EU Statement on the situation in Kasese District (16.12.2016)

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Office of the Prime Minister, UN agencies and humanitarian organisations in Uganda issue appeal to end suffering of South Sudanese refugees (15.12.2016)

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Thousands of people continue to flee South Sudan to Uganda every day, 64% of whom are children under 18, leaving behind them tales of horrific violence.

KAMPALA, Uganda, December 15, 2016 – On the third anniversary of the outbreak of violence in South Sudan in December 2013, the Government of Uganda Office of the Prime Minister, six UN agencies and eleven humanitarian organisations in Uganda are appealing to the world to bring an end to the suffering of the South Sudanese people. With 527,472* South Sudanese refugees having fled to Uganda over the last three years, including more than 338,000* since July alone, it is vital that the international community comes together to support humanitarian organisations in delivering life-saving assistance to those who have been forced to flee their homes, and to take urgent action to find a solution to the conflict.

Thousands of people continue to flee South Sudan to Uganda every day, 64% of whom are children under 18, leaving behind them tales of horrific violence. Refugees report that armed groups operating in the Equatoria region are attacking villages, killing civilians, burning down houses, raping women and girls, and kidnapping young men and boys. People are reportedly being prevented from using major access roads out of South Sudan, forcing many to walk through the bush for days, often without access to food and water. New arrivals report that in the weeks and months ahead, they expect thousands more will follow them to Uganda.

New arrivals are provided with shelter, food, water and an environment where they can live in safety however, the humanitarian response to South Sudanese refugees in Uganda continues to face significant challenges due to chronic and severe underfunding. Currently, just 36% of the US$251 million needed for 2016 has been received. This is creating significant gaps in the response which threatens to compromise the abilities of humanitarian organisations to provide life-saving assistance and basic services.

In August, this year, a new settlement was opened in Bidibidi, Yumbe district to accommodate the thousands of new arrivals. In the space of a matter of months, humanitarian organisations have transformed Bidibidi from empty bushland in to one of the largest refugee-hosting areas in the world.

Uganda continues to show outstanding generosity and hospitality towards South Sudanese refugees, at a time when the country is hosting the highest number of refugees in its history and is receiving two additional refugee influxes from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. Uganda has maintained open borders to allow refugees to reach safety and, as part of its settlement approach, provides them with land to build new homes and grow crops. Refugees in Uganda enjoy a range of rights and freedoms that allow them to gain employment, start businesses and make positive economic contributions to their host communities.

Host communities in northern Uganda are to be particularly commended for having donated the land on which settlements hosting South Sudanese refugees are located. In recognition of the solidarity shown by host communities, as a guiding principle, approximately 30% of the humanitarian response directly benefits Ugandans through improvements to local infrastructure.

We are grateful to our donors for their contributions so far but more must be done to end the suffering of the South Sudanese people. We urge the international community, both those already engaged and new partners to the response, to expedite their contributions of funds and expertise to ensure we can meet the needs of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. With political solutions to the crisis in short supply, further efforts are needed to find long-term solutions that will allow these refugees to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.  It remains vital that those with influence over the political leadership in South Sudan use all available channels to encourage the warring factions to come together in dialogue and bring an end to the bloodshed. For the sake of the South Sudanese people, the world cannot afford to fail.

* Figures are based on biometric registrations in the Government’s Refugee Information Management System, and manual emergency registration, headcounts and wrist-banding for the emergency influx of new arrivals. 

Uganda: Statement by Minister of Relief, Distaster Preparedness and Refugees, 13th December, 2016 Following the Verification Process in some of the Refugees Settlements (13.12.2016)

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Aftermath after the Kasese Clashes: Omusinga bwa Rwenzururu detained to 28th December; Besigye arrested on the outside of Jinja Court and dropped off at Kasangati!

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In Jinja today at the Jinja Magistrate Court, where the Omusinga bwa Rwenzururu Charles Wesley Mumbere, which as expected the “treason” charge on the king we’re adjourned and the case will be taken up to court again on the 28th December 2016. Still, there nothing of case produced, except for the king who was taken from Nalufenya dungeon and are now detained at Luzira Maximum Prison. For the same terrorism claim that happen earlier in the 2016 as early as in midst of March 2016.

There we’re other dignitaries around the court and trying to get into the court to follow the courtship of the Omusinga. One of them we’re Dr. Kizza Besigye who is himself charged with “treason” and his case also pending. Proves the escalating Police State, as the Opposition Politician we’re taken away from the outside of the Court, as the other Kasese Members of Parliament where there to follow their king.

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Besigye we’re taken by the Police Force on the outside and taken into an infamous black van riding in the direction towards Kampala through Bugerere. He was taken inside the van and many people we’re claiming that he would be taken to Nagalama Police Station in Mukono. Something that apparently didn’t happen; the Police Force through their hectic effort of silencing and monitoring the man, left him at his home in Kasangati, while guarding his home with more officers than of late. Before home he had been at Kakira, Nalufenya and Matugga. As they are trying to scare the man even more as they continue to have their illegal and defiant method of house-arrest at Kasangati.

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The other suspects as the detained Royal Guards that we’re detained in November 2016 after the Kasese Massacre of the Uganda People Defence Force and the Special Force Command who attacked and burned the Buhikira Royal Ground. As well as the soldiers together with Anglican priest buried unidentified bodies left behind after the clashes and violence from the government security operatives who ambushed the Palace. These men we’re buried without family or friends remembering their lives as the government trying to clean their hands of their blood, while the ones that still living are charged as criminals as the men with weapons and commanders of the army are walking free. The King and his men are detained, the Royal Guards we’re transferred today to the Jinja Police Headquarters for questioning.

Together with all of the Dr. John Baluku we’re himself planning to see the courtship of Omusinga Mumbere at Jinja Court. He was thinking of being a court witness at the Jinja Magistrate Court, something the authorities didn’t accept, so Dr. Baluku has been detained by the authorities.

What were the charges on the king?

“Prosecution states that Mumbere and co-accused with purposes of intimidating members of the public for a political ,social, religious or economic reason and without due regard or safety of others attacked Kidodo police booth and murdered Kasimba on top of attempting to take the lives of eight other police officers” (…) “The accused are further alleged to have robbed Kasimba of an AK -47 gun with 30 rounds of aminitions and immediately used pangas and knives to kill him” (…) “The charges were read to Mumbere in a fully packed courtroom but just like in last month when he was arraingned in court for murder, he was not allowed to answer to plead to them as murder ,terrorism and aggrevated are capital in nature and only triable and bailable by the High court” (87.7 Baba FM, 13.12.2016).

So Chief Magistrate in Jinja John Francis Kaggwa has remanded and granted no bail for the king and his royal guards, as the violent oppressive regime continues to silence its critic with force and with forged criminal cases in the courts, as this yet another example of. Where the innocent is the criminals and the guilty is walking the streets. The guilty the army men and commanders who are not questioned for their killings in March 2016, where even the army we’re caught on tape just blasting Royal Guards and Youth on the roads at villages in Kasese and Bundibugyo sub-counties. The Rwenzori troubles of recent years have escalated with the skirmishes of the army itself as far back as in 2014 when similar acts happen.

Today is just a proof of how far the silencing the citizens, the kingdom that recently we’re accepted and now the government are using all their tools to silence Kasese after the recent attacks and killings. The Government went in with their army and killed; now the Kingdom and their men are detained. Something isn’t right and the government know’s that. And you knew that there was something wrong with the court sessions when the government has to close the five roads leading the Jinja Magistrate Court. There must be something wrong when the government cannot accept public interference and involvement in criminal cases.

 

Also Important:

The ones who earlier in the year protesting outside the Democratic Republic of Congo embassy who we’re protesting for the freedom of civil rights activist and opposition figures like Sam Mugumya who are still detained in the DRC. The ones that had to be in court for demonstrations today we’re Harold Kaija of the FDC and Owor Moses Cyrus Kibang. The Court adjourned the case until 7th Feburary 2017, still there hasn’t been produced any witness for the trespassing or affidavit saving the case. Still it is postponed. Peace.

Finally home... after more Police Brutality!
Finally home… after more Police Brutality!

RDC: Alors q le vrai Dialogue commence, la provocation continue au Haut-Katanga, levée immunités de Kyungu prevu ce 9 Decembre

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UCC Public Notice – Broadcast of Matters under Judicial Consideration “on Kasese Incidents”

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Note to Correspondents on the investigations into allegations ‎of sexual exploitation and abuse against peacekeepers deployed in the Central African Republic (05.12.2016)

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The Office of Internal Oversight Services has concluded its investigative process on the allegations ‎of sexual exploitation and abuse against Burundian and Gabonese contingents deployed in Dekoa, Kemo prefecture, in the Central African Republic. 

These allegations referred to incidents between 2014 and 2015. OIOS has conducted joint investigations with Burundian and Gabonese national investigative officers. Investigations started in April 2016, a few days after the allegations were brought to the attention of the United Nations and lasted for more than four months. The investigators relied primarily on the testimony of possible victims and witnesses given the lack of medical, forensic or any other physical evidence. This was due to the fact that the majority of the allegations referred to incidents that took place a year or more earlier. Everyone who came forward with claims, both minors and adults, were assisted by national and international partners.

Overall, 139 possible victims were interviewed and their accounts were investigated. By means of photo array and/or other corroborating evidence a total of 41 alleged perpetrators (16 from Gabon and 25 from Burundi) were identified by 45 interviewees; eight persons were unable to identify perpetrators through photo array or other corroborating evidence but were able to describe some distinctive traits; 83 were not able to identify perpetrators or provide corroborating evidence; and three accounts were considered unreliable. A total of 25 minors asserted they had been sexually abused. A total of eight paternity claims were filed, including by six minors.

The United Nations has shared the OIOS report with both Member States, including the names of the identified alleged perpetrators and has requested for appropriate judicial actions to ensure criminal accountability.

Responsibility for further investigations lies with Burundi and Gabon. The United Nations has requested from the Burundian and Gabonese authorities that they review the OIOS findings and conduct the interviews of the alleged perpetrators who had all been rotated out from Central African Republic before the allegations surfaced. The United Nations has asked for a copy of the final national investigation reports to be transmitted urgently.

The alleged perpetrators, if allegations against them are substantiated, and, if warranted, their commanding officers, will not be accepted again for deployment in peacekeeping operations.

MINUSCA has strengthened its prevention measures and reinforced its outreach among communities and peacekeepers across the country, especially in high-risk areas to improve awareness and reporting on sexual exploitation and abuse and other forms of misconduct. The Mission is also regularly monitoring conditions and behaviour of mission’s personnel and has partnered with United Nations agencies and implementing partners in Central African Republic that provide psychosocial, medical and legal assistance to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse.

The United Nations condemns, in the strongest terms, all acts of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by peacekeepers or any other UN personnel and will maintain follow up so that perpetrators of these abhorrent acts are brought to justice.

Kasese Clashes seems like a total cover-up and the numbers doesn’t add-up!

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There are something that doesn’t seem right today, as there are reported that that over 50 people who has been unidentified by the locals in Kasese being buried together. As they are all lifted of the Police Wagon and buried in the ground.

“Burial of 52 unidentified bodies at Rukoki UPDF army barracks in Kasese; religious leaders lead prayers” (NBS TV Uganda, 04.12.2016).

There is with sadness that so many people are buried, not by their own families and not by their folks as these are remains of their bodies and souls have lost even the humanity of grief as the Police Commanders and Priest are praying over their fall. Imagine if this was your brother who in a little moment we’re they dug a unknown grave to at an Army Barracks, by people associated with the ones who might killed him. That isn’t respectful, but shows the extent of how the Republic violated the trust between themselves and the society at large.

The Uganda People’s Defence Force with French speaking soldiers, most likely M23 cadres who has gotten free-pass after the surrounding of Goma and the amnesty from the government of Uganda in 2013. So the red-hats we’re around the compound and inside the palace on the days of questions, as the leaked clips from Police Officers has showed military men speaking French, which a token of the M23 connection to the authorities that happen at Buhakira Royal Palace in Kasese.

With that in mind it we’re reported the army, but they are now collectively with the Major General Muhoozi Kainerugaba of the Special Force Command, which we’re in charge directly we’re Brigadier Peter Elewu who always will have has hands tainted of the affair. This as Minister of Interior Jeje Odongo blamed the Royal Guards for the sieged palace attacks. While the leaked clips in the recent 48 hours shows the gates opened up in peace when the soldiers arrive before the attacks transpired.

With the knowledge of over 52 unknown buried today, with reported also that families we’re able to identify at the mortgages in Kasese about 70 bodies. There has been alone in these calculations over a 120 royal guards killed plus the 130 who we’re detained after it all. As well as 15 kids who we’re in and around the area who has not been accounted for and still has surfaced. This with the knowledge of the 14 police officers who lost their lives and the royal guards we’re official numbers 48 Royal Guards. That doesn’t add up in any math-class.

If there we’re only as AIG Andrew Felix Kaweesi claimes still that the official number 62 total dead after the Kasese Clashes, than who are the 52 unknown buried from? Did they just drop dead and arrived on a yellow bus up the hill from a Safe-House around Kampala? Where did they come from; as well as the reported 70 identified Royal Guards that has gotten buried by families and friends. Not been buried on a UPDF Barracks grounds; which is the killers donating dirt to the ones who suffered their demise.

So the Police Force and the government tries to dummy it down, tries to deduct their numbers and make the people into submission with wrongful statements, as there aren’t even conducted proper statements for the ones in the fires and killings in the rest of Kasese District the same week, as the army attacked other places, which mattered to the Kingdom and where they had royal guards.

So the numbers of now is more likely to rise again, when the cover-ups are shed lights on as the people talks and the circulated information are coming. But 70 identified, 52 unidentified, 14 Police Officers and plus the unaccounted for is more than 62 by calculation. So the lies are very evident and clear. The Government tries to overshadow the reality and their own shoddy behaviour where they went to burn down a Royal Palace and get rid of a Kingdom. This happens without any for-warning for civilians or anybody else.

The worry is how easily this information get pushed around without questions; that the newly buried men are not counted in as it is close to artificial number the Police has offered as fact. That isn’t a mere opinion, but fact from their official spokesperson who lies more deeply without any flinch of the eye-lid compared to his comrade Fred Enaga. AIGP Kaweesi lies so much, that truths are myths to fellow human being and his existence.

All the leaked material shows the disrespectful attack the Police together with the Army and M23 had on the Palace, as well as the Kenyan leaked clips where the Army even buried men alive on the compound. Which I am sure has not been accounted for and the ones that we’re taken by the fire, if there we’re any are surely as well not accounted for. There are so many lives that don’t matter to the authorities and the families are left in the dark. The Republic is left in the dark when these matters are unsolicited for and are acted upon in this way.

The reality is that too many lived died on that weekend and week in question in November 2016. The reality is that the men behind are saved behind shields of comfort by the ruling regime who don’t have capacity to see their evil intents and acts upon their own. The reasoning behind this attack on humanity is still in the wind as the fellow response from the world other than a U.S. Travel Advisory has been a true evidence that the deaths doesn’t matter to them either; which in itself is worrying sign of how much evil a regime can do without consequence from their fellow allies and trading-partners. This kind of acts should make the donors start stuttering for their affiliation with this regime. Parts of me wish this was a gay-club shootout in Kampala, than the rainbow nations would show some concern and condemn it, but since these men and woman we’re connected to a Monarchy in the Mountains of Rwenzori, than it wasn’t to worry about; which is disgraceful from anyone who values lives over monies.

We can all question the behaviour and condemn the attack on the Royal Palace, the days after and the aftermath we’re all cronies has tried to certify the Obusinga bwa Rwenzurururu Charles Wesley Mumbere as a “terrorist” and having a terrorist group, with a pistol given by IGP Kayihura, an AK-47 and a bunch of machetes. While the army came in with sophisticated weaponry and rifles, used bombs and burned the palace down to total utter destruction of the Palace. As they acted more like terrorist, as the Royal Guards as by leaked films greeted and welcomed the army inside. So the truth will overcome the nonsense.

But what we can all take from this, the Ugandan Government doesn’t value the lives of their own citizens, as it could easily send in army get rid of royal guards, take king as prisoner and burns down his palace without warrant or warning. Seal of the town of Kasese and evacuate all people and detain a journalist for filming matters. So the matter of consistent disregard for the people Kasese has been from the get-go.

The motives and the reasons behind the attacks, can be many or a few… it can be the creations of districts, can be clearing way for the planned military compounds in the district as there been speculated that Museveni wants to re-enter into DRC and the mineral rich areas across the boarders! But that is all speculation at this point. We cannot know at this point. We cannot see the reason or added reality for the massive attack on humanity that happen at Kasese. We cannot adjust or amend the reality for the ones that already we’re taken for granted and killed by a gang of merciless government security agents. This is mere fact, but the reason behind the killings, burnings and destruction of a monarchy is still unknown.

When the truth will surface is unknown as the many victims of the clashes in Kasese. The truth might be smeared and beholden to few powerful men, but all the dead deserve more than what they getting. These men and woman, these people who lost their own in mere hours that weekend needs answers, need recognition and needs the truth. While the government might need it deeply sealed, because they went all-in without concern of life or justice. They sent their mercenaries and killed their own. We can all see that because of the staggering numbers of dead that appeared after it all; what is worse they might be wrong and not bring justice to the total dead. Which proves how much loss of life happened and why the people of Kasese deserves something else than the spin-control of the authorities that we’re in-charge of violence that day.

Peace.  

Opinion: The Police talks of not politicizing the #KaseseClashes, but it’s we’re so from the first bullet!

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The ironies of the world shouldn’t befoul the town of Kasese and Rwenzori region. But when the Uganda Police Force that had a joint operation with the Uganda People’s Defence Force and besieged the Buhikira Royal Palace in Kasese this weekend.  Where they terminated so many of the Royal Guards as possible with tehir heavy machine guns and they nearly had none. This while they nearly had guns them, the servants we’re mocked and undressed. They are after the clashes used as spin-control by the authorities.

Kasese RDC: “The royal guards have been changing their names. At some point they called themselves ‘Omusinga Youth Group’”.

Earlier in the year, the Kasese had the “Kirumiramutima”, the strong-hearted, the strange things is that the 136 we’re arrested as well this time around, as the skirmishes earlier in the year shot Royal Guards in the villages and area around. Now the RDC of Kasese is claiming another unit of militia. That just springs out of nowhere, like a magic trick out of thin air.

The latest violence and killings has been done by the army and the police officers as the post-election violence we’re rapid and made by the Police Force.

That Hon. Gen. Jeje Odongo said: “We condemn in the strongest terms possible all those who promote the ideology of extremism and violence. The UPDF and the Uganda police have a constitutional mandate to protect all Ugandans, their life and property. Anybody who takes armed action to destabilize the security of Uganda will be dealt with in accordance with the law of the land”.

They got dealt with all right, they got taken out without court orders or even charges to foil the men who lost their lives, therefore the terrorist claims comes after. Just like the March and July clashes was sanctioned by the same government, and it was the interference of an Electoral Commission that made the villages burn in Bundibugyo. Something that cannot be forgotten, this is a ploy for the government to clear their name of the violence and killings made in their name and under their leadership. The innocent becomes the culprits and the killers become saviours. The justice doesn’t prevail, the impunity does live on.

“UPDF massacred unarmed Guards” said MP Atkins Katusabe. MP who was at the palace during Sunday’s offensive. Says 130 were killed(the Observer, 30.11.2016).

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So that the Police Force are now asking for it to not be politicked about after the clashes and let the Security Operatives continue like nothing. Because they doesn’t want to be questioned or asked why they all of a sudden had a Joint-Operation which burned a Palace, made a King a terrorist and where total during the weekend over 120 killed. If so, they we’re made to put to account the initial stories would differ from the ones spin-controlled from the Security Operations.

The dead wouldn’t speak and the detained would fear to speak for the lives of their loved ones. The Police Force might see some command post relieve themselves out of fear, but I am sure the community at large is at fear, because their society and town we’re sealed off and the evacuated as the Military Operation we’re on-going.

The Police is well-known for interfering in politics and wouldn’t be news as they usually turn public meetings into displays of how much tear-gas they can spread public in shortest amount of time.

Now it was shooting as much bullets as possible at unarmed Royal Guards and nobody knows how the Police Officers died or if that was accidents made by fellow soldiers inside the sieged Palace. Because none has delivered a clear story or any report suggesting why the need for excessive force, other than false claims that cannot be verified, sort of like Donald Trumps tweets. A bunch of worthless spin-control, which what the authorities leaves the families of the dead and the one still breathing trying to find the ones missing and the ones who disappeared in the fire of the Palace.

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This will be political, because there we’re political motives from above high, if it was a sorry excuse, proof of power or to silence a kingdom. Who knows, but the President who fled when he could to peaceful pastures of South Africa. What we can ask is why? And why does the Police lie and makes up fiction?

The truth hasn’t been delivered if so, there would be more to it and it would be more transparent, but it isn’t because the Authorities kept the bodies of the Royal Guards until they stink at the Morgue of the Hospital in Kasese; so the families had to wait to bury their loved ones who suddenly vanished. The truth isn’t there, just like it wasn’t earlier in the year. We can just wonder what triggered the tyrant and his regime to overthrow and recapture Kasese in this fashion. Peace.

Charge Sheet A59-2016 for Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu Charles Wesley Mumbere (28.11.2016)

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