By Alex B. Atuhaire & Frank Nyakairu
April 6, 2004
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KAMPALA � Three African leaders earlier expected to attend President Museveni�s retirement from the army today will not attend, The Monitor learnt yesterday. Information minister Nsaba Buturo and army spokesman Shaban Bantariza had earlier said that Col. Muammar Gadhafi of Libya, Mr Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania and Mr Joachim Chissano of Mozambique would attend the ceremony, where Mr Museveni will also be decorated an army general. However, officials at the Libyan and Tanzanian embassies told The Monitor yesterday that they were not aware of any impending visits by their heads of state. �We have no news about his coming,� a female official at the Libyan embassy, who declined to disclose her name, told The Monitor by telephone yesterday. Another official at the Tanzanian embassy said they had heard of President Mkapa�s expected attendance in the press. �We are not aware that he will be coming,� the official, who also declined to be named, said in a telephone interview. When contacted for comment yesterday, Maj. Bantariza said, �Some of the Presidents will not come.� The spokesman added: �I don�t know who will come or who will not come.� Bantariza said the Presidents who wouldn�t come were expected to send representatives, some of whom were expected to arrive at Entebbe airport at 7 p.m. yesterday. �Those who will not be coming have sent some generals,� Bantariza said. Museveni, who officially retires from the army today, will be decorated with the pips of a general, a rank he was promoted to on December 29, 2003. Museveni, who captured power in 1986 after a five-year guerrilla campaign, will, as President, remain commander-in-chief of the armed forces. |
� 2004 The Monitor Publications
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