Let Muhoozi, Saleh Testify Says Museveni

By Felix Osike, Anne Mugisa & Milton Olupot PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has asked the Congo probe commission to invite his son and his younger brother to testify on the UN panel report which accused Uganda of plundering Congo’s wealth. Appearing before the commission at State House Nakasero yesterday, Museveni said his son, Lt. Kainerugaba Muhoozi, and Maj. Gen. Salim Saleh, should be called to speak for themselves. Lead counsel Allan Shonubi had asked Museveni to explain the accusation that Saleh and Muhoozi visited eastern Congo over business transactions months before the 1998 war broke out. The report also said a month after the beginning of the conflict, Brig. James Kazini was already involved in commercial activities there. Museveni said, “You can ask Saleh and Muhoozi about it. But I think Muhoozi went to Kinshasa before this war started. You can call him and ask him,” he said, adding that Muhoozi “might have been looking for the possibility of selling beef to Kinshasa.” “About Saleh, you can ask him because he was a good friend of the late (President) Kabila.” Museveni denied links with companies allegedly involved in the plunder of Congo resources. He said the UPDF went to Congo to protect Uganda’s security interests and not to loot gold. Museveni said in December 1998, he directed all UPDF officers and other public officers not to engage in business to avoid being labelled looters. The commissioners said Museveni’s directive allowing other Ugandans to do business, had been abused by some officers. “When I hear we are looking for gold, this is disgusting. It is not serious. Gold, gold, gold, this is not good. Terrorists are not gold unless they want to tell us terrorists are gold,” he said. The UN report, released in April, said Museveni and his family had been involved in business in the Congo. It said his role in the exploitation of natural resources and the continuation of the war was reflected in his policy towards the rebel movements, his attitude towards the army and protection provided to illegal activities and their perpetrators. Museveni told the commission that he was not aware of the alleged shareholding of Muhoozi and Saleh in the companies mentioned. He said such allegations to come from the UN was “really disgusting.” Museveni was also asked about his interest in the Kigali-based Banque de Commerce du developpement et d’índustrie formed in the early days of the Congo rebellion. “I know nothing about that bank. That is why I was thinking of suing Madam Ba-N’Daw (chairperson of the panel). There is no bank in Kigali in which we have interests. I have never heard of that bank,” Museveni said. He said he was glad Ba-N’daw, a Cote d’IVoire national, had been, “sacked” from the panel. He said he had also inquired whether he could sue the UN Secretary General Koffi Annan but he was stopped. “I wanted to sue Koffi Annan for damages but they said, ‘How can you sue the UN’. But the UN has no right to damage my name,” he said. He asked the commission to find out from Saleh and Muhoozi whether they had any interest in a Thai company, Dara Forrest, accused of illegal exploitation of Congo resources. “I have asked my brother Saleh. He assured me that he has no shares in that company. As for the boy Muhoozi, he has no shares at all. In any case, you can find out from the Registrar of Companies.” He denied having shares in the aviation companies listed in the report. “I have no shares or interest or even knowledge of those companies. The only company I own is my cows and recently my children formed a grain company.” On Victoria and Trinity group of companies also named in the report, Museveni said, “Ask Saleh and Muhoozi, but for Muhoozi he should have told me so.” Trinity, according to the report, is a conglomerate of various businesses owned by Saleh and his wife, Jovia, which ferried gold, coffee and timber from Congo without paying taxes. Museveni said he had not found any evidence that Kazini was involved in illegal trade in Congo. But he, however, conceded that Kazini made an “honest mistake” when he self-appointed Adele Lotsove Mugisa, the governor of Ituri province. “It is true he was involved in civilian matters in Congo. I think there was a power vacuum. There was a problem. Even Wamba dia Wamba was not doing his work. He appointed this woman. We reprimanded him.” Present were foreign affairs minister James Wapakhabulo, minister for justice and constitutional affairs Janat Mukwaya, deputy army commander Brig. Joram Mugume and the chief of Military Intelligence, Lt. Col. Noble Mayombo. Museveni warned against intimidation of witnesses. “Nobody can intimidate these people. I am in charge of this country and nobody can do it and get away with it.” Ends