Makerere University letter to Guild President Kateregga (27.10.2019)

Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan: Office of the Archbishop and Primate – The Implementation of the Peace Agreement (26.10.2019)

Alliance for National Transformation (ANT): Recent Events at Makerere University (25.10.2019)

Makerere University Protests: A return of a grim past, which is now haunting the campus!

7. Functions of the Defence Forces

The functions of the Defence Forces are –

(c) to foster harmony and understanding between the defence forces and civilians” (UPDF Act 2005).

What we have seen of photos,videos and so on from Makerere University this week has been heartbreaking. Combined with the efforts of the army to console power, assault the halls of student housing on campus and done despicable acts of violence. This is soldiers in plain clothes violating students and their homes, while cracking down on their industrial action of protest against rising student fees. Therefore, we have seen insufferable levels of violence against civilians by soldiers at Makerere.

The UPDF have thrown tear-gas into rooms, raided rooms of students, raped and arrested them. They have tortured and done acts no-one should ever do. Still, they have done this on orders by the army and gotten there because the Vice-Chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe who got them to torment the students.

First I will show two statements from the last few days, than show reporting of the Idi Amin era. There been over 100 arrested, 49 students issued for release today after the Buganda Court and one confirmed dead after the last days protest at Makerere. Surely, a sign off what the government and authorities does. There also been reports of gun-shots and muffling of journalists, also road-blocks to the University. Therefore, very little information coming out from there. That’s why the verification and the total numbers after the raids, the guns, tear-gas and other violations of the University is uncertain at this point. Therefore, its fitting to show the Idi Amin era too, because there is where we are heading with this sort of mess.

Francis Zaake MP statement:

The Guild President Kateregga Julius and other concerned parties who went to check on the detained students at Wandegeya Police Station were blocked for no good reason. As a legislator, I am also concerned about why the military has of late taken over police duties whenever citizens – or students in this case – stage peaceful protests. This is not the role originally envisaged for the army when the UPDF Act was being enacted by Parliament. Ironically, almost none of the armed men responsible for today’s brutality can ably afford to educate their son or daughter at Makerere using their meagre salary” (Saabi Marvin – ‘OPINION: With the Current Tuition Trend, Students Like Suubi Won’t Dare Carry their Metallic Suitcases to Makerere in 5 Years – MP Zaake’ 23.10.2019, CampusBee).

Prof Twinomugisha statement:

What happened in Lumumba is reminiscent of Amin soldiers’ brutal treatment of students and lecturers. Anyone pretending that the situation is normal is like the proverbial ostrich hiding his or her head under the sand. Imagine your son or daughter in a room. Military thugs forcifully open the door, pull him or her out amidst beatings. Your daughter being raped, molested or assaulted! Ladies and gentlemen, this militarization of all institutions, including the Ivory Tower, the citadel of higher learning, must be condemned by all people of good conscience” (Prof Ben Twinomugisha – Statement, 25.10.2019).

Here we have seen statements made on what has happen during this week. Now we will go back in time to the authorities back-in-the-day, the ones that the President was supposed to liberate this students from.

Under Idi Amin:

His statement also coincided with reports that the vice-chancellor of Uganda’s Makerere University and two other academics had been arrested, and possibly killed; and that the elimination squads of the State Research Bureau (SRB) and Public Safety Unit (psu)—whose ranks are made up mainly of Muslim members of Amin’s own tribe, the Kakwa, and other loyal “Nubians” from the west Nile area— were once again at work among the Christians of the Acholi and Langi tribes” (Stewart Sommerlad – ‘Of course Amin must go. The question is: who’ll send him?’, 07.03.1977, Maclean’s).

Vice Chancellor Frank Kalimuzo disappeared in 1972 after provoking Amin’s wrath. In 1976, secret police shot and killed law student Paul Serwanga and dragged away the leader of a women’s dormitory, Nanziri Bukenya. Her body was found later in the countryside. Makerere students staged two major protests in 1976. The first spread into downtown Kampala and was joined by thousands of non-students. The second was confined to the campus and brutally broken up by security forces” (David Crary – ‘‘Oxford of E. Africa’ Tries to Rise Again : Uganda’s Esteemed Makerere University Crippled by Amin’s Terror, Neglect, War” 29.12.1985, LA Times).

Kampala — President Amin addressed Makerere on March 8, 1976 over the shooting of law student Paul Sserwanga in Kampala. After the address, State Research agents and military policemen arrested three suspected student leaders of the anti-Amin demonstration staged the previous day” (Fred Guwedekko – ‘Uganda: 1976: Idi Amin becomes ‘Dr’, 05.07.1998, The Monitor).

We are still not at the point where the soldiers are killing and taking people away to unknown locations. But we have seen bad footage of situations, where the students are getting violated, where the soldiers are tormenting them at night. This is what the soldiers are doing to civilians or students, who are justified to raise their concerns over the raising prices of their fees. They have only a few small avenues to talk about their concerns and the best way to get one the radar of those in power. Is to actually with protests and marches.

Therefore, the answer of the state to do this to them. Is actually devastating, that the ones supposed to shield the Republic is hurting them. This isn’t enemies of the state, spies or murders even, these are average students or citizens who happen to study at Makerere. That is why this shows at what extent this government goes to silence dissidents. That they are torturing them and tear-gasing them.

The acts of Idi Amin has been said to be bad, but the acts under Museveni is clearly not better. He uses soldiers to address to students. That’s the sort of tyrant he is, he cannot listen or do the right thing.

What is more striking, that the UPDF are breaching parts of the UPDF Act of 2005. Which is too ensure harmony with civilians. What they have been doing this week is in breach of that and shows their intent. This isn’t how its supposed to be, but that is what they are doing. Instead they are inducing fear, intimidation and a violent crackdown, which haven’t been done there in years.

There are also unverified reports that today on the 25th October 2019, there are students who are killed by bullets. Shot dead by the soldiers on the campus today. “A few” students are the numbers, which cannot be specified, but surely that will come out. As every single student hurt by this is scorn for life. The state did this to them. The UPDF who supposed to keep them safe, made them unsafe and even took some of their lives.

They will known for the same acts as the ones the previous generation were known for overthrowing. That really says something about our time and how a liberator, became the same tyrant, as the ones he liberated the people from. Peace.

South Sudan: SPLM/A-(IO) Press Release – Re: On the Position of the SPLM/A-(IO) Regarding Extension of the Pre-Interim Period (24.10.2019)

South Sudan: Ministry of Finance & Planning (MoFP) – Subject: Allocation of 18 cruds Oil Cargoes (21.10.2019)

Troika Statement on the Formation of South Sudan’s Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (22.10.2019)

The following is the text of a Troika Statement on the Formation of South Sudan’s Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, October 22, 2019 – South Sudan faces a critical moment in the journey toward a peaceful and prosperous future. There are now less than four weeks for political leaders to form a transitional government as they committed to in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway (the Troika) have consistently welcomed assurances by the parties to implement the agreement and meet its deadlines, and hoped that recent meetings between South Sudan’s leadership show a renewed spirit of cooperation. We commend the actions of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to broker the agreement and maintain momentum and take hope from the continued reduction in overall violence in South Sudan.

For too long, conflict has been waged at the expense of South Sudan’s most vulnerable and continues to exacerbate humanitarian needs. We encourage the parties, especially the current government, to take concrete steps to build trust through enhanced cooperation. With the November 12 deadline looming, extended from May, much more needs to be done urgently to ensure the success of the transitional government. Progress would help maintain the confidence of all the parties and the international community, demonstrate that the parties have the political will to work together during the transitional period, and provide the opportunity for the international community to engage productively with an inclusive, new government.

We welcome the discussions of IGAD countries in Addis Ababa last week; the region and the international community’s investment and engagement in a peaceful South Sudan remains important. The Troika will continue to stand with and support the people of South Sudan, who want and deserve peace and a government that protects its people. We urge the South Sudanese parties to meet the November 12 deadline to form a transitional government that will enable the conditions for a constructive relationship during the next phase of South Sudan’s peace process. We encourage South Sudanese leaders to build on momentum generated by the ongoing UNSC visit to South Sudan to accelerate such progress.

South Sudan: Does Mr. Amsterdam knows who he gotten retained by?

The South Sudanese rebels of Thomas Cirillo Swaka of National Salvation Front (NAS), Gen. Paul Malong of South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) and Gen. Pagan Amum of Real-Sudanese People Liberation Movement (R-SPLM) through a press release made by Amsterdam & Partners LLP revealed that they had retained the company.

I don’t know if the lawyers and representatives knows who they represent, as the statement is directly putting all blame for all the issues in South Sudan on President Salva Kiir. Surely, parts of the problems is his fault, but not all of them. Certainly, there are more actors and more heads involved, which these gentlemen knows. Because, they know they have history with the government and what it has done over the years.

Like for instance Gen. Paul Malong, who is known for: “Malong served as Chief of General Staff of the SPLA from April 23, 2014, to May 2017. In his former position as the Chief of General Staff, he expanded or extended the conflict in South Sudan through breaches of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and breaches of the 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS). As of early August 2016, Malong reportedly directed efforts to kill South Sudanese opposition leader Riek Machar. Malong, knowingly countermanding President Salva Kiir’s orders, ordered the 10 July 2016 tank, helicopter gunship, and infantry assaults on Machar’s residence and the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO)’s “Jebel” base. Malong personally oversaw efforts from SPLA headquarters to intercept Machar. As of early August 2016, Malong wanted the SPLA to attack Machar’s suspected position immediately and informed SPLA commanders that Machar was not to be taken alive. In addition, in early 2016 information indicates that Malong ordered SPLA units to prevent the transport of humanitarian supplies across the Nile River, where tens of thousands of civilians were facing hunger, claiming that food aid would be diverted from civilians to militia groups. As a result of Malong’s orders, food supplies were blocked from crossing the Nile for at least two weeks” (United Nations Security Council – Paul Malong).

Then you have Thomas Cirillo, who has done this: “To bolster positions in areas under their influence, NAS and affiliated armed groups/elements resorted to violence to compel civilian cooperation and to prevent communities from supporting the local administration. To this end, they engaged in targeted killings, including through beheading, as a deliberate strategy to terrorize local populations. SPLA-IO (RM) elements employed similar tactics to dissuade civilians from supporting NAS and affiliated armed groups/elements” (…) “In addition to the 50 civilians killed by organized armed opposition groups during clashes between September and December 2018, HRD documented 11 victims of targeted killings. In these cases, the victims were male and were killed after being captured at checkpoints, while traveling to farms or markets, or as they were returning to their villages. According to eyewitnesses and family members of the victims, most were killed while travelling without the alleged “authorization” delivered by these armed groups and were suspected of providing information or other support to the Government” (UNMISS – ‘CONFLICT-RELATED VIOLATIONS AND ABUSES IN CENTRAL EQUATORIA – September 2018—April 2019 (3 July 2019)).

Then there is the final man, Gen. Pagan Amum: “(SBU) Manoa claimed that the NCP wants Pagan Amum to be Minister of Cabinet Affairs in order to weaken the SPLM. He pointed out that although the NCP considers Amum to be pro-unity, originally Pagan Amum began his political activity as a member of “Anyanya-2,” a southern separatist movement in Khartoum” (Cablegate: Splm Ministers Sworn in, Pagan Amum Is Minister of Cabinet, 27.12.2007). “Cde Pagan, you would wish me dead as I am the only person who could expose you as a former terrorist (Hostage taker for ransom) and a communist who is hypocritically in bed with USA establishment. Cde Pagan, you also know that I am aware that Sudan Communist Party had recalled back all their card holding members including you. Of course no body knows other than me that you have been both running SPLM and Sudan Communist Party offices in Havanna – Cuba all the years you have been there. Beside the above, the most serious fundamental difference between me and you is that you believe in New Sudan and I am a simple Southern Sudanese Nationalist who fought hard and sacrificed my life for people of Southern Sudan to exercise the Right of Self Determination. In the last INC meeting, I proposed frankly to the INC in your presence the need to abolish the position of a Secretary General in the SPLM because I clearly detected Stalinism rapidly sprouting in you and must be nipped in the bud before it is too late. Cde Pagan, you positively identified the leadership inheritance syndrome in the Chairman and took advantage of it” (Aleu Ayieny Ale – You Remind Me Comrade Pagan, 06.07.2015).

Surely, Robert Amsterdam, the attorney retained should know this. That even as they are in opposition. They are not the cleanest crew. These are not the angels on the side-lines, which he can white-wash and prepare to walk in the halls of fame. This are warlords, these are people with a reputation and history, which cannot be forgotten. No matter how bad the government is too. Because, they have to answer for their own misgivings and trouble created, in civil war, during cease-fire and so-on.

Even if Amsterdam says this: “The people of South Sudan have been subjected to a series of systemic human rights violations by the current administration and its security services for years; something which the new nation may not recover from for a whole generation or more,” said Robert Amsterdam (…)“According to Mr. Amsterdam, “to date, no justice has been delivered to the many victims of this long-running conflict, which we argue was instigated by Mr. Salva Kiir himself in December 2013.” (Amsterdam, 21.10.2019). Which is true in a way, he should know whom he represents, and what they have done in power. As well as in opposition and they continue to do so. These people are not peace speaking monks, but generals, soldiers and warriors in a long-term battle. Therefore, he should know that the stories might be twisted to fit their prerogative. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: Police Dismantles Additional Criminal Gangs (21.10.2019)

South Sudan: Troika Statement, October 2019 (21.10.2019)

The text of the following statement was issued jointly by the governments of the United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom:

South Sudan faces a critical moment in the journey toward a peaceful and prosperous future. There are now less than four weeks for political leaders to form a transitional government as they committed to in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway (the Troika) have consistently welcomed assurances by the parties to implement the agreement and meet its deadlines, and hoped that recent meetings between South Sudan’s leadership show a renewed spirit of cooperation. We commend the actions of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to broker the agreement and maintain momentum and take hope from the continued reduction in overall violence in South Sudan.

For too long, conflict has been waged at the expense of South Sudan’s most vulnerable and continues to exacerbate humanitarian needs. We encourage the parties, especially the current government, to take concrete steps to build trust through enhanced cooperation. With the November 12 deadline looming, extended from May, much more needs to be done urgently to ensure the success of the transitional government. Progress would help maintain the confidence of all the parties and the international community, demonstrate that the parties have the political will to work together during the transitional period, and provide the opportunity for the international community to engage productively with an inclusive, new government.

We welcome the discussions of IGAD countries in Addis Ababa last week; the region and the international community’s investment and engagement in a peaceful South Sudan remains important. The Troika will continue to stand with and support the people of South Sudan, who want and deserve peace and a government that that protects its people. We urge the South Sudanese parties to meet the November 12 deadline to form a transitional government that will enable the conditions for a constructive relationship during the next phase of South Sudan’s peace process. The UNSC visit to South Sudan offers an opportunity for the international community to discuss with South Sudanese leaders how to accelerate such progress.

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