Congo rebel flees to Kigali, angers K'la By Andrew M. Mwenda He is trying to set up Rwanda against Uganda- Salim Saleh
Government has slammed a Congolese rebel who fled Kampala over Christmas and is now alleging that Uganda plans to attack Rwanda. The official Rwanda radio and television stations yesterday ran interviews with one Jean Bosco Barihima, who claimed to have escaped from Uganda claiming that the Movement government has trained over 2000 rebels, including Interahamwe, to attack Rwanda. Barihima also alleged that Uganda has mobilised its army to attack Rwanda, directly along the common boarder or indirectly through DR Congo. Barihima specifically said Uganda has trained 500 anti-Rwanda rebels in Nakivale in Mbarara, and another 1,500 rebels in Kyangwali in Masindi. Lt. Gen. Salim Saleh yesterday dismissed Barihima�s allegations and challenged him to present any evidence before a neutral party. The general said Barihima should be used as a case study of the people who are trying to deepen mutual suspicion between Rwanda and Uganda. �He [Barihima] is trying to set up Rwanda against Uganda,� Saleh said. �He came here and told us that Rwanda was planning to attack Uganda. He even gave us a map specifying places inside Rwanda-held areas of eastern Congo where colonels [Samson] Mande and [Anthony] Kyakabale are training rebels to attack Uganda. He even personally asked me for help to get Uganda government to give him money and guns to fight Rwanda and RCD Goma.� In his radio and television appearance, Barihima alleged that he was lured to Uganda to be used by Kampala to fight the government in Kigali. Barihima is the president of the Patriotic Movement for the Liberation of Eastern Congo, a fledging rebel army in DR Congo. He claims to have been under the care of ministers Amama Mbabazi (defence), Col. Kahinda Otafiire (state for foreign affairs) and the Chief of Military Intelligence (CMI) Col. Noble Mayombo. Otafiire yesterday dismissed Barihima�s claims. "He came here as a refugee running away from Goma,� Otafiire said. "I directed that he be handed over to the UNHCR. I am told he refused and left the country. That is about six months ago.� He challenged Barihima to give his evidence about these alleged training camps. Mayombo denied contact with Barihima. �Barihima had no relationship or even contact with CMI,� a visibly angry Mayombo said. �He has never entered my office, he has never talked to anyone authorised by me. He has never carried out any operation for CMI � including catching an armed robber.� Mayombo said it is the policy of Uganda government not to fight a proxy war with Rwanda, and this has been communicated to President Paul Kagame himself. Mayombo also said Nakivale, Kyangwale and Oruchinga are Rwandese refugee settlements managed either solely by the United Nations High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR), or together with the ministries of Local Government and Disaster Preparedness. Mayombo said the army has nothing to do with these refugee camps. �The issue of Barihima was raised by Rwanda government in the October [2002] meeting between presidents [Yoweri] Museveni and Kagame,� Mayombo said. �It is right now a subject of investigation by the three governments and the United Kingdom. I have personally submitted our side of the story to the British government. We are waiting for the outcome of the investigation.� Sources said there had been a frantic effort by Uganda security to arrest Barihima before he could defect to Rwanda. Sources said there were thorough searches at all Uganda�s border points, including a series of roadblocks along the Kampala-Kabale road. Barihima claims to have escaped with 30 of his fighters after buying booze for his unsuspecting UPDF guards and exploiting the new year festivities to escape. Mayombo yesterday admitted giving instructions for the arrest of Barihima. �I had given instructions to arrest him here because he went to Beni and dropped leaflets claiming that he is going to attack Rwanda from Uganda,� Mayombo said. �He has since been in hiding.� Mayombo said Barihima was living in Old Kampala, renting a house for himself and was getting no help whatsoever from Uganda government. Diplomatic sources said Uganda had warned Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, South Africa, Britain, United States and the European Union among others, giving evidence of plans by Rwanda to destabilise Uganda using colonels Mande and Kyakabale during the Christmas festivities. The source added that Mayombo had travelled to Luanda, Pretoria and later Brussels to give Uganda�s position to the governments of Angola, South Africa and the EU. Mayombo yesterday said, �There is no government in this region that is not concerned about the tensions between Uganda and Rwanda. We have been to Arusha, Mweya, Mwanza, Durban, Katuna, London, etc. to solve these tensions.� He denied going to Angola, Belgium and South Africa to give a Uganda government dossier on the threat posed by Rwanda. �I am a regular visitor to Angola,� Mayombo said. �And unless I am using a chartered plane, I have to pass through South Africa. Brussels is the capital of Europe. But why do you want to know why I went to these countries? Am I not allowed to visit other countries?� January 07, 2003 23:21:53
