Uganda to enforce Libya sanctions
Mar 25, 2011
UGANDA is to comply with the United Nations resolution regarding the freezing of all funds and assets owned or controlled by President Muammar Gadaffi’s regime, Parliament heard yesterday.
By Cyprian Musoke
and Joyce Namutebi
UGANDA is to comply with the United Nations resolution regarding the freezing of all funds and assets owned or controlled by President Muammar Gadaffi’s regime, Parliament heard yesterday.
State minister for international cooperation Henry Okello Oryem told MPs that the Government has written to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, over the modalities of complying with the resolution.
MPs had asked the minister to specify the Government’s action on the UN resolution.
“We have written to the Secretary General seeking specific details of how Uganda should handle the sanctions given the nature of investments in Uganda. We have 30 days to ensure they (sanctions) are enforced and we shall immediately comply,†Oryem said.
The Libyan assets in Uganda include 69% shareholding in telecommunications firm utl, 49% ownership of National Housing and Construction Corporation, and undisclosed shares in Tamoil, which is expected to work on the oil pipeline from Eldoret, Kenya to Uganda.
Libya also has interests in Uganda's banking sector with over 80 percent in Tropical Bank.
“There will be implications on Libyan assets in Uganda and the government of Uganda is taking immediate actions to enforce the UN Security Council resolutions,†he said.
A meeting, he added, was yesterday morning held between the affected companies and the Third Deputy Prime Minister, Kirunda Kivejinja, to assess the would-be impact of the resolutions.
The asset freeze, he noted, applies to those owned or controlled by individuals or entities acting on the regime’s behalf or at its discretion.
The frozen assets, Oryem added, must be made available to and for the benefit of the Libyan people.
The UN resolution requires freezing of assets of Central Bank of Libya, Libyan Investment Authority, Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company, Libya Foreign Bank, Libyan Africa Investment portfolio, and Libyan National Oil Corporation. Some of the listed companies have investments in Uganda.
Oryem explained that a sanctions committee chaired by Portugal was expected to meet in New York yesterday to consider and approve draft guidelines.
“Based on the guidelines, the ministry will provide written operational guidelines on implementation,†he said.
Libyan investments in Uganda
Libyan investments in Uganda, Oryem noted, amount to about $375m, adding that Libya has demonstrated generosity towards Uganda by funding several projects like the Gadaffi Mosque and the Toro royal palace.
Uganda, he added, was committed to dialogue as opposed to pursuing regime change for long-term peace and stability, and rallied for support to the AU efforts.
“To this end, we will continue to work with others in the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the Arab League, the UN and the international community,†he said.
Oryem also noted that a travel ban had been imposed on two Libyan officials for their direct involvement in recruiting and coordinating mercenaries. The two are Quren Salih Quren Al Gadaffi, the Libyan ambassador to Chad, and Col. Amid Husain Al Kuni, the governor of Ghat in south Libya.
He expressed gratitude to the government of Kenya for the evacuation of all Ugandans who were willing to return home aboard Kenya Airways on February 28.
However, some few were not willing to return like an official at the embassy and some students who chose to stay and sit for their exams.
About requests by a number of companies to be assisted recover their claims from the embassy, Oryem said the ministry would work with the Libyan embassy to ensure that the claims are honoured.
Oryem noted that the Libyan army used excessive force to quell the protests, including use of heavy weapons and fighter jets, which forced the international community to react, including referring the situation to the International Criminal Court.
MPs split over military attacks
During the ensuing debate, while some MPs attacked the US and her allies for a hasty attack on Libya, others praised it for intervening to save people’s lives.
Gen. Elly Tumwine (UPDF) castigated the “violent and inconsiderate rush†for military action by the so-called international community against the African people.
“It is like coming to your house and raping your daughter and going away. Decisions were unprecedented in terms of time and haste, with no AU involvement,†he said.
Beatrice Anywar (FDC) said the crisis was caused by bad governance, and that all African governments should take lessons.
Frank Tumwebaze (NRM) criticised the UN for again proving powerless in the face of what he described as UK and American aggression.
Franca Akello (FDC) wondered whether the Government had plans to evacuate Ugandans trapped there. She wondered why the African Union waited so long to act, giving Western powers the chance to dig in.
Emmanuel Dombo (NRM) hailed the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt, who, when they saw the crisis looming, stepped down to avert bloodshed. “How I wish Gadaffi did the same,†he said.
Elijah Okupa (FDC) called for a speedy arrangement to pay off creditors of the Libyan embassy in Kampala who are under “financial stressâ€. Among these, he noted, were Serena Hotel, Imperial Royale Hotel, Eagle Aviation, Total Uganda, Barclays and other banks.
Kasule Lumumba (NRM) said Libya’s crisis should be a lesson to all African leaders who overstay in power.
Barnabas Tinkasiimire (NRM) called on all African governments to uphold the freedom of their people.
Margaret Babadiri (NRM) said due to the transformation in welfare that Gadaffi had brought to Libya, the international community should have come up with a better negotiated exit strategy.
Wamai Wamanga (FDC) said the wind of change was blowing in the Middle East and should be supported, while Kaps Fungaroo (FDC) warned that what happened in Libya could happen elsewhere.
Onyango Kakoba (NRM) said the UN still had a role to play in Libya in protecting lives, while Christine Bakko condemned Gadaffi for ruling for 43 years.
Okello Okello (UPC) said he would not be party to condemning the West for intervening to save people’s lives.
Are you a Ugandan in Libya? Share your experiences with us. Send comments to news@newvision.co.ug
and Joyce Namutebi
UGANDA is to comply with the United Nations resolution regarding the freezing of all funds and assets owned or controlled by President Muammar Gadaffi’s regime, Parliament heard yesterday.
State minister for international cooperation Henry Okello Oryem told MPs that the Government has written to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, over the modalities of complying with the resolution.
MPs had asked the minister to specify the Government’s action on the UN resolution.
“We have written to the Secretary General seeking specific details of how Uganda should handle the sanctions given the nature of investments in Uganda. We have 30 days to ensure they (sanctions) are enforced and we shall immediately comply,†Oryem said.
The Libyan assets in Uganda include 69% shareholding in telecommunications firm utl, 49% ownership of National Housing and Construction Corporation, and undisclosed shares in Tamoil, which is expected to work on the oil pipeline from Eldoret, Kenya to Uganda.
Libya also has interests in Uganda's banking sector with over 80 percent in Tropical Bank.
“There will be implications on Libyan assets in Uganda and the government of Uganda is taking immediate actions to enforce the UN Security Council resolutions,†he said.
A meeting, he added, was yesterday morning held between the affected companies and the Third Deputy Prime Minister, Kirunda Kivejinja, to assess the would-be impact of the resolutions.
The asset freeze, he noted, applies to those owned or controlled by individuals or entities acting on the regime’s behalf or at its discretion.
The frozen assets, Oryem added, must be made available to and for the benefit of the Libyan people.
The UN resolution requires freezing of assets of Central Bank of Libya, Libyan Investment Authority, Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company, Libya Foreign Bank, Libyan Africa Investment portfolio, and Libyan National Oil Corporation. Some of the listed companies have investments in Uganda.
Oryem explained that a sanctions committee chaired by Portugal was expected to meet in New York yesterday to consider and approve draft guidelines.
“Based on the guidelines, the ministry will provide written operational guidelines on implementation,†he said.
Libyan investments in Uganda
Libyan investments in Uganda, Oryem noted, amount to about $375m, adding that Libya has demonstrated generosity towards Uganda by funding several projects like the Gadaffi Mosque and the Toro royal palace.
Uganda, he added, was committed to dialogue as opposed to pursuing regime change for long-term peace and stability, and rallied for support to the AU efforts.
“To this end, we will continue to work with others in the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the Arab League, the UN and the international community,†he said.
Oryem also noted that a travel ban had been imposed on two Libyan officials for their direct involvement in recruiting and coordinating mercenaries. The two are Quren Salih Quren Al Gadaffi, the Libyan ambassador to Chad, and Col. Amid Husain Al Kuni, the governor of Ghat in south Libya.
He expressed gratitude to the government of Kenya for the evacuation of all Ugandans who were willing to return home aboard Kenya Airways on February 28.
However, some few were not willing to return like an official at the embassy and some students who chose to stay and sit for their exams.
About requests by a number of companies to be assisted recover their claims from the embassy, Oryem said the ministry would work with the Libyan embassy to ensure that the claims are honoured.
Oryem noted that the Libyan army used excessive force to quell the protests, including use of heavy weapons and fighter jets, which forced the international community to react, including referring the situation to the International Criminal Court.
MPs split over military attacks
During the ensuing debate, while some MPs attacked the US and her allies for a hasty attack on Libya, others praised it for intervening to save people’s lives.
Gen. Elly Tumwine (UPDF) castigated the “violent and inconsiderate rush†for military action by the so-called international community against the African people.
“It is like coming to your house and raping your daughter and going away. Decisions were unprecedented in terms of time and haste, with no AU involvement,†he said.
Beatrice Anywar (FDC) said the crisis was caused by bad governance, and that all African governments should take lessons.
Frank Tumwebaze (NRM) criticised the UN for again proving powerless in the face of what he described as UK and American aggression.
Franca Akello (FDC) wondered whether the Government had plans to evacuate Ugandans trapped there. She wondered why the African Union waited so long to act, giving Western powers the chance to dig in.
Emmanuel Dombo (NRM) hailed the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt, who, when they saw the crisis looming, stepped down to avert bloodshed. “How I wish Gadaffi did the same,†he said.
Elijah Okupa (FDC) called for a speedy arrangement to pay off creditors of the Libyan embassy in Kampala who are under “financial stressâ€. Among these, he noted, were Serena Hotel, Imperial Royale Hotel, Eagle Aviation, Total Uganda, Barclays and other banks.
Kasule Lumumba (NRM) said Libya’s crisis should be a lesson to all African leaders who overstay in power.
Barnabas Tinkasiimire (NRM) called on all African governments to uphold the freedom of their people.
Margaret Babadiri (NRM) said due to the transformation in welfare that Gadaffi had brought to Libya, the international community should have come up with a better negotiated exit strategy.
Wamai Wamanga (FDC) said the wind of change was blowing in the Middle East and should be supported, while Kaps Fungaroo (FDC) warned that what happened in Libya could happen elsewhere.
Onyango Kakoba (NRM) said the UN still had a role to play in Libya in protecting lives, while Christine Bakko condemned Gadaffi for ruling for 43 years.
Okello Okello (UPC) said he would not be party to condemning the West for intervening to save people’s lives.
Are you a Ugandan in Libya? Share your experiences with us. Send comments to news@newvision.co.ug