Uganda dismisses Khartoum accusation of rebel support

By Raymond Baguma and agencies

The ministry of foreign affairs has dismissed a statement by the Sudan government official that Uganda is supporting rebel movements to topple President Omar Bashir.

This after a Sudanese Tribune newspaper reported that the Sudanese government has filed a series of complaints against Uganda with the continental body African Union (AU) as well as the regional bodies of IGAD and ICGLR.

The complaint revealed by the Undersecretary of Sudan’s foreign ministry Rahmatallah Mohamed Osman details that Uganda is trying to overthrow the regime by supporting anti-Khartoum rebel movements.

But Uganda’s foreign affairs state minister Henry Okello Oryem said, “It’s the usual Sudanese rubbish. We have no intention whatsoever to topple any government in Africa.”

Osman said that anti-Khartoum groups had this month met in Kampala and reportedly signed a “New Dawn” charter, which calls for the overthrow of President Omar Bashir using political and military means.

He said that Khartoum will adopt a new strategy in dealing with the Ugandan government if it continues its hostile positions towards Sudan.

But minister Oryem said that on the contrary, Uganda’s foreign policy is to enhance and strengthen peace in Africa, citing that Uganda is playing a role in pacifying Somalia, and had been asked to intervene in Central African Republic.