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Museveni is Not Sorry for DR Congo Invasion

The Monitor (Kampala)
NEWS
December 23, 2005
Posted to the web December 23, 2005

By Grace Matsiko & Simon Kasyate
Kampala
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has said he is not shaken by the International Court
of Justice (ICJ) ruling that condemned Uganda's invasion, looting and abuse of
human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, ruled on Tuesday
that Uganda violated the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
and was responsible for human rights abuses there.
Speaking at his inaugural election campaign rally at Semuto, Nakaseke district,
Museveni said the invasion helped wipe out Uganda's enemies in Congo.
He said if Uganda is to pay reparations to DR Congo, that country should also
do the same for the lives of Ugandans killed by (Ugandan) insurgents using her
territory.
"Being a leader, I could not let the killers use the DR Congo to terrorise our
people. Despite the condemnation and the (International Court of Justice)
ruling, I am not scared because we sent our soldiers into DR Congo to protect
the property and lives of Ugandans," he told the gathering at Semuto.
"When you exterminate a killer, it is the dust that remains and that killer is
no more," he said adding, "And that is what we exactly did. For the cases and
other arguments we decided to settle them later."
The court found that Uganda was responsible for acts of massive plunder in the
DRC by failing to ensure that its soldiers respected the country's natural
resources.
However Museveni only addressed himself to the reason why his troops went to DR
Congo but did not talk about their acts while in Congo - which formed the basis
for the court's verdict.
The court ruled that Uganda had been found guilty of notably "occupation of the
Ituri region in the DRC, violations of sovereignty, illegal use of force,
violations of international human rights laws and looting and plunder" between
August 1997 and June 2003.
The court said the objectives of operation "Safe Haven", as stated in a Ugandan
High Command document issued on September 11, 1998, were not consonant with the
concept of self-defence as understood in international law.
Kinshasa wants up to $10 billion (about Shs18 trillion) in compensation from
Uganda. According to the court, Kinshasa and Kampala have a chance to negotiate
an agreeable compensation but judges noted the amount sought by the DRC "was
appropriate."
Kinshasa is expected to petition the UN for sanctions against Uganda if Kampala
does not present a programme to pay the reparations.
President Museveni did not hint on whether the government was going to
negotiate with DR Congo over the fine. He instead likened Uganda's invasion of
DR Congo to the 1979 invasion of Uganda by Tanzania to get rid of Amin.
"Tanzania was condemned but at the end of it, Ugandans got rid of
dictatorship," he said.
President Museveni also castigated some opposition leaders who have criticised
the invasion of Congo. "For (John) Ssebaana (Democratic Party presidential
candidate) to have criticised the invasion is a sign of a weak leader and a
coward," he said.
Museveni also said that his main election opponent Dr Kizza Besigye will have
to face the law. Dr. Besigye who is facing charges of treason, and rape in the
High Court was given temporary bail but remains detained in Luzira prison.
He is also charged with terrorism and illegal possession of firearms before the
General Court Martial.
But the High Court halted the proceedings in the army court until Besigye's
application challenging the court martial's jurisdiction to try him is disposed
of. Museveni's visit to Luweero, the cradle of the five-year bush war that
brought him to power in 1986, was characterised by several stopovers at
different trading centres to greet the locals.
Museveni is the second presidential candidate to launch his campaign in
Luweero. DP presidential candidate Sebaana Kizito was in the district last
Tuesday.

   

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