalled that since the announcement of the Ekyapa Mu Ngalo initiative, some people like Senior Presidential Advisor on Media Joseph Tamale Mirundi and senior Muslim cleric Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata, have come out openly to criticize the ‘Kyapa Mu Ngalo’ initiative, with claims that the kingdom was intent a ‘stealing’ land from the people living in Buganda.

However, the Katikiro allayed fears, saying that since 1994, after the restitution of the Kingdoms in 1993, over 20.000 people living on Kabaka’s land had received Certificates of Title. He also threw a jibe at both Mirundi and Muzaata, saying they had already formalized their titles with the Kingdom.

“How can one take a tablet to cure an ailment like malaria and then turn around and discourage other people from taking the same tablet to cure their ailment,” Katikiro Mayiga asked, adding that those opposed to the initiative were “either dishonest or hypocrites, or both.”

According to the Katikiro, the initiative will offer a level certainty for the title holder because “it has an automatic renewal clause” after the 49-year lease expires.

Revealing that over 1000 people had heeded to the ‘Ekyapa Mu Ngalo’ call the Katikiro added: “The detractors of Ekyapa mu Ngalo are the same people who were opposed Etofaali; because it is easy for one to destabilize those without Ekyapa,” he said, adding that the two initiatives had, among others, helped to ‘reawaken’ the industrious values of the Baganda.

However, the Katikiro who spoke on a number of issues, said that as Kabaka’s Mutebi‘s ‘eldest son’ he would dialogue with the two and other like-minded pessimists in a bid to resolve the issue amicably.

Turning to Etofaali, the katikiro said the initiative was a huge success, bringing in over Shs13 billion, of which about Shs11 billion was raised by ordinary Ugandans.

Further, he said, some of the money collected had helped in funding development projects in the kingdom like the construction of Masengere Building and the partial renovation of Kasubi tombs (Muzzibu Azalampanga’).

Briefly turning to national politics, the Katikiro criticized the recent torture of the Mayor of Kamwenge Town Council, saying the incident was ‘unfortunate’, depicting the lack of professionalism in the Uganda Police Force.

“Torture is not one of the modern methods investigation; this shows that the police lacks in professionalism and the police CID needs to do more; what about trying crime detection,” the Katikiro offered direction.

Later, asked in a tete-atete whether he held any presidential ambitions the Katikiro jokingly answered: “I hope not”, adding however, that he has never limited his scope in as far as his potential is concerned.

“I do not know what will happen tomorrow but I never say never,” the Katikiro said, adding however that for now he is only focusing on Buganda Kingdom affairs.

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