Uganda releases arms for Burundi

UGANDA has released 28 containers of arms impounded by local security agencies last year while in transit to Burundi from the Kenyan port of Mombasa, reports Grace Matsiko. Army spokesman Maj. Phinehas Katirima confirmed the release of the arms from Magamaga Barracks stores in Jinja. He said the containers were released about a week ago, but declined to give details. "They were impounded as a result of sanctions imposed on Burundi. After the government there signed an agreement with the opposition groups, we saw no reason of continuing to hold them," Katirima said. State minister for regional cooperation Amama Mbabazi said the seizure of the arms was part of an embargo on Burundi by the regional states and Uganda was not acting unilaterally. "The regional states progressively removed the embargo on development aid, medical aid and eventually economic sanctions. The idea of not giving arms was not to accelerate the war. Now that the agreement has been signed, the sanctions have also been removed, that is the position regarding the arms," Mbabazi said. Katirima said Ugandan security personnel escorted the weapons to Mirama Hills in Ntungamo enroute to Burundi. Mbabazi denied Uganda released the arms on intervention of former South African President Nelson Mandela, who was here four days ago. But The East African newspaper reported in its latest edition that the decision to release the arms, which follows over a year's negotiation with Burundian President Maj. Pierre Buyoya, was reached last week after intense consultations with regional leaders. The paper said the weapons were released on October 23. The arms were being transported in 14 trucks belonging to Interfreight Panalpina, an international clearing and transportation firm with offices in Kampala. When contacted yesterday, the company officials declined to comment, saying they do not discuss clients' affairs in the press. ENDS