Weekly anb03016.txt #6

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WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE of: 01-03-2001  PART #6/6

* Uganda. Elections divide army - The narrowing of the margin between the 
two presidential candidates, Col (rtd) Kiiza Besigye and President Yoweri 
Museveni is sharply dividing the army. It was thought that the army was 
firmly behind Museveni, but such is not the case. Indeed, there is a great 
deal of violence taking place, with army personnel frequently the victims. 
Even officers who have maintained an independent stand, though remaining 
critical of the Museveni regime, are under the watchful eye of the regime. 
Col Kiiza Besigye says many within the army disillusioned with the Museveni 
administration. Many rank and file are not happy because their salaries are 
embezzled by the top brass and nothing is done to the culprits. The 
electoral laws ban campaigning in military installations, yet only 
Museveni's portraits are allowed to be displayed in the barracks. (Crespo 
Sebunya, ANB-BIA, Uganda, 8 February 2001)

* Uganda. Religious holiday delays vote - The presidential election in 
Uganda has been postponed for a day to avoid a possible clash with a public 
holiday. The Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Adha, could fall on the original 
date for the election -- 6 March -- and by law, voting cannot be held on a 
public holiday. the poll will now be held on 7 March. (BBC News, 8 February 
2001)

* Ouganda. Enfants soldats - L'Unicef a salué l'Ouganda pour avoir ouvert 
les portes d'un camp d'entraînement militaire et politique hébergeant des 
enfants soldats du Congo-RDC et pour avoir accepté que tous les soldats du 
camp ayant moins de 18 ans soient confiés à l'Unicef qui les prendra sous 
sa protection jusqu'à ce qu'ils soient réunis avec leurs familles. A partir 
du 13 février, l'Unicef et d'autres organisations bénéficieront d'un accès 
libre et illimité au camp pour déterminer combien il y a d'enfants. 
L'entraînement de ces soldats s'inscrit dans le cadre du soutien que 
l'Ouganda apporte aux rebelles à l'est de la RDC, rapporte le journal 
ougandais Monitor. Le chef d'état-major de l'armée ougandaise a indiqué que 
l'armée n'avait pas eu l'intention de recruter des enfants. (IRIN, Nairobi, 
12 février 2001)

* Ouganda. Karamoja: campagne pour le désarmement - Le 10 février, le 
gouvernement de Kampala a officiellement lancé une campagne pour le 
désarmement des bergers karimojongs à Kotido (nord) en la présence de la 
vice-présidente Speziosa Kazibwe et du ministre du Nord, Omwony-Ojwok. Dans 
le secteur nord-est de l'Ouganda, les fréquentes migrations de pillards 
karimojongs durant la saison sèche s'accompagnent de violences à l'égard de 
la population d'ethnie Acholi. A la cérémonie à Kotido était notamment 
présente une délégation de l'ARLPI (initiative pour la paix des chefs 
religieux acholis), une association interreligieuse qui cherche depuis 
trois ans une solution pour mettre fin aux incursions qui ensanglantent la 
région, mais les autorités des districts acholis victimes des raids étaient 
absentes. Le gouvernement de Kampala a promis que la remise des armes 
permettrait la réalisation de projets de développement dans la région 
Karamoja. L'opération de récupération des armes durera 6 mois; ensuite, 
tout transgresseur sera punissable. (Misna, Italie, 13 février 2001)

* Uganda. Religious leaders launch Conflict Resolution Team - Leaders from 
all religious sects in Uganda, in association with NEMGROUP, have launched 
a Conflict Resolution Team (CRT) to promote tolerance and resolve disputes 
during and after the elections. The delegation of religious leaders 
included Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, who officially launched the team 
yesterday, Arch Bishop Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo, Metropolitan Arch 
Bishop Jonah Lwanga, who acted as chairman of the delegation, and the 
Secretary General of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Edirisa Kasenene. 
Each of the religious leaders expressed their allegiance to the team in 
making the elections a smooth process. "We, your religious leaders, are 
with you in all these good values, which are the building block of the 
nation. We are accompanying you in the democratic processes and all 
endeavours which you are engaged in for nation building," Emmanuel Cardinal 
Wamala said. In addition to monitoring elections, NEMGROUP will, through 
the CRT, attempt to solve conflicts especially those arising during the 
polls. "Violence is triggered off by factors related to elections; this is 
the belief behind the creation of the CRT," NEMGROU P national coordinator, 
Rev. Canon Grace Kiaso said. The team is composed of 12 high-standing 
members of society, among whom are: former Chief Inspector of Schools, Tom 
Mugoya; Bishop Onono Olweng of Northern Uganda; Head of Nakasero Mosque, 
Hajji Abdul Byaruhanga and retired Bishop Lucas Gonohasa. Also at the 
launch was Electoral Commissioner Robert Kitariko and police assistant 
public relations officer, Eric Naigambi. (The Monitor, Uganda, 14 February 
2001)

* Ouganda. Don du pape contre le sida - Le pape Jean-Paul II a décidé de 
verser une somme d'un milliard de lires (3 millions de FF) -- somme qui lui 
avait été offerte l'an dernier par la municipalité de Milan à l'occasion du 
Jubilé -- pour soutenir les programmes de lutte contre le sida en Ouganda. 
Dans la pensée du pape, ce don "constitue un petit ruisseau, mais rejoint 
le grand fleuve de la charité chrétienne". (Le Figaro, France, 14 février 2001)

* Zimbabwe. Tensions without and within - International relations: Sweden 
has strenuously denied Zimbabwean government allegations that it intends to 
fund the Opposition out of its bilateral aid budget. Judges: Several 
Zimbabwean judges have begun searching for alternative employment elsewhere 
in Southern Africa because of frustration over the government's "siege on 
the judiciary". Judge Rita Makarau, newly appointed to the High Court, has 
ordered Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri to evict war veterans and 
ZANU-PF supporters from commercial farms they have forcibly occupied in 
Hwedza. On 9 February, the 63 government Members of Parliament passed a 
vote of no confidence in the Supreme Court. The vote was prompted by a 
Supreme Court decision overturning an order by President Mugabe that 
prevented opposition parties from challenging the results in 37 
constituencies at last June's general elections. The Media: The government 
has said it plans to ban all foreign investment in private media 
organisations in Zimbabwe. The Government has dismissed protests over the 
Daily News bombing. The Opposition: The government is considering a 
petition to ban the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)'s open 
hand salute. On 13 February, the Opposition began its court challenge to 39 
election results. Economy: On 9 February, Zimbabwe announced exchange 
controls which require all export earnings to be paid to the central back 
and the state-owned National Oil Company. On 12 February, the Government 
backtracked on its previous announcement that three- quarters of all export 
earnings should be paid to the central bank and one- quarter to the 
national oil company. The price of bread has gone up for the second time in 
a month, with bakers saying the price is set to increase every month to 
keep pace with production costs. Fuel supplies are expected to remain 
critical for sometime owing to diminishing foreign currency reserves. Sone 
500,000 people are in need of food assistance in drought-prone Masvingo 
province. (ANB-BIA, Brussels, 15 February 2001)

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