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Brig Kaihura Harassed
Ben Mugisha and Grace Matsiko
THE Uganda National Rescue Front II (UNRF II) rebels recently held a presidential envoy, Brig. Kale Kaihura, at gunpoint at their camp in Bidi-Bidi, Yumbe.
Kaihura, the military assistant to President Yoweri Museveni, was on a mission to deliver a message of peace to the rebels� leader, Maj. Gen. Ali Bamuze, who was reported out of the camp.
Kaihura and three bodyguards, with a Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG) pointed at them, were ordered out of their vehicle and forced to walk more than 400 metres from the rebels� headquarters to the quarter guard.
The internal ministry�s permanent secretary, Dr. S.P. Kagoda, has written to the rebels, protesting what he called the mistreatment of Kaihura.
He said Kaihura was not only humiliated but the act was also tantamount to disarming a senior UPDF officer and emissary of the President.
�Brig. Kale Kaihura was subjected to harassment. He was stopped at the quarter guard, made to leave his vehicle there, and to walk on foot more than 400 metres to your offices in the camp,� said Kagoda�s letter dated November 15.
He added, �Worse still, on his way back, an RPG was pointed at him. Had he not kept his cool, the situation would have been very bad. Such hostilities go against the spirit of the cease-fire agreement.�
Speaking on telephone yesterday, Kaihura described his ordeal as �minor� and said the perpetrators acted without their commanders� knowledge.
�I was not manhandled. I was not treated well either. We are handling it through the right channels and I don�t think it is a matter to write about,� Kaihura said. He said the rebels had treated him well in previous visits to the camp.
Bidi-Bidi camp, a former refugee home, was given to UNRF II by the Government as negotiations and their resettlement is worked out.
The Government and the rebels signed a cease-fire agreement on June 15, this year but the rebels handed in their peace agenda on October 15.
In the document, they demanded seven ministerial posts, three diplomatic portfolios and three posts of resident district commissioners.
Kagoda�s letter said Bamuze had twice turned down Museveni�s request for a meeting.
�This definitely goes against the spirit of the cease-fire agreement. Meetings at that level can iron out a lot of problems. The peace process can thus be speeded up,� he said said.
He said the committee appointed to implement the agreement had been stopped from carrying out its duties.
�They (the committee) have been denied access to the armoury. If true, this is a very serious breach of the agreement,� Kagoda queried.
Last week, Yumbe Woman MP Nusura Tiperu told Parliament during Museveni�s address to the House the rebels were being lured back into rebellion.
But Museveni said the Government would not be blackmailed and warned against rebellion.
Ends
Published on: Tuesday, 26th November, 2002 |
