Kazini, Mayombo Told Lies, Soldier Tells Probe

A UPDF soldier who took part in the operations in the DR Congo, yesterday said the Chief of Staff, Brig. James Kazini, and the Chief of Military Intelligence, Lt. Col. Noble Mayombo, lied about him to the Porter commission, reports Milton Olupot. Lt. David Livingstone Okumu now based at the 4th Division Gulu, was accused by the UN panel report on the alleged plunder of Congo wealth, of issuing chits authorising civilian Congolese to mine gold in Kilomoto gold mine in Duruba. The UN report also implicated Okumu of supplying explosives to the local people to be used for mining. The incident in which 10 people died, is linked to the explosives. Mayombo and Kazini, while appearing before the Porter commission, both said Okumu was suspected of involvement in the unlawful activities contrary to the UPDF orders against involving in mining and other businesses. They said he was detained over allegations of issuing the chits. They also testified that Okumu was arrested and detained over an incident in which over 10 people reportedly died in the gold mine. Okumu yesterday denied before the commission chaired by Justice David Porter, that he was involved in gold mining. He also denied knowledge of any incident where people perished in a mine in 1998 while he commanded a platoon manning the area. Ends