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Dear readers,
I wish to thank you and your contributors for un-wrapping the happenings in Uganda. I have been watching TV and the arrest of a Serbian former leader who was until recently a fugitive in his own country. Mercifully this Karadzic criminal was taken to have his day in court. The indictment of Karadzic and that of his colleague who died two years ago Milosevic was for the extermination and rape of Muslims in his native country in the 1990s.
Radio Katwe and the International Criminal Court, I wish to appeal to you to serve the cause of justice equally. If the murder of Bosnian Muslims is an indictable offense for which a leader should be hauled to The Hague, then Museveni should march himself there. Here are the facts of the Case Your Honour:
Background: The year was 1979. The month April. Ugandan exilees and Tanzania soldiers had invaded and thrown out a government of a military dictator by the names of Idi Amin. The men at the helm of command were two. For the Masaka axis David Oyite Ojok (RIP) and for the Western Axis - Yoweri Museveni.
The crime scene - Itendero and Kabwohe towns and neighbouring villages in Kagango sub-county, southern western Uganda.
The crime - Mass Murder of 47 Muslims including pregnant men and women who were either killed in their homes or taken to river Rwizi and murdered in cold blood in broad day light. The criminals - local gangs of villagers some of who like Rwebiita and Kamisha were later arrested and died mysteriously in prison . The rest are still at large.
The leaders who could have stopped this mass murder or taken action to stop it but who never lifted a finger or actually encouraged it were Yoweri Museveni the Supreme Commander of the Western axis in the 1979 Liberation War (the equivalent of Karadzic or Milosevic if you like) and Major Edward Rurangaranga.
Other crimes committed on the victims- burning of houses (mass arson), cutting down of banana plantations and destruction of food stores, robbery of property from the victims and ethnic/religious cleansing of the area of Muslims of Baganda origin.
Witnesses - many are still alive in the area and in Kyazanga sub-country Masaka District.
Prayer:
We pray for an indictment of Mr. Yoweri Museveni.
We pray for justice.
We pray for an international inquiry.
We pray for an answer as to why the military commander in charge of Western Axis Mr. Yoweri Museveni and his army at the time never prevented the crime, stopped the perpetrators of this crime and willingfully neglected their duty and International Law of protecting civilians in armed conflict, and/or abetted the murder of unarmed civilians in Itendero and Kabwohe areas of Kagango sub-county, Sheema County, Bushenyi District, Western Uganda in the course of the 1979 Uganda Liberation War.
Readers Comments:
31 Jul 2008
1.
indictment of Mr. Yoweri Museveni
Ugandans!!!!!!! please, know the man of M7 can't be indicted when he is a darling of western world like USA and UK. All atrocities committed in Rwanda & Congo, this great man had a hand in them, leave alone that which took place in Luwero, Teso and northern Uganda. Why is it that all these atrocities were committed in areas controlled by Ugandan army boys who were under his command; you think those great powers don't know it?
People; stop wasting your time, this man is on a mission aided by the great powers, firstly to steal Africa resources of which, he himself has taken advantage of. You mean you don't know about "investors" who come to Uganda and end up being financed by his government? Property given to "investors"; now being owned by the first family and relatives?
01 Aug 2008
2.
ICC cannot indict Museveni for 1979 War Crimes
Dear RK,
The current indictment of African leaders like Bemba, Bashil or Serbian leader Karadzic has instilled courage in us to taking the same actions on our leaders. The motive is really good and needs backing in the eyes of the international community. But, to think of indicting Museveni for war crime committed in 1979 or other leader that committed similar crimes in the past falls short ICC mandate.
The ICC mandate covers crimes committed after 2002, when it was enforced. At the same time such trials would have no evidence, which at times their investigation would be costly and lengthy.
Reflecting on Bemba and Bashil case, these are current crimes committed after 2002 and still fresh with enough evidence. ICC bases its judgment on availability of evidence implicating those accused like any other crimes. The same is different for the former Serbian leader , his trials are held ICTY. This handles trials related to war crimes in former Yogoslavia during the two year conflict. Similarly, the ICTR in Arusha handles cases of genocide, war crimes and inhumanity with reference to the 1994 genocide(same period).
However, the Kaguta western axes, a commission of inquiry or other courts that have no limits would handle the case. For instance the African Court of human rights may be interested in the case if it has not limitation. The East African court may do the same if it handles or is not limited. Or the European court or American courts.
Thanks
06 Aug 2008
3.
Please advise readers that ICC cannot investigate or try a crime committed before 2002 when the Rome Statute was promulgated
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