Maj. Gen. Kazini Faces Arrest

By Anne MugisaTHE Congo Probe Commission yesterday rejected Army Commander Maj. Gen. James Kazini’s apology for failing to appear to testify and ordered him to do so on May 20, or face arrest. The commission, chaired by Justice David Porter, rejected a letter from Kazini. The riled Porter said Kazini’s was a “straight case of contempt” of the commission. The commission wants Kazini to testify over fresh UN allegations that he plundered DR Congo’s wealth when he was commanding UPDF troops there.Kazini, who has failed to appear before the commission several times, yesterday sent lawyers instead. Two of them were Captains Sam Mwase and Timothy Kanyogonya. Mwase pleaded, “I have instructions first to deliver an apology from the Army Commander that he has not appeared not because of a deliberate act to frustrate the commission but because of circumstances beyond his control. The General says he is eager and desirous to appear. “My second instruction is that he says he will be ready between the 20th and the 30th this month,” he added.Capt. Mwase laboured in vain to convince the commission that Kazini was not in Kampala on March 2, 2002 when he was last supposed to testify. He said only Kazini’s motorcade could have been seen in Kampala.But Porter said the commission’s investigator saw Kazini at the Nile Hotel on that day. Porter said Kazini did not bother to inform the commission that he would not appear.Mwase said he had lost touch with Kazini who was in the field.Porter said any further delay would force the commission to seek an extension of its term at a huge expense just to hear Kazini’s testimony. The commission winds up on May 31, 2002.Ends