Swiss company quits trade deals with Uganda over ‘looting’
By Emmy Allio
A leading Swiss gold refining company has severed trade links with Uganda over allegations that the gold it often buys from Uganda is looted from the DR Congo.
Metalor Technologies SA of Neuchatel in switzerland recently said it would not accept any further deliveries until it clarifies Uganda’s position and statistics on gold production and export.
Metalor’s reaction follows a damning report titled “The curse of gold” released on June 2 by the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The report also gives details on how UPDF soldiers between 1999 and 2001 grabbed gold from local artisan miners.
It said at one moment, a UPDF officer used explosives to burst three important gold mines at Gorumbwa, Durba and Agbarabo in Watsa territory in northeastern Congo.
“According to estimates of engineers and geologists familiar with the area, nearly one ton of gold was extracted from this region during the four-year period of Ugandan occupation. Based on prices at the time, this would have been valued at some US$9m,” said the 159-page report.
It said in compliance with Article 55 of the Hague Declarations (convention IV), the DRC in September 2004 demanded US$16b in compensation from Uganda for plunder of national resources by its forces while they occupied parts of the country in violation of international law.
UPDF officers named in the report include the late Col. Sula Semakula, Lt. Col. Fencasius Mugenyi, Major Sonko, Lt. Okumu , Lt. Freddy Zziwa, commander Bob, commander Kashillingi, captain Tinka and Captain Ngobi.
Information state minister Dr. Nsaba Buturo said Uganda no longer had troops in Congo and “allegations against Uganda are not true.”
Army spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza (right) said the report was a duplication of the UN panel of experts’ reports. He said the brains behind the report were countries liaising with opposition politicians to stop the on-going constitution amendment process.Published on: Tuesday, 7th June, 2005
Now, why does an army spokesman find it necessary to comment on the “constitution amendment process”, which is a political matter?
Wouldn’t the country be better served if our industrious army spokesman concentrated on presenting facts that clear or confirm the army officers named instead of beating about the bush in a futile attempt of trying to put a spin on the matter?Recall, the statistics of Uganda's gold production were provided and exports by no other authority than the Uganda government itself. The details of these statistics can be found in paragraphs 92 - 105 at:__________________________________________________
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