Hundreds of South Sudanese have poured out on the streets in the capital Juba, protesting the deployment of foreign troops to their troubled country that flared last week as soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir battled those of Vice President Riek Machar.

The ‘No to military intervention in South Sudan’ follows proposal by the Africa Union and United Nations, to deploy a peacekeeping force composed of troops from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia.

Early last week President Kiir and his information minister denounced another proposal by the Inter-governmental Agency for Development (IGAD), to deploy foreign troops to their country, with Kiir saying: “as to whether I will accept the intervention forces from anywhere, No. There are over 12,000 foreign troops here in South Sudan. What do you need more forces for? What will they come and do? I will not allow any soldier”.

The IGAD proposal led to the sacking of the South Sudan Deputy Minister of Foreign affairs Cirino Hiteng and has also since put South Sudan on a collision path with Kenya, whose President Uhuru Kenyatta insisted that it is the role of.IGAD to prevent the escalation of violence in South Sudan.

In a related development, there are 12,000 UN peacekeepers in South Sudan and one of the opposition leaders, Lam Akol, has suggested that President Kiir hand over the security in the capital Juba to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), while another opposition politician, Pagan Amum suggested that the country be placed under an international trusteeship.

South Sudan becomes the second troubled East African Community member state to reject the deployment of international peacekeeping forces; in December 2015 Burundi resisted a decision by the AU to send 5,000 troops, after the eruption of violence that followed the disputed election of President Pierre Nkurunziza earlier in July.

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About three thousand South Sudanese fleeing violence in their country sought refuge in Uganda from July 15 to July 17, an average of about 1000 people a day.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a total of 1,326 crossed into Uganda between Friday and Saturday, with 1,633 more arriving on Sunday.

‘The number of people seeking shelter and safety in Uganda from South Sudan has risen significantly in the past few days and we believe the influx will keep growing in the days ahead as tensions remain high across the border,’ the UNHCR states, adding that prior to last Friday, the average daily rate was 233.

‘These new arrivals bring the total number to have fled to Uganda since the latest violence in South Sudan began on July 7 to 5,015. More than 90 per cent of the new arrivals were women and children under the age of 18 years,’ the UNHCR notes.

According to the humanitarian agency, more people are expected to flee to Uganda, following the clearing of checkpoints along the 200-kilometre Juba-Nimule road that links the South Sudan capital to Uganda.

The new arrivals are mostly fleeing from Eastern Equatoria state, with a smaller number arriving from Juba.

‘Thousands of people have entered Uganda’s northern region via the border crossing points at Moyo, Kuluba, Lamwo, Yumbe and Elegu, while some are heading directly to Kiryandongo refugee settlement in the mid-west of the country. The border was previously closed on the South Sudan side, but restrictions have been eased,’ UNHCR adds.

Inside Uganda, more than 6,000 South Sudanese are staying in the Pagiarinya settlement in Adjumani District, while others are waiting at collection points to be transferred to the settlement. A recent evaluation found that Pagiarinya has capacity for another 6,500 people, meaning it is likely to be full within a few days.

An inter-agency site assessment mission, including officials of the Uganda Prime Minister’s office and UNHCR, are currently visiting sites to identify areas suitable for establishing new settlement areas, the UNHCR says.

The UN has said that at least 300 people were killed and over 10,000 fled their homes after the violence in Juba, and according to the UNHCR, as part of the overall humanitarian response, it is undertaking assessments and providing assistance in displacement sites.

Although a fragile ceasefire has held since late Monday, the United Nations has warned of the possibility of fresh fighting in Juba. The situation is being exacerbated by the devaluation of the South Sudanese pound, leading to skyrocketing prices and making the food that is available too expensive for many. The fighting also disrupted supply routes from Uganda into South Sudan, including aid and food.

About two weeks ago, the world’s newest country exploded into violence after troops loyal to South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit fought with those allied to First Vice President Riek Machar.

And last Friday in Nairobi, UNHCR presented a revised appeal for its South Sudanese refugees operations, seeking US$701 million. The earlier appeal for US$638 million was only 17 per cent funded.

Presenting the appeal, Ann Encontre, Regional Refugee Coordinator for the South Sudan situation, said the overall planning figure had risen from 867,239 refugees to 973,000. She warned that it could pass the 1 million mark in the coming months.

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Uganda will withdraw all her troops from Somalia by the end of next year, foreign minister Sam Kahamba Kutesa, has confirmed.

Speaking in Kigali where he had gone to attend the 27th Summit of the Africa Union, Kutesa said Uganda’s withdrawal of about 7000 troops serving under the Africa Union mission in Somalia (Amisom) was aimed at assisting war ravaged Horn of Africa country form its own national army. “What we are interested in is to make sure we create a situation where the people of Somalia take over the security because we cannot be there forever,” he said, adding: “Uganda is not interested in perpetuating peacekeeping missions without a foreseeable outcome.”

Somalia has been given to the end of 2017 to have its national force in place, and even if “by the end of next year it’s not taking shape, we shall have no business there,” Kutesa said.

Recently, the Amisom was hit by setbacks after the European Union, the main funder of the contingent, scaled down on its financial contribution, lowering the take home for a soldier serving under the mission by about US$200, a development Kutesa described as a ‘handicap’.

While a “reduction in resources hampers our activities in maintaining peace and security there temporarily, the long-term solution is for Somalia to shoulder its own responsibilities,” Kutesa said.

Uganda first deployed soldiers in Somalia in 2007 as part of the effort to battle Islamist group al-Shabaab. Kenya, Burundi and Ethiopia also have troops serving with Amisom, which has fought alongside Somalia’s army to recapture territory including Mogadishu from the militants.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Osman Noor Soubagleh of Djibouti has taken over as the new Amisom commander and one of his main tasks is to ensure the country holds elections under a peaceful political atmosphere, Amisom head Francisco Madeira, said.

Lt Gen Soubagleh, who served as Chief of Defence Staff of the AMISOM Force between 2012 and 2013, takes over from Lt Gen Jonathan Kipkemoi Rono of Kenya, who has been force commander since 2015.

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EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Daniel Fred Kidega has reiterated the need for cities and towns in the EAC to embrace the twinning principle to spur best practices in their management, enhance investments, security and cleanliness.

At the same time, the Speaker says Partner States should indeed enhance common environmental policies that would sustain the eco-systems of Partner States beyond this current generation.
Rt Hon Kidega, made the remarks over the weekend at the inaugural Lira Waa (Our Lira) Annual Prayer Breakfast, themed ‘Making Lira City Green and Clean’ held in Lira Municipality, in Uganda.

“In Kigali for example, the Umuganda initiative (Community work) has gone a long way in ensuring cleanliness and this is attributable to good leadership, a thing which must be celebrated”, he said.

“I am happy that a number of cities are today concerned about becoming clean- but the city authorities cannot do it alone without support. Successful collaboration will lead us to achieve what we want; clean, and well planned towns and cities,” he added.
The Speaker offered to be the bridge in assisting the authorities in Lira Municipality to twin with a City of their choice in the Partner States saying it was aimed at exchange of information and comparing notes.

The guest preacher at the function attended by over 100 persons was West Lango Diocese Bishop Alfred Acur, who said the church was also committed to ensuring the face of Lira Municipality is changed.

“Planting trees and making the environment clean and pure is good.  Trees make life nicer and reduce stress”, he said citing several verses in the Bible that attach importance to cleanliness.

The Regional District Commissioner (RDC) Lira, Emmanuel Mwaka Lutukumoi, the brainchild of the initiative, said the cause would make Lira clean and strengthen its quest for elevation to a city.

“By embracing Lira Waa Campaign, we are showing Government our hunger for a city status.  There will be two model streets that we shall all concentrate on to make them clean, painted and with waste bins”, he added.

The campaign seeks to rally people to plant trees, flowers and greens and to create reliable waste management systems which is beneficial to all. Lira Waa (Our Lira) campaign is a model that was developed by the Regional District Commissioner and is a model that seeks to unite the Community to own the district, brand it and be proud of it. It envisages the transformation of the Municipality into one of the cleanest in modern day Uganda, and a destination everyone would want to associate with as it hosts sub-national, national, regional and international events.

Lira Municipality currently hosts an ultra-modern market estimated at UGX 28 Billion and an irrigation scheme, one which the RDC says will turn the municipality into a bread basket for the region. Stakeholders in the campaign include the private sector, civil servants, civil sector organisations and cultural leaders.   Corporate companies and the entire Community have also been roped in the initiative.

Under Article 112 of the Treaty for the East African Community, Partner States undertake to develop common environmental management policy that would sustain the eco-systems, prevent, arrest and reverse the effects of environmental degradation.

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The General Court Martial in Makindye has adjourned the hearing of 24 suspects charged with breach of security and treachery, among them Nakawa Member of Parliament Michael Kabaziguruka, who missed today’s session due to illness.

A prisons officer told the GCM chaired by Chairman Lt Gen Andrew Guti that MP Kabaziguruka failed to turn up for trial because he was undergoing treatment at Kigo prisons where the suspects have been on remand since their arrests.

The GCM avers that the accused, among them members of the police and army, reportedly committed the offences between February and June in the districts of Kampala, Wakiso and Luweero.

Reading Count One, the GCM chairman said: ‘the accused between February and June did plot with intent to overthrow the government of Uganda by force of arms an act that is contrary to the Constitution of Uganda  and the security forces both army and the police’.

According to Gen Guti, a new suspect Private Felix Aluge was added to the list of those under trial, bringing the number of those arrested so far to 24. Other suspects are still at large, he added.

The accused are represented by Eugene Kabagambe and Major Ronald Iduuli, a lawyer provided by the state, as required by law.

Reacting to Count One all the suspects denied complicity, with a one Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Obulejju, attached to the Anti-terrorism Unit saying justice will not prevail since the court panel ‘follows orders from above’.

He said that none of his relatives and friends know that he was arrested, adding that that was an infringement on his human rights.

AIP Obulejju was however stopped in his tracks by the GCM chairman, who told him he had no right to address court.

But this was not before defence lawyer Major Iduuli came to the defence of his client, arguing that Accused Number 10, AIP Obulejju, was challenging the GCM powers over jurisdiction because he was a police officer, not subjected to military trial, in the process becoming the second suspect after MP Kabaziguruka to protest trial by the GCM.

On the second count the GCM Chairman said between February and June of 2016, the accused plotted to overthrow the government by force of arms, a charge all the suspects also denied.

After the trial, the military suspects were remanded to Makindye while the civilians were taken to Kigo prisons.

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