Uganda criticises UN report on Congo
Oct 23, 2002
Uganda has blasted the just-released United Nations panel report on looting the Democratic Republic of Congo for ignoring Uganda’s legitimate security concerns in the war-torn former Zaire
By Alfred Wasike
Uganda has blasted the just-released United Nations panel report on looting the Democratic Republic of Congo for ignoring Uganda’s legitimate security concerns in the war-torn former Zaire.
Uganda also said the U.N. made factual errors and relied on hearsay and uncorroborated information.
Lashing out at the panel’s 59-page document to be debated today by the UN Security Council in New York, an irate Third Deputy Premier/foreign affairs minister, James Wapakhabulo, said the Government was preparing a detailed response to the UN next week.
Wapakhabulo was flanked by the chief of military of intelligence, Col. Noble Mayombo, as he addressed journalists in his posh 11th floor office at the Workers House.
Wapakhabulo said, “Unlike the Addendum Report of December 2001, the final report completely ignores Uganda’s legitimate security concerns as recognised in the Lusaka Cease-fire Agreement (1999) and the Uganda/DRC Bilateral Agreement dated September 6, 2002 in Luanda, Angola.â€
He attacked the report for saying that the Porter Commission of Inquiry did not have powers to investigate the army. He said the Porter probe had High Court powers, was free of the Executive and could probe anyone.
He said the Government was considering litigation against UN bodies that “defame people without corroborated evidence.â€
“Contrary to the UN panel’s assertions that they relied purely on documentary and corroborated evidence/information, they continue to rely on hearsay/uncorroborated information,†he argued, citing an example where Mayombo is said to have signed a protocol in which the UPDF was promised US$25,000 and the exemption of Ugandan companies from import tax.
Mayombo repeatedly said it was false and denied looting the DRC.
“It was also wrong for them to allege that the UPDF presence in eastern DRC is the cause of the instability designed to create conditions for the continued illegal exploitation,†Wapakhabulo said.
“This is not consistent with the fact that the UN Secretary General in May pleaded with the UPDF to remain in Bunia,†he said.
Uganda has blasted the just-released United Nations panel report on looting the Democratic Republic of Congo for ignoring Uganda’s legitimate security concerns in the war-torn former Zaire.
Uganda also said the U.N. made factual errors and relied on hearsay and uncorroborated information.
Lashing out at the panel’s 59-page document to be debated today by the UN Security Council in New York, an irate Third Deputy Premier/foreign affairs minister, James Wapakhabulo, said the Government was preparing a detailed response to the UN next week.
Wapakhabulo was flanked by the chief of military of intelligence, Col. Noble Mayombo, as he addressed journalists in his posh 11th floor office at the Workers House.
Wapakhabulo said, “Unlike the Addendum Report of December 2001, the final report completely ignores Uganda’s legitimate security concerns as recognised in the Lusaka Cease-fire Agreement (1999) and the Uganda/DRC Bilateral Agreement dated September 6, 2002 in Luanda, Angola.â€
He attacked the report for saying that the Porter Commission of Inquiry did not have powers to investigate the army. He said the Porter probe had High Court powers, was free of the Executive and could probe anyone.
He said the Government was considering litigation against UN bodies that “defame people without corroborated evidence.â€
“Contrary to the UN panel’s assertions that they relied purely on documentary and corroborated evidence/information, they continue to rely on hearsay/uncorroborated information,†he argued, citing an example where Mayombo is said to have signed a protocol in which the UPDF was promised US$25,000 and the exemption of Ugandan companies from import tax.
Mayombo repeatedly said it was false and denied looting the DRC.
“It was also wrong for them to allege that the UPDF presence in eastern DRC is the cause of the instability designed to create conditions for the continued illegal exploitation,†Wapakhabulo said.
“This is not consistent with the fact that the UN Secretary General in May pleaded with the UPDF to remain in Bunia,†he said.