Uganda: A Protest Note to the Rwandan Security Personnel at the Uganda-Rwanda Border Point (12.11.2019)

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on South Sudan (12.11.2019)

The Secretary-General also urges the Government of South Sudan to support the process by releasing the pledged amount of $100 million.

NEW YORK, United States of America, November 12, 2019 – The Secretary-General welcomes the decision of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Council of Ministers, further to the agreement by the South Sudanese parties under the auspices of Uganda and Sudan, to extend the pre-transitional period for an additional 100 days.

The Secretary-General urges the parties to use this extension to make further progress on critical benchmarks, including security arrangements and the number and boundaries of states, to allow for the formation of an inclusive transitional government of national unity. The Secretary-General also urges the Government of South Sudan to support the process by releasing the pledged amount of $100 million through a transparent and accountable mechanism.

As IGAD has underscored, face-to-face meetings of the leadership of the parties will continue to be crucial in maintaining momentum. The Secretary-General reaffirms the critical importance of the role of IGAD and the African Union in the political process, and the continued readiness of the United Nations to support their efforts.

Rwanda National Police: Press Release (10.11.2019)

IGAD: Communique of the 66th Extra-Ordinary Session of IGAD Council of Ministers on the Situation in South Sudan (10.11.2019)

Opinion: Kusasira needed two weeks and she’s now the Queen of Kampala

The position I have is more superior whether they want it or not. They have to formally write to me if they want me to meet them. To be a senior presidential advisor, it means I’m above them. They have to request me to go meet them to see how we can develop Kampala” – Catherine Kusasira (on the 9th November 2019).

It is 14 days since Catherine Kusasira was appointed as Presidential Advisor on Kampala Affairs. Already after two weeks she is now senior. Surely, that has to be explained to the 169 others who has the same capacity in the Republic. Three of them was appointed at the same time or in the same time. This being her, Jennifer Full Figure and Butchaman. These are all Presidential Advisors with new official cars.

Surely, the power goes to the brain of the public. She now thinks she’s so special and unique. That is just the way she is. Now, because of her role, she thinks she’s higher than the elected officials, the ones whose elected to represent the public. That she a bureaucrat and appointed leader are bigger than the Lord Mayors, the MPs and whoever else. That is the words she has.

A friendly reminder, when she was appointed:

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially appointed local Artiste Catherine Kusasira as presidential advisor on Kampala Affairs. Under this role, Catherine Kusasira will be charge of coordinating the young NRM recruits in the slum dwellings” (NBS Television, 26.10.2019).

It is not like Kusasira have done anything. Not that Catherine have a big name or proven her abilities to anyone. She has not even coloured her office or dirt on the wheels of the 4 Wheel Drive she gotten. Therefore, that she thinks so highly of herself is a bit far-fetched.

She should humble herself a bit. She only has it, because the President needs a few Ghetto passes and have some friendly faces from the ghetto. Catherine has a long way ahead. She can try to pull this stunt on Erias Lukwago, the KCCA Director or the Kampala MPs, but they will stop her. They will not accept this. She’s not bigger than the Minister of Kampala Beti Kamya and Lord Mayor Lukwago will also stand his ground. That’s why she’s crossing a dangerous path by doing this.

Kusasira better drop the act, she’s not a queen nor a super-high ranking official. She’s just another one of the needed stooges of the 170 Presidential Advisors. They are not that important. That’s why most of them are obscure and only fetching salaries. Therefore, she will soon be one of them.

Catherine should take it easy. Your not that grand nor great. You haven’t done anything to earns people respect. They didn’t even vote for you. Your not that special. You have been appointed a Presidential Advisor, one out 170. Kusasira, relax, your not a Queen, even Sheeba is more Royal than you ever will be. Peace.

Uganda-Rwanda Tensions XV: Kagame’s Presser reveals a deep dived

The Ugandan-Rwandan tensions has been an issue for a while now. It started with a border closing between Rwanda and Uganda. As both parties have alleged insurgency and acts of ill intent from both parties. This being Rwandan spies in Kampala and Ugandan sponsored militias to cause a power-change in Kigali. This is all in the mix. As there are reports of sponsored militias from Kampala in the Democratic Republic of Congo and reports of militia leaders and rebels currently detained in Rwanda. Certainly, the stalemate and the brotherly love between the Republic is gone.

This from two heads of state, which has worked together since the late-80s or early 1990s. As the Ugandan President had Kagame as part of his intelligence team, before the RPA, now RPF took control of Rwanda by using military bases in Uganda. Therefore, these two gentlemen knows this and how to operate this. As they both also was involved in toppling the President Mobutu and Laurent Kabila in the Democratic Republic of Congo and have ever since been war-lords there.

That is why these two men knows what at stake. They know what game they are playing. Both President Paul Kagame and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has played this one out before. They have seen how this goes and now its been a back-and-fourth since March 2019. It continues to go. While the RNC, FDLR, MRCD and whatever name they go by these days. Continue to cause a stir in Kigali. We know something is up with both gentlemen, we just don’t know what.

Press Conference:

We have had officials of both countries meeting in Angola and in Kigali. We were supposed to have another meeting in Kampala on the 16th of October but there was no communication until we later read of an invitation in papers” (…) “There is also a problem of our citizens who are imprisoned in Ugandan prisons without trial” (…) “We restricted our citizens from travelling to Uganda because they are arrested at these same borders. How do you expect countries to trade when certain citizens are arrested the moment they cross the border?” (Paul Kagame, 08.11.2019).

What Paul Kagame said yesterday are talking points of the critics of Kampala. Certainly, the Ugandan counterparts have arrested and detained needlessly Rwandan citizens by the CMI, Flying Squad and ESO. This is known by “safe-houses” and other ungazetted buildings where suspects are kept without court order and so-on, on suspicion of ill-activity.

Therefore, what Kagame said wasn’t untrue, neither wrong, but his high and mighty isn’t righteous either. As he has self-inflicted lot of harm. He has supported plenty of armed militias and rebels. His also brutally silenced dissidents by any method in the book. That’s why Kagame should look into his own actions as well. Not just throw shade at Museveni. They are both playing these games.

What at stake here is that two big-men, two brutal Presidents whose has no quarrel starting a fight or a brawl. Are using their networks and their schemes to try to get a upper-hand. Both are trying to forge a narrative where they are the victim. They are playing with high stakes and hoping to get their way.

It seems that a sit-down wasn’t enough with these guys. These two needs a marriage counsellor and some anger management. Before this goes out of hand. It is bad enough that Museveni has hired enemies to cross Kagame. But they have both been involved in shady business before and could easily pay amends to each other. That before they both are sacrificing innocent civilians, because they couldn’t swallow some pride. There is already enough bad stories on the border-crossings of people getting hurt because of this stalemate. That should be enough for these two. That is if, if they care. Peace.

South Sudan: Civil Society Forum welcomes extension of Pre-Trial Period by 100 days (08.11.2019)

South Sudan: Humanitarian Coordinator visits flooded areas, calls for $61 million to respond to immediate needs (08.11.2019)

South Sudan: Statement on behalf of the commission on human rights in South Sudan by Yasmin Sooka, chairperson of the commission, on the agreement to extend the pre-transitional period of the revitalised agreement on the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan (08.11.2019)

Burundi: OLUCOME – Communique de Presse – L’Emprisonnement Injuste de Quatres Journalistes du Groupe de Presse IWACU et leur Chauffeur (08.11.2019)