Congolese gov’t happy with taking Gen NKunda to military court, push for extradition

Kishasa-The Democratic republic of Congo has added its nod on Rwanda’s Supreme Court decision of transferring the controversial case of Laurent Nkunda to military court after long arguments on the competence of other courts

“We have what to accuse Nkunda basing on abuses in North and South Kivu war, we support the courts decision but our country needs Nkunda to be extradited to face justice here,” Lambert Mende Omalanga, the minister of communication who also dabbles being government spokesman was quoted by Okapi radio as saying

Rwanda's Supreme Court ruled on Friday it is not competent to hear a plea seeking the release of Laurent Nkunda, a former rebel chief in the Democratic Republic of Congo, held since January 2009.

"The court ruled it is not competent and sent the case back to a military tribunal," Aime Bokanga, one of Nkunda's lawyers told AFP.

Nkunda was arrested in Gisenyi on January 22 2009, when he was head of the rebel National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) movement, according to people close to him.

In October 2008, Nkunda's men routed the DR Congolese army in Nord-Kivu province and threatened to take the strategic provincial capital, Goma, near the border with Rwanda.

But after a shift in alliances, the Congolese and Rwandan armies in January 2009 launched an unprecedented joint operation targeting Rwandan Hutu rebels in eastern DR Congo which also resulted in Nkunda's arrest.

321 people massacred my Kony men went un noticed

Human rights watch, has revealed that at least 321 civilians were killed by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a previously unreported massacre in late 2009.

New York-based Rights Watch has added that at least 250 people were abducted by the rebels, including at least 80 children during the killing spree in the Makombo area of northeastern Congo.

According to international press, Senior Africa researcher Anneke Van Woudenberg called the massacre “one of the worst ever committed by the LRA in its bloody 23-year history”.

Yet the massacre targeting at least 10 villages, which occurred from December 14th to December 17th, 2009, went unreported for months because of the remoteness of the area.

Col. Felix Kulayigye wondered whether the Congo army would not have got wind of LRA activities within those four days and gone to rescue its people. He said the UPDF intelligence indicates that the LRA has less than 200 fighters who have no capacity to kill with impunity.

The LRA is a Ugandan rebel movement that was pushed out of Uganda and is now in a tropical forest straddling the border between Congo and the Central African Republic. The LRA, which was founded in Uganda in 1987, says it wants to create a theocratic state based on the Biblical Ten Commandments.

A protracted operation code-named Lighting Thunder launched in December 2008 by the Ugandan army failed to kill or capture Kony. He fled within minutes of UPDF recahing his camp in Garamba, Eastern DRC.

Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, recently claimed LRA leader, Joseph Kony, is harboured in Darfur region of Sudan, adding that there were no more threats from his torn up rebel army.

Western province flood fotos

Heavy pour kills four, 17 seriously wounded

By Robert Mugabe
• Rain brings a lot of fear, as Nyundo petit seminary call for help

Rwanda-Western Area-At least four people are confirmed died and 17 others are surviving with serious injuries at different hospitals in the area after heavy rain that started Friday night causing havoc in the districts of Rubavu and Nyabihu

At Ruhavu hill, it was too late for the rescue team to save the lives of Icyimanishaka 10, Habimana 4 and Hategekimana 7 years when the flood hit apart of the house and mixed them with dirt. As died bodies are temporary laid at Gisenyi hospital mortuary

“We have lost three children in our sector, in the family of Pascal Ngaborinze and Shakila Nyirabasore also Ngabonziza is admitted in Gisenyi hospital because he was wounded too,” Christian Dukuze, Rubavu sector executive secretary said
“What i know is that, i went to bed raining at night and wakeup a live in the hospital.
I don’t know how the whole incident happened but am thinking what will happen to me next if the same flood comes again,” Wilson Niyibizi, 6 said
In Rugerero sector, flood hit the house of a young man only identified as Barabwiriza and he immediately died as the parents were rescued and rushed to the health centre serving with serious wounds

“This young man was on the side of the house which was hit by the flood, unfortunately when the rescue people came he was already died and now he was buried at Cyanika sementary,” Jean Sebikari Munyanganizi, the executive secretary of Rugerero sector
Residents continue to live in uncertainty as projections show that the downpour is yet to come as Nyunda petit seminary students who were affected by the pour say they are not comfortable at school

“I had students shouting in the middle of the night, then looking for my shoes were missing my bag was washed by the flood, we were asked to go to another house but also as you see it was also affected,” Fabrice Ineeza only 14 said

Western executive secretary, Paul Jabo told this paper that government is bringing in tents to evacuate residents who live at Rubavu hill

“I wish I talk to my dad, this situation might become more serious when rain comes again and it seems it’s out of the school’s control, please tell my dad to come for me,” Ineeza added

“Myself, i am worried what to do for these children when another pour comes to night, the situation will not be simple at all. We do what is possible for us but this seems that is going beyond our capacity,” Catholic Father Vincent Harorimana who heads the seminary said

Sebeya river water escapes caused hazard into Nyundo health centre when its usual boundaries poured into the centre living the patients with no option just to flee the hospital to other small rooms near by

“We got army intervention for this health centre you see, and also the seminary there students were stranded in and flood was taking a very thing here in St. Pie X dormitory,” Harorimana added

At the press time the meeting to decide Rubavu hill resident’s fate was on led by Christopher Bazivamo and governor Kabahizi at the district head quarters

Zuma says his country is to follow international laws to protect fugitives Gen. Nyamwasa and Karengyeya

South Africa's Jacob Zuma has announced he will not a bide by Rwanda's decision to have the duo Gen Nyamwasa and Karegeya return back to answer crimes they are accused off,
Rwanda’s hopes of having two dissident army generals currently in self-imposed exile extradited from South Africa to face trial appear to have taken a fatal blow after President Jacob Zuma said his country is obliged to follow international laws on asylum.

South Africa’s President Zuma confirmed to reporters at the end of his two-day state visit to Uganda on Friday that his country had granted asylum to Col. Patrick Karegeya, former director of Rwanda’s external intelligence office, and temporary asylum to Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamaswa, an envoy to India.

The comments came in the wake of reports in Kigali that another top army officer had been put under house arrest over coup plot claims, allegations which the Rwandan government dismissed as hearsay. Rwanda Defence Forces spokesman Maj. Jill Rutaremara dismissed reports that Land Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga had been arrested in a failed coup attempt on Wednesday.

Rwanda denies

“We are tired of those [coup] rumours,” he told Sunday Monitor on telephone from Arusha, Tanzania on Friday. “It is wishful thinkers behind all these baseless rumours but they will be disappointed.” This is the second time reports of a coup plot are coming up in less than a month even though Rwandan leader Paul Kagame said at the beginning of March that a coup is unattainable in Rwanda. The country, preparing for presidential elections this year, has in the last few months experienced isolated cases of bomb explosions in Kigali, which authorities blame on dissident army officers.

Responding to a reporter’s question over whether South Africa would execute arrest warrants for the two exiled army officers, who Rwanda accuses of subversion, President Zuma said: “Certainly, we are going to be guided by what governs the world in regards to refugee status.” “I don’t think we can do anything outside of that,” said Mr Zuma, who admitted, however, that South Africa had not considered the issue of the two exiled officers in light of the arrest warrants. “Once the matter is formally raised, am sure we shall consider it and arrive at the appropriate conclusion,” he said.




International law protects individuals who have been granted asylum and considers that a state has no obligation to surrender an alleged criminal to a foreign state because to be granted sanctuary indicates that the state granting asylum regards the individual as being illegally persecuted by the country they fled from.

It appears a complicated matter for officials in Kigali especially in light of the absence of an extradition treaty between Rwanda and South Africa.

Nyamwasa escape
Lt. Gen. Nyamaswa escaped from Kigali on February 27 and transited through Kampala to Malaba border post before he fled to South Africa, a development that fuelled accusations that Uganda had aided his escape. Kampala and Kigali have had frosty relations characterized by accusations and counter accusations of both countries aiding each
other’s dissidents.


speculations continue to grew that the sitting mayor of Kigali city husband'Lt Con Kakira is reportedly in exile too

Baganda Start Anti-Museveni Radio in the US

By Robert Mugabe
Radical Baganda based in the US have started a satellite radio to make up for the closure of CBS FM in September last year. the radio is said that it will air anti-Museveni programs in their effort to end President Museveni's rule that have lasted for decades

Baganda Radio, as it is called, will start broadcasting in Uganda this evening. Baganda radioalso available on www.bagandaradio.com will be broadcasting its program “Wooli Nywera” live in Luganda to Eastern, Central and Southern Africa starting today (Saturday, March 27, 2010) at 8:00pm East African time.

The frequency is 15410 KHz in the 19 meter band.

For the rest of the world, the show will be broadcast live on the internet at http://www.facebook.com/l/7cc71;www.ababaka.com.

The founders of the radio are reportedly fundraising from among loyal Baganda to support the radio.

The radio is expected to be more anti-NRM and anti-President Museveni than any other radio in Uganda has ever been. Their target panelists include opposition party leaders, Col. Kiiza Besigye (FDC) and Olara Otunnu (UPC).

The radio will have talk shows on Saturdays and Sundays.

Gov’t launches rehabilitation and vocational centre at Iwawa Island

The ministry of youth (Mineyouth) have officially launched a rehabilitation and vocational centre at 87 Hectors Island of Iwawa in Rutsiro district of western province that hosts majority being former idlers

Iwawa Island is currently hosting almost 900 youth who are going through civic education sessions for six months and after they will have to go through other vocational disciplines as tailoring, mechanics, and brambling, hair dressing also agriculture

During the official launch, the minister of youth appealed to the youth to have faith in government and be stable in following all programs designed to make them better people and added that “the centre is not a prison, however staying here is the mandatory”

“We have designed the curriculum with Work force Development Agency of this initiative to help you become better people useful for your families and the country,” Protais Mitali told hundreds of youth who received the delegation with hymns

“You will go back needed at the job market since you will acquire relevant skills and certificates bearing testimony of what you have learn,” Mitali

Jean Marie Munyaneza, who is the coordinator of the center appealed to the government to seek for the permanent solution of the big number of immigrants who run from the village to the towns being the cause of idlers and street children

In the separate interview with, Fis Bizimana, 22, married who claims to be doing with HIV say he is worried with his life at the rehab centre

“I knew it when I arrived here, just after the check-up, strait away i begun taking simple medicines and now am worried with my wife and three months kid,” as the management of the centre says that at least 29 people are having the virus

According to their representatives, Joseph Higiro said that they are having problems of not having basic needs as source pans, enough infrastructures and eating once a day

“We have problems that need some attention, many of our people are married and our families are not aware of our whereabouts, since we were arrested and just brought abruptly,” Higiro said

However, the youth minister said that there working on procedures to identify them and involve the districts for the official communication
“We are looking into ways how the trainee can be visited and also visit their families after identifying them,” Mitali added

Gasigwa Gakunzi who says is 14, told this paper that he was arrested watching a movie with colleagues and he had asked the permission to the mother since he was in holidays. He said he goes to Kabeza primary school

However, Mitali said that no one is below 18 at the centre calling it playing tricks to avoid the useful skills to be acquired
Minister promised them biogas installation to boost the distant island with power to cook and light

Iwawa Island is neighbouring Bugarura island which is in 20kms both are of Rutsiro district and near to ijjwi of DRC

Two University students killed in grenade attacks in Kigali city suburbs

By Robert Mugabe
Kigali: Reliable sources in town have told this blog that at least seven people are reportedly surviving serious injuries following grenade attack in Kimironko city suburb near Hotel Le prentemps

Shortly when the police arrived at the scene, as ambulances were talking the wounded to Kibagabaga Hospital another grenade exploded at kinamba suburb but no clear reports of the causalities are available now

Two Kigali Institute of Education students are reportedly killed in the incident

President Paul Kagame, yesterday told the members of the press in his monthly interview that Gen Kayumba and Con Karegyeya are behind the attacks
Both Kayumba and Karegyeya are in south Africa seeking asylum

The police publicity was not available for the comment as his telephone number could not be reached

However, reports indicate that at least one man was transported in ambulance showing signs that he won’t make it

Interview with Gen Nyamwasa on grenade attack in Kigali

Best Law student attributes success to hard work and having purpose

By Robert Mugabe
Josephine Iragena, who succeeded to be the best student in law depart of ULK (Gisenyi) of academic year 2009, says that “going to school with a purpose of who you want to be in the future” is behind her best performance

The soft speaking, 25year old girl,first born in the family succeeded with a distinction and being the first student in the faculty and the whole department of Law scoring 15 points out of 20 which made her thebest out 68 graduands

“I had a dream of studying Law and become a judge ever since I was young, lucky enough I attended the course I wanted; I took the decision to do well in class to give the example to my young ones at home,” Iragena said

“The reason I want to be a judge or a lawyer, but my full attention is on becoming a judge, to have full participation to the service of Rwandan population with honesty and commitment as a professional judge with ethics”

Iragena told this paper that, the training and ethical discipline she acquired at the University is enough to approach others to acquire experience and do the job
“We need to have purpose always, this is a driving force.

When I reached at ULK, we had to take a course called Ethics which is a must to a very student here to learn; this course challenged me to have purpose and success in any area of life, so i had to begin my success journey at the campus,” she added

Kagame says Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa,Col Karegyeya masterminds of Kigali grenade attack

President Paul Kagame









By Robert Mugabe
KIGALI - The government of Rwanda is accusing Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa and Con.Patrick Karegyeya are responsible for grenades blasts that killed two civilians and many more injured in the streets of Rwanda capital Kigali.

former High Commissioner to India, Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa and former country top spy agency boss National Security Services Col Patrick Karegyeya, are accused of having been the brains behind the recent grenade attacks in the city that left two dead and scores injured.

Speaking to journalists today President Paul Kagame revealed that the two former senior officers are charged with acts of terrorism and causing insecurity in the country.

"It all started when Kayumba was here for the government retreat, then he was question and latter discovered that it was serious and known to us then he fled," Kagame told the members of the press in his offices Kakiru

"We are trying to negotiate with South African government and other regional countries that Karegyeya has been using to coordinate their activities to terrorize the security of this country" he said

“We have evidence that both of them were involved in acts that led to state insecurity which include grenade attacks in Kigali city and other parts of the country,” Martin Ngoga,the Prosecutor General told reporters early yesterday.

He added that before Gen. Kayumba fled to South Africa through Uganda last week, he had been questioned about the charges.

“Karegyeya was not questioned about those acts because he has been away for some time”.

Karegyeya fled the country after completing an 18-month jail sentence for desertion and insubordination. He was also stripped of his military ranks by the Military Tribunal.
Kagame was quick to intervene on the allegations of coup attempt some time back saying that the renegade general was alleged involved in but rushed to a journalist saying "It can not happen here in Rwanda, you can not make a coup d'etat here may be during Habyarimana's regime"

"I should assure all Rwandan that the security in the country is stable, they should sleep well and wake up to their jobs. this is not the type of the country were military terrorize the country" President Kagame added

Ngoga confirmed media reports that the two officers are in South Africa, adding that it is where they have been meeting to plan their acts of insecurity in Rwanda. Ngoga said that South Africa was cooperating to have the officers extradited.

“We are happy with the legal procedures so far, and the response from South Africa up to now is good. Whatever follows, we think will lead to their arrest and being handed over to judicial authorities” Ngoga said.

“It’s still an issue that is developing at technical level between us and South African authorities and the process is ongoing”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week announced, in a statement, that “Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa ceased to represent the Republic of Rwanda to the Republic of India and any other country or institution, with immediate effect”.

Barcelona FC boss to visit sports initiatives in Refugees camp

By Sam Nkurunziza
President of the legendary FC Barcelona of Spain, Joan Laporta, will benefit sports programs in refugee camps that are supported by his Club and Nike Inc.

The programs include a mutli-functional center at Kiziba refugee camp in Karongi district, while in Nyabiheke and Gihembe camps, volleyball and basketball courts have been constructed and are currently used by the population of concern and the surrounding community.

Laporta is expected in the country on Wednesday and a BBC TV crew together with the FC Barcelona Foundation is already here to document the projects in Kiziba refugee camp.

This follows the launch of the MES (More than Football) partnership between FC Barcelona, Nike and UNHCR in 2008.

Francois Abiyingoma, the Program Assistant at UNHCR, Rwanda confirmed the development.

“In this program, sports become the key element because it offers educational and psychosocial support for the personal and social development of children,” he said.

He added that the camps which host high numbers of vulnerable children and youth school dropouts with limited or no sports facilities were chosen to help salvage them from all forms of delinquency and abuses.

UNHCR Rwanda Operation was chosen among the pilot countries for the implementation of the FC Barcelona Project under the objective “to construct remodel Centers for Education and sports in low – income countries where there is a high level of child vulnerability”.

The FC Barcelona Foundation has applied this project in other countries like including Ecuador and Nepal. In Rwanda the MES project was funded with about USD 100,000.

The project directly and indirectly benefits approximately 33,000 refugees, the local communities included.

Refuges who talked to this reporter upon receiving the news of Laporta’s visit could not hide their excitement and passion to host the president of such a big club.

“I am anxiously waiting to see him because this is a chance to get exposed to the world of sports,” Fidel Iyamuremye, one of the refugees said.

Rwanda envoy alagendly flees to South Africa

By Robert mugabe and agencies
Rwanda’s former army chief is reported to be seeking asylum in South Africa.

Sources said yesterday that Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa fled Rwanda through Uganda before escaping to Kenya from where he flew to South Africa. The sources added that Nyamwasa left Kenya on Sunday.

Foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa said Nyamwasa was not in Uganda.

“Our security forces informed me that he came through a smuggling route and went through to Kenya and he is believed to be in South Africa,” Kutesa told Vision Voice FM.

The embattled diplomat fled Rwanda on Friday at the end of a one-week annual retreat for Rwandan diplomats abroad.

Kayumba apparently left to report back to his duty station in India but escaped to Uganda through smuggler’s routes in Kagitumba and linked with his driver across the border.

Kayumba is said to have spent a few hours in Uganda, contacted some friends and relatives before heading to Malaba, through what Ugandan intelligence has called “a non-designated route” to Kenya.

“We can categorically say that he is not here now. Both Kampala and Kigali are now sure on this,” said foreign affairs permanent secretary James Mugume.

Rwanda’s ambassador to Uganda, Frank Mugambage, yesterday said: “We have communicated to the region, including Kenya and Interpol, because his crime is serious.”

A statement issued by Rwanda’s foreign affairs ministry announced that Nyamwasa was no longer its envoy to India.

It added that before he fled, “Nyamwasa was questioned by Rwandan investigative authorities on serious criminal charges.”

Local media reported that he was linked to the opposition Green Party. Two weeks ago, Umuseso, a local tabloid, reported that the general was on strained terms with the authorities to the extent that no government official or even fellow soldiers attended the funeral of his mother recently.

Uganda says Gen Nyamwasa might not be in the country

Agencies

Kigali: The Uganda government says it is also looking for Lt. General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa who Rwanda claimed on Friday was on the run in Uganda, as the two countries try to minimize any impact of the latest twist to their relations.

Up until his flight on Friday after an annual retreat of diplomats in Kigali, the General was Rwanda’s ambassador to India and previously served as the second army chief after the 1994 Tutsi Genocide. He would later be named head of the national security services.

Uganda’s Defence Spokesman, Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye, told Daily Monitor he is “unaware” if the fugitive is being sheltered in Kampala, as alleged, and referred the daily to Mr. Sam Kutesa, the Foreign Affairs Minister.

“I am trying to seek details from security but we are also looking for him. But why do you want him?” Mr Kutesa asked the papaer.

With Uganda formally denying the General’s presence in the country, Rwanda said it was not yet suspecting any "beef" since Kigali had been “assured it would get maximum cooperation”.

Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda news agency (RNA) last evening that her government had registered its “concern” with officials of Uganda’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and that of Local Government as well as security chiefs.

“The authorities took my concern and said if they get information that is of interest, they will let our government know,” she said, referring to the contested whereabouts of Gen. Nyamwasa.

Peoples of the two countries are bonded in many ways, trade and shared heritage and culture inclusive. For instance, available information suggests that Uganda was one of the principal backer of the RPF guerrilla movement that brought the current Kigali leadership, and President Paul Kagame to power.

However over the years, political rivalry and suspected bruised ego of some of the leaders in either country threw the bilateral relation into a mess with armies of the two countries fighting one another several times in Kisangani during the 1997-2003 in Democratic Republic of Congo, which they had both joined as allies.

Asked if Rwanda-Uganda relations had been damaged, Ms Mushikiwabo, who is also spokesperson of the Rwandan government, said: “I don’t think the flight of one person can dent our relationships that have been solid for long.” “Our two countries have much more in common that a fugitive can destroy.”
we have learnt that Gen. Nyamwasa’s issue, a diplomatic nightmare for Uganda, will form the highlight of discussions at a Joint Permanent Commission meeting due in Kampala, on Wednesday, which will review security and bilateral ties between the two counties.

Rwandan flag to be raised on common wealth HQs

Agencies
Rwanda’s national flag is set to be raised at Marlborough House-London, the Commonwealth secretariat, to mark Rwanda’s entry into the group government officials have said.

President Paul Kagame and Patrick Manning, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago who is the current chair-in-office of the Commonwealth will preside over the ceremony to be observed by Kamalesh Sharma, the Commonwealth Secretary General.

After the flag-raising ceremony, Prime Minister Manning and President Kagame will address Commonwealth High Commissioners and invited guests in the grounds of Marlborough House, to mark Rwanda’s first Commonwealth Day.

The two leaders will also hold a press conference before Sharma conducts a traditional ‘familiarisation tour’ to President Kagame regarding the Commonwealth, its traditions and formal practices.

Rwanda was admitted to the Commonwealth in November 2009, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.

Manning, Kagame and Sharma will later attend a multi-faith Commonwealth Day Observance at Westminster Abbey, in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen.

During his recent visit to Rwanda to officially deliver a message of admission to President Kagame, Sharma noted that Rwanda’s entry into the group will be beneficial on both ends, with Rwanda benefiting from the group while at the same time taking some benefits to other member states.

The Commonwealth is comprised of mainly former British colonies and Rwanda became the 54th member and second country to join the group without any colonial connections to the British, Mozambique was the first.