Business Community Concerned Over Upcoming Ugandan Elections

There is much concern in the business community over the upcoming elections to be held in Uganda. Members of the Ugandan government have been assuring foreigners with business interests in Uganda that there will be safety for the upcoming 2011 elections. Members of the Ugandan business community have formed BACU, Business Against Crime Uganda. This community has been formed in order to "cooperate with and support the police to create a safer environment for business operations." While members of election committees have been assuring citizens that there will not be violence, they have also been advising business members not to support any political agendas.

Mary Naset

Obama Plans End To LRA Violence

American President Barack Obama has presented a law he believes will work to disarm the Lord's Resistance Army. On Wednesday, Obama presented a plan to Congress that works in conjunction with the law passed by Congress earlier this year and calls for "the defection, disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of remaining LRA fighters." Members of international non-governmental organizations are calling for this plan to be implemented urgently, citing the challenges that are presented with this policy. While the plan put forth by Obama has been praised, many recognize that the challenge is to "turn this piece of paper into improvements on the ground."

Mary Naset

UN Reports Fewer HIV Infections

Fewer people in Africa are being infected with HIV, the precursor to AIDs, than at the epidemic's peak, according to the Wall Street Journal, by UNAIDS. A twenty percent decrease from the late 1990's means now only 2.9 million people became infected in 2009.

South Africa has seen encouraging rates of decrease as its presidency has changed and become more open to distributing AIDS medication.

Another source of pride for southern Africa? Giving pregnant or nursing women AIDS medication to prevent the infection of their children at birth or through breast milk.

That, in combination with a shift in the openess of talking about sexual matters between parents and children, and a signs of restraint among people in having only one partner, has meant a shift away from high rates of HIV infections.

In Senegal and Malawi, there has been a shift in relations with the gay community. Instead of jailing these men or pushing them underground, the governments are starting to reach out with condoms and education.

AIDS infection is up in Eastern Europe and Central Asia as heroin attracts more users and more dirty needles, but surprisingly, Iran's prisons have a comprehensive program to combat AIDS.

Michel Sidibe, the director of UNAIDS, accompanied a woman in a chador distributing condoms to the prisoners. And the prisons offer conjugal visits for five hours every three months to married men, with condoms.

However this is just a small step in AIDS control, as UNAIDS estimates for every 100 people who are treated, 200 become infected. The hope UNAIDS has stems from the fact that this ratio is down from a 100/250 ratio in its previous report.

By Margaret Nunne

Britain's Ideal Security Council

Britain is hoping for a "more representative U.N. Security Council." British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he would like to see India, Brazil, Germany, Japan and African representation at the security council. He is of course aware of the difficulty of this but remains highly enthusiastic. He believes that this will require a high degree of international consensus.

By: Ivana Miljic

Madagascar Coup

In the midst of attempting to pass a referendum which would instate a new constitution to the island nation of Madagascar, an alleged military coup has occurred. Military officers are stating that all governmental organs have been dissolved and a military committee has been instated. According to the report, the basis of the coup is to secure national reconciliation and for political prisoners to be freed and for exiles to return to the country. According to those now in power, they were tired of the long political process and desired these results immediately. Additionally, this new power claims that due to the polarized and corrupt nature of old Madagascarian politics the people have been suffering. By instating themselves and dissolving the old powers the needs of the people will be met. Only time will tell if this is indeed the case.

megan smith

Corruption Charges

The World Bank and the British government are pressuring Museveni to investigate charges of corruption amongst eight top government officials. There is currently a debate in parliament on the topic but the WB and British officials want the investigation to begin immediately. As it stands, the British are threatening to withdraw a lot (Shs27b???) of aid. Ugandan state officials however do not think it is in Museveni's best interest to make a decision on the issue before Parliament has concluded their debate. There is pressure within the government however to start investigating these charges before the international actors get involved. This would give Museveni some credibility in fighting corruption--an area in which he is greatly lacking right now. Uganda is reported to be amongst the weakest nations in the world in implementing anti-corruption laws.

Brianna Howell

Government told to reconsider resettlement process

Rebecca Kadaga, Uganda's Deputy Speaker of Parliament, has urged the Ugandan government to review the resettlement process in northern Uganda. She expressed the need to do more for those resettling in the north, and not leave all the work to NGOs. She also said the government needs to be placing more emphasis on healing instead of reconstruction. Recuperating the victims of the 20-year war against the LRA should be more important than building roads, according to Kadaga. She voiced her opinions during the review of Security Council Resolution 1325, which addresses women, peace and security during and after conflict. Kadaga called for increased women involvement in the healing process, such as taking jobs in a peacekeeping facility.

-Abbey Smith

First Family 'Too Close' to Oil Sector

An anti-corruption watchdog group out of the UK released a report accusing Museveni of "conflict of interest" and "personalization" of oil reserves stating that he is using military and other forces to allow his family the economic advantage of the oil and gas reserves in the nation. These concerns were also echoed by a Ugandan-based group, Global Witness, that investigates the relation between natural resources and corruption worldwide. Their report states that two of Museveni's relatives are in charge of the military right now and are closely protecting the oil. The government generally denies all claims and states that military forces are surrounding oil wells in order to protect the natural resources, the countries greatest asset, from terrorists and others trying to steal the wealth of the nation. In response, an army spokesperson also stated, "Foreigners should stop interfering with the management of our natural resources. They should keep off our oil; we know how to manage it." Suprise.

Global Witness claims that this is a dangerous deviation from "democratic standards." This statement was especially alarming to be considering the debates we have recently had regarding Museveni's elimination of term limits despite democratic rule. I'm forcasting the "slippery slope" syndrome in the fact that small actions are slowly being made that are leading Uganda away from democracy, but not a drastic, overnight change that would bring about sudden alert. The more I study African politics, the more I am becoming convinced that term limits are necessary in creating a stable, democratic society.

by Brianna howell

Uganda is the Front Line if Bioterrrorism Threat

The laboratories of Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture, Animals, Industries, and Fisheries in sleepy Entebbe are hiding a secret. At the end of a hallway there is a room. And in that room is a refrigerator. The refrigerator looks like any other. It isn't locked. It isn't under constant surveillance. But this refrigerator holds something dangerous. This refrigerator is where the anthrax is kept.

Senator Lugar (R), from Indiana, and several other pentagon officials visited the Ministry as well as Uganda Virus Research Institute, where another refrigerator says "restricted access" but according to the doctors there this hardly means it is protected.

The Pentagon officials consider this to be the front lines of bioterrorism threat, thus the officials want to tighten security in labs like these across East Africa. The militant Islamic group, Shabab, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombings in Uganda that claimed the lives of fans as they gathered to watch the World Cup. This has refocused Western efforts to maintain security in East Africa as a way of maintaining security.

Anthrax in Uganda has killed hundreds of hippopotamuses in recent years. A Dutch tourist died from Marbourg disease after visiting a cave in a national park in 2008. 20 people died in 2007 from an Ebola outbreak. This all stems from Uganda's warm, wet climate, making it a breeding ground for pathogens.

Ugandan officals claim that it is the decentralization of the government in recent years that has spread the bureaucracy thin and made it nearly impossible to track, protect, and secure all samples of deadly viruses.

By Margaret Nunne

Southern Sudanese flee Khartoum to vote

According to BBC, thousands of Sudanese are leaving northern Sudan in order to be in the south for the vote for independence in January. The southern government is organizing and paying for many of these returns, as the north has hinted that southern Sudanese will not be welcome if the south votes for independence. UN humanitarian workers are worried about this flight. Many southerners are leaving jobs in the north for an uncertain future in the south, including unemployment. The mass exodus is also clogging up transportation, leaving many to wait weeks for their bus trip south. However, the southern government wants as many southerners in voting areas protected by the south as possible, as they do not trust the north to count the votes fairly. Whether peaceful or violent, this voting process will greatly impact the countries surrounding Sudan.

-Abbey Smith

Polio Outbreak Forces Central Africa to Immunize

Due to a recent polio outbreak in the Central African region where an approximated 100 people have died and hundreds more have been left paralyzed. In an attempt to quell the outbreak aid agencies are planning on immunizing three million people. The last documented outbreak of Polio was in 2000. The main countries involved in the outbreak are Congo-Brazzaville,Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. With the measures currently being taken, there is hope that this outbreak will not spread any farther.

megan smith

Human Rights Watch says Uganda is losing against LRA

In May of 2010, President Barrack Obama signed a law that would help to eradicate the security and stability challenges brought on by the Lord's Resistance Army. Although the policy President Obama signed is well intentioned, Human Rights Watch has announced that the Ugandan military and its US backers have failed in the fight against Joseph Kony and the LRA. This failure is due to Kony's exodous from Northern Uganda, which spread the LRA to neighboring countries. Anneke Van Woudenberg, senior African researcher at Human Rights Watch, said “the LRA’s top leaders can be found, but the current strategy of supporting Ugandan army operations is clearly not working." Van Woudenberg continued, stating that all operations must have a way to protect innocent civilians. The US State Department has held firm that the Ugandan army is the best force to handle the LRA, arguing that Kony's ability to attack the innocent has been severely degraded. With only an estimated 200-400 LRA rebels remaining, believes that the end is in sight, and has called upon the United Nations to send additional peace keepers to LRA affected areas.


-Caleb B. Ray

UN Staff Abducted in Darfur

This past Friday, three Latvian helicopter operators who had been contracted out to the WFP (World Food Program) were abducted in Nayla, located in Western Sudan. Though not taking immediate action, the UN is very concerned about the abductions stating that since 2009 there have been about 30 workers kidnapped. Valerie Amos, the UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief assures the global community that the UN is doing everything they can to prevent further incidences of kidnapping. Based on past kidnappings, it is highly likely that these men will be released in a few days time.

megan smith

Recently in California a trail of smoke was seen in the sky, many fearing it was some form of missile launch. This article describes how it was likely mispercieved and that it was actually smoke from a jet that had been flying in the area. However, the military at first would not make any statemnets regarding what was seen, and said there was no known launch of any of our missiles. I personally find the reaction to be quite pecuilar, I don't see why they just didn't say that in the begining.



http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/11/09/mystery-solved-missile-launch-jet-contrail/

Global Finacial Crisis and Developing Nations

(I focused on pg 10)

The global finacial crises will bring about an aproximate 1.3% increase in the world population which is considered at the poverty line. The least developed countires will suffer the most as exports and capital inflows decrease. Essentially, the best jobs in most developed countries are in the export industry which will substantailly decrease if not collapse as less developed nations purchase goods from the developing world. The only country which has not ben to heavily affected is thailand and it seems to only be because of an increase in government hiring.

http://www.pittsburghsummit.gov/documents/organization/129865.pdf

The President's Promise

The recent elections in Uganda has the current President potentially promising what he cannot keep. At a campaign rally, Museveni promised free education to science students in Northern Ugandan that were not already under government sponsorship. Although the Ministry of Education is surprisingly pleased about this new announcement, they admit that they don't know where the money will come from. The President has done similar programs in the past, where he would offer free education before election season. Another similarity between this promise and past campaign elections is that there is no room in the government budget for such programs and in the past, the promised programs had to rely on donations. Another problem that the program will encounter is the fact that although the student population will grow the room for them and the amount of teacher will not expanded to keep up.

By: Albie Braun

Ban Moon silent on human rights abuses in China

United Nations (UN) secretary general, Ban Moon was on an official visit to China last week. It is said that he lobbied the China’s vote as he campaign for a second term. However, this came with a critical cost. Human Rights activists are concerned that Mr. Ban failed to raise the question of human rights during a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Philippe Bolopion, U.N. advocacy director for Human Rights Watch said, “Ban’s failure to raise human rights issues, even in private, with the Chinese president was inexcusable.” On the other hand, UN officials dismissed the allegation, claiming that Moon discussed human rights with “other Chinese leaders.”

Etienne

Obama Backs India

This past weekend President Obama made a strong speech to the Indian Parliament supporting their desire for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Though this does not mean that India will be granted a seat immediately, it will be taken into strong consideration. Obama stated that India, as one of the strongest emerging nations both politically and economically would be the perfect addition to the Security Council. Obama also announced that the United States would begin a new 10 Billion dollars worth of trade with India in the coming months. This is a promising beginning to Obama's Asiatic trip where he will be next visiting Indonesia.

megan smith

Problems Continue in Somalia

An emergency summit is being held this week in Ethiopia between leaders of the nations in the region surrounding Somalia. The meeting, referred to as the Inter-Government Authority on Development (IGAD), is being held in response to the reports that members of the Somali Transitional Federal Government are defecting to join al-Shabab. A diplomat is quoted as saying that this defection is due to the failure of the Transitional government, "There is no proper military command structure and as a result, some of the soldiers either opt to join al Shabaab or sell off their guns and desert." Uganda has a major stake in any crisis's that continue to occur in Somalia due to the large number of peacekeeping troops that Uganda provides. While this defection issue is just another incident in a series of problems in Somalia, this week the United States has called on other nations to provide funding to Somalia to prevent the country from "from slipping into a terrorism hotbed."

Mary Naset

Ugandan elections will determine oil procedures

There is now talk of Uganda launching a new oil licensing round in 2011, 2012 at the latest. The biggest factor of when this would happen is the upcoming elections in February. Everything will depend on the new officials sworn in. However, it seems highly improbable that the oil licensing will be left for long, no matter who gets elected. Uganda's economic growth is supposed to reach double digits by 2015, when this newly discovered oil will by then be in the process of being pumped.

-Abbey Smith

Top of the charts

Picking up on a story first posted by Margaret Nunne on October 25, 2010, President Yoweri Museveni has become a rap-superstar in Uganda. DJs in Kampala are expecting a slew of requests at clubs this weekend, all for "You Want Another Rap?" by the pop-star president. Some of the DJs have even refered to Museveni as "a big name artist." Although many are viewing the song as a political tool for the incumbent of 25 years, others disagree, stating "it's not political. It's just a song. I could play it even if there were opposition supporters here. I wouldn't worry." Museveni's opposition have been working on a rap-song of their own, with the title "Your Rap is Crap," although expectations for its success are low.



-Caleb B. Ray

HDI Index

The UN recently released this years Human Development Index (HDI) Report measuring the quality of life in nations across the globe on terms of wealth, poverty, health and education. This index is used as part of the United Nations Development Program. The top five countries with the highest HDI are Norway (first for the eighth consecutive year), Australia, New Zealand, United States and Ireland. The five countries with the lowest HDI are all in Africa which is not surprising considering all that we have learned, and most are directly in our (Uganda) region. The lowest ranked countries are Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Niger, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Overall, the UNDP has seen progress: average life expectancy rose from 59 to 70 years, primary school enrollment rose from 55% to 70%, and per capita incomes doubled to $10,000. However one the most devastating findings in this report is the back-tracking that many countries did this year, which is blamed on the global economic crisis, the AIDS epidemic, and political and economic mismanagement. The HDI levels of Zambia, Mozambique and the DRC have fallen to their lowest point since the report started being conducted in 1970. For the countries that have seen the largest degrees of growth, they have pursued the Goals by different means. Some countries chose to focus on education and health reform, while others have pursued rapid economic growth at the cost of environmental sustainability. Good to note.

Comparing Norway to Zimbabwe for contrasting purposes, the two areas with the largest differences are as follows:

Life Expectancy: Norway 81

Zimbabwe 47

Per Capita Income: Norway $58,810

Zimbabwe $176

By brianna howell

Government to Arm Citizens

The Algerian Government has issued a statement outlining their intent to arm several rural communities in the northern region. This response was instigated by an outcry from these communities that their safety is in jeopardy from the North African factions of al-Qaeda. The Government is encouraging militias to form in these areas to further enhance the security of the citizens. This tactic of arming the public was instituted once before in Algeria in the 1900's when Islamic insurgents ran ramped in the country. The result was an approximated 150,000 killed. Hopefully this attempt will have a far less bloody result.


megan smith

Judge orders Ugandan paper to stop publishing "gay lists"

The order to Rolling Stone Magazine from Justice Musoke Kibukka came on Monday to temporarily stop publishing name or pictures of anyone "perceived by the respondents to be gay, lesbian, or homosexual in general." Persons at Sexual Minorities Uganda were very pleased and praised the decision of the judge. Frank Mugisha, Chairman of Sexual Minorities Uganda, said "this is a lession. At least the law has shown some intelligence. It shows the media cannot invade other peoples' rights and violate other peoples' privacy." The next hearing in this case is to going to be held on November 23. However the harassment of homosexuals in Uganda has not stopped, despite the order to stop all publications. Homosexuality is condemed and will continue to be regardless of pictures and names being published in a magazine. Gay Rights groups in Uganda have said that at least four people have already been attacked since the tabloid published the first list of people considered gay.

By: Ivana Miljic

Eliminating Kony?

This article goes on to explain the tactical and twisted psychological advantage the LRA has in Africa. Much of the article goes over the history of the relations between the LRA, Sudan and the formation of the SPLA. What is interesting though is the articles description of the LRA cretaing an "art form" in its brutal methods in war, and the dfficulties of Ugandan or foriegn military forces capability in tracking them and being able to keep up. Brutal tactics as using LRA children masquerading as playing football as Ugandan forces pass by and then onece their backs are turned, shooting on them, not only shows an addtion to the twisted methods they use to be alusive, but also the diffcullties in how to deal with armed children.

From a political perspective, Joseph Kony's apparent ability to play on western nations need for peace and fear of further attacks is well documented. The U.S. and European Union offer finacial incentives and aid in the form of food in an attempt to have him come to the peace talks. However, Kony seems to always lack the necessary follow through. The most recent attempt made to capture and possibly kill Kony fell through when Ugandan and Congolese millitary failures at multiple levels prevented such from occuring.

Greg Voegtle
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/04/19/why_can_t_anyone_stop_the_lra?page=0,1

Yemen and the US Doreign Policy

This reminded me of our discussion, so I'd thought Id post..

After the Al-Queda threat was eliminated in Yemen, and yes literally by means of a bomb dropped from an unmanned drone, the political and social structures of the country would be next on the agenda for the nation. However, U.S. attention towrds the region dropped off for some time since the immediate threat of terrosim had been eliminated.

After an attack on a U.S. embassy in 2008 by men who were under the influence of bin laden teachings, the U.S. realized they had to return to the Yemen front to dispell andother set of heads created by Al-Queda members. The new group, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), poses a signifigant threat to the U.S. and Obama's Administration. For as we continue to taget them with unmanned drones, they use the bombing as propaganda agianst the UNited States.

This situation seems to parallel our involment in Afganistan in the 1980's, where the lack of the countries socio-economic and political infrastructures seems to creatre a miniture vacuum that works against Western nations.

Greg Voegtle


http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/10/31/ignoring_yemen_at_our_peril

Foreign Investment-Africa

The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) emphasizes the importance of private investment into African nations for long term economic development. The reliance on foriegn aid and borrowing prevents the th nations from developing prvate markets which are a necessary component to having both foriegn and private capital development.

The need for such investment is due to African nations desire to reach the Millenium Development goals, most of which rewuire a raise in standard of living. Such goals would require the the continents overall GDP to raise to 6-8% each year, and they are currently average at 3.5%.

Before foreign investment can occur four key areas the articlestates must become developed, or revamped:

"corruption and bureaucratic red-tape, weak legal systems, poor infrastructure, shortages of skilled labour"

The political instability and lack of rules and corporate regulation also keeps many investing nations ou of Africa.

Greg Voegtle


http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol17no2/172inv1.htm

LRA Numbers Down

The Associated Press reports that the number of fighters in the LRA has declined to an all-time low of 200-400 members. This information has come from the Enough Project, which is a set of interviews with more than 60 former LRA members. The decline is seen as a result of the "Operation Lightning Thunder"-- a movement launched by the Ugandan government. This operation has caused the LRA to spread out throughout Sudan, DRC and the Central African Republic, taking away Kony's ability to provide centralized orders. This report states that the United States has provided invaluable help in the matter, and a recent reported that the US Military is providing intelligence sharing through wiretapping LRA members. However, the US typically passes on the information 24 hours after the calls, giving the LRA members time to "evade pursuing forces." I'm not entirely sure what that's all about.

As expected, this article references the LRA and Kony an especially negative manner. After learning so much about the current situation, I find it mildly troublesome that the West has blanketed the issue in our typical good vs. bad fashion, however I really can expect nothing less. The article provided no background about the LRA other than the violent raids, which are absolutely important but do not come close to revealing the complexity of the situation. I find myself almost sympathizing with the LRA only to the point where the article refers to the soldiers cutting off peoples' lips and ears. These images were burned into my mind after the film clips we watched and these alone discredit the LRA and seem to me to completely unjustified in all ways.

By Brianna Howell

Japan Loans Uganda Money to Build Bridge

The Japanese government has loaned the Ugandan government close to one billion dollars to build a bridge across the Nile River. This bridge will connect the Kenyan port of Mombasa with much of rural east Africa. The $99.3 million will be allocated to replace the older Owens Falls Dam bridge. Owens Falls dam provides the majority of hydroelectricity to the country, but was built in 1954, and after sixty six years, is beginning to show wear and tear. Fears about the bridge collapsing may have prompted Japanese generosity, as a collapsed bridge would paralyse the economies of not only Uganda, but Rwanda, eastern portions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan. Although construction won't begin until 2012, it could provide a boon to Museveni as a candidate in offering it as an example of running the state well. Taking six years to complete this bridge will give plenty of time for corruption and money to miraculously disappear, but at this point the project is a hopeful symbol for a lagging Ugandan economy that might be spurred by an improvement in the bridge's efficiency. Since most trade is transported by trucks throughout the country, a better bridge may provide faster shipment times and cheaper shipping overall. Japan is one of Uganda's major creditors for it's infrastructural development in areas like energy, water, and roads for the country.

By Margaret Nunne

Museveni sued over bid for fourth term

President Yoweri Museveni is putting in his bid for a fourth term as the President of Uganda, however he is facing legal challenges from his rival, Maguru Ruhinda, who is willing to go to the high court to prevent Museveni from further control of Uganda. Ruhinda is a former army captain and a lawyer and wants the high court in east Africa to reject Museveni's nomination. "I obtained the high court summons yesterday and both the party secretary general and Museveni have 14 days to file their defence and then hearings will commence," Ruhinda said. A Political analysts says that Museveni's vote had died down each of the last three elections as allegations of Museveni and his actions increase.

By: Ivana Miljic

Court orders newspaper to stop "outing" gays

Uganda’s Rolling Stone has been ordered by a Ugandan court to stop publishing names and photographs of gay people. This happened following a campaign for a legal injunction by the Ugandan gay community. The gay community is concerned that such a publication will result into an increase in hate crimes.

Etienne

Human Rights Watch Calls for Election Season to be Free of Abuses

As the 2011 election season begins in Uganda, the Human Rights Watch has issued a press release calling for the campaign season to be free of abuses. The past two election campaigns have been plagued by violence against political opponents and intimidation of the media. Rona Peligal, the Africa director of Human Rights Watch, has said that "Voters and the news media need to feel safe to debate ideas and to express themselves if Uganda is going to have a free and fair election. It’s up to the government to work to prevent abuses that would undermine this crucial campaign period." While these abuses are highlighted in the election seasons, they are just as common in non-election years as well. Additionally, the Ugandan government and military do not even try to limit these abuses being enacted by those within their ranks, specifically when it comes to political opposition violence. The Human Rights Watch is calling on the Ugandan government to take a strong stand against these abuses so as not to "undermine the credibility" of the election.

Mary Naset

What Ugandans want in their next president

The campaign season has started in Uganda as the 2011 elections draw near. The Uganda Governance Monitoring Platform (UGMP) surveyed 80,000 Ugandans to see what they are looking for in their next president. In the domestic sphere, Ugandans want to see problems such as widespread poverty and growing unemployment addressed. They would also like to see agricultural and health care reform. They would also like term limits to be implemented and the education system to be improved. There is a general outcry for the state to gain control over economic sectors such as agriculture and energy, and for Ugandans to "own their country." From these results, it appears Ugandans are ready to move forward and bring their country out of the developing sphere and begin to emerge into the developed.

Abbey Smith

All that glitters IS gold

Yuri Bogoroditsky, a Russian business man, aims to make Uganda's gold market a domestic product through his refinery in Kampala. Mr. Bogoroditsky's " wants to make Uganda a legitimate player in the gold industry," and sees his refinery as the path to legitimacy. Gold deposits have recently been discovered in Uganda, and the discovery was made with remarkable timing. Most of the gold filtering through the Ugandan gold market came from the Congo, making it a "conflict mineral." As such, the Congolese government banned minning in the war-torn east. Mr. Bogoroditsky's refinery had previously depended on ore from the Congo. With the newly discovered gold deposits in Uganda, Bogoroditsky expressed his hope that Uganda could become a major player in the international gold maket.

-Caleb B. Ray

"I am Uganda's Obama", says Ugandan politician, Nobert Mao

Nobert Mao, a veteran Ugandan politician who is currently the presidential candidate on a Democratic Party (DP) ticket, has claimed to be the Uganda's Obama. Like Obama, Mao is of mixed parentage. His father is from the Acholi ethnic group and his mother, Ankole.

Although Mao is a well known public intellectual who graduated from Yale, it is unlikely that his candidature will amount to anything serious.

Etienne

Museveni: Rap Star

President Museveni has felt the call of the rap world as he performed a song of his own creation at what was dubbed the NRM soldiarity concert. The concert, according to Emmanuel Gyezaho and Yusef Muziransa for the Daily Monitor, could easily have been a campaign rally in the days leading up to nomination day. Campaign posters of Museveni stood out among the crowd, and the ruling party's color yellow was dominant everywhere, even to the t-shirts and hankies the crowd was wearing and waving. A free concert, local musicians were encouraged to take part in the merriment. Charles James Senkubuge, the event's master of ceremonies, said that the youth of Uganda wanted to take President Museveni out to party as part of a speech before welcoming the first well known musician to the stage. At the end of his performance that musician beseeched the crowd to vote for Museveni. After the next performance, the DJ switched the beat, and a new unfamiliar song came on and you could hear Museveni's voice saying "give me the stick used for herding cows". Soon Museveni was on stage, and in a move that surprised everyone, began performing live. Museveni was reportedly inspired by rappers from Entebbe, who said that rap was all about poetry. The night continued with Museveni and multiple other performers urging Uganda's youth to vote for the President.

by: Margaret Nunne

Women Leadership in Africa.

Currently, women representation in African countries is not vast across many borders. It is without a doubt that this question needs to be addressed because the gap between men and women seems to decrease by the day making this an urgent question to address. This week, over 200 Members of Parliament from Common wealth countries will be meeting in Uganda to discuss maternal health and women representation in leadership.
Rebecca Kadaga, Chairperson of MPs said the meeting will focus on key policy initiatives and legislation on equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including care-giving in cases of HIV/AIDS, equal participation in the decision making at all levels, and the gender perspectives of the financial crisis in Africa.
It is without a doubt that most African countries require 30% of women representation in their legislation bodies but this has not yet been met by most African counties.Hon. Tonye Harry, President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region who is the Speaker of the River State House of Assembly, Nigeria, in his address said the gender agenda must be understood in all its ramifications in order to be handled properly. Stating that the "progress for women was the progress for all", he said women should form partnerships with men in the pursuit of the gender equality struggle.

Soldier's Dead Body on Display in Somalia

On Sunday, members of the al-Shabab terrorist group in Somalia displayed the body of a dead soldier in downtown Mogadishu. The rebels have claimed that the soldier, who died in clashes Saturday night at one of the AMISOM bases, was from Uganda. AMISOM has confirmed that a clash took place, but has released no comment on the identity of the dead soldier on display, though eyewitnesses have said that the soldier was wearing an Ugandan military uniform. While the Somali militants are claiming this clash as successful, AMISOM's spokesman, Ba-Hoku Barigye, says that the clash resulted in only a few minor injuries for the AMISOM troops. Barigye reaffirmed AMISOM's commitment following this clash by stating, "I tell you that we will continue our mission even if they kill a hundred of our soldiers because we are here for a reason."

Mary Naset

The Extent of Witchcraft.

The genetic disease of Albinism is highly prized in Eastern Africa and in Tanzania specifically. Reports of witch doctors using the body parts of those living with Albinism has increased in recent years. Witch doctors claim that Albino body parts contain special powers which can do anything from make people richer or healthier. Though the security of albino people has been increased to some degree, there are still instances of albinos being kidnapped and sold. Just recently a young albino boy was kidnapped and dismembered for the uses of witchcraft in Burundi. This is a sign that the typical practice of Tanzanian witch doctors is now spreading. Whether anything tangible can be done to eliminate the murder of these albinos is yet to be seen. Currently there is extensive punishment for anyone caught selling an albino person, or possessing their body parts.

megan smith.

65 years of international cooperation!

October 24th, 1945, the United Nation Charter entered into force. 65 years later, the UN is still going strong, bringing peace, diplomacy, and cooperation to our world. Happy 65th birthday, United Nations!
http://www.unfoundation.org/global-issues/united-nations/un-65th-anniversary/

-Caleb B. Ray

Uganda fights jiggers disease

Jiggers, small flea-like insects, can burrow into a human body--usually through the feet--and cause skin and body parts to rot away. This is the health crisis currently facing Uganda. More than 20,000 Ugandans have been affected by jiggers in the last two months. James Kakooza, Uganda's minister of state for primary health care, said that those most susceptible to dying from jiggers are young children, adults who are battling other diseases, and the elderly. Most of the affected from jiggers cannot walk, let alone work. Jiggers are found most prevalently in places of poor sanitary conditions. Twelve districts in Uganda have been affected, but the most affected part of the country is the Busoga region, east of Kampala. Uganda has allocated $1 million to fight the epidemic.

-Abbey Smith

Outed Gays Attacked in Uganda

BBC reports that several people have been attacked in Uganda after a local newspaper “The Rolling Stone” accused them of being gay. The newspaper had earlier published the names and pictures of these individuals with a headline that read, “Hang them”.

Uganda leader of a gay lobby is concerned that the attacks will continue. But the editor of the newspaper claims that gays are "recruiting children to homosexuality". He says that he will continue to publish names of gays in order to protect, “the moral fabric of our nation”.

Etienne

Few Women a Part of Post Conflict Rebuild

The Daily Monitor reports that the Ugandan United Nations Population Fund representative Janet Jackson says very few women are taking part in the rebuilding of post conflict Uganda despite being the bearers of the brunt of the conflict. Ms. Jackson was speaking at the launch of the State of the World and Ugandan Population annual reports, and she warned against the risks that the exclusion of women posed to communities who were rebuilding. She continued that women's participation is essential to contributing to the determination to move on and rebuild. This builds off of the United Nations Population Fund's report theme of "From Conflict and Crisis to Renewal: Generations of Change" which focuses on women's role in the community in preventing and recovering from conflict. The report is based in the first hand accounts of women from regions like Bosnia, Herzegovina, Haiti, Jordan, Liberia, Timor-Leste, Uganda and the West Bank. These area have faced conflict and natural disaster, so they are prime areas of research for the United Nations. Displacement was the main focus in Uganda's case, relating to the 1.7 million people displaced over the 20 year war in the north. Ms. Jackson said that conflict exacerbates gender based violence because of the broken sources of protection.

By Margaret Nunne

McCarthysm in Uganda

With the release of the names of 100 top gays in Uganda, much anger is created in a society that is already not accepting of gays. The consequences have resulted in both verbal and physical attacks against gays and has caused many to relocate. In response to the outcry made by many human rights organizations, Uganda's ethics and integrity minister, Nsaba Buturo stated ""They [the activists] are always lying," Buturo said. "It's their way of mobilizing support from outside, they are trying to get sympathy from outside. It's part of the campaign."
The Victorian morality of British colonialism is likely a culprit to much of the animosity against gays in Africa.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/10/20/uganda.gay.list/index.html
Greg Voegtle

Grey imports and red-tape in Uganda

Grey imports are simply used vehicles (or products in general) imported from outside the country. Given the strict vehicle codes and economic incentives for purchasing new cars in nations like Japan, the grey import market has a steady pool of reliable cars to choose from, and at a cost significantly lower than similar vehicles available domestically. Well, at least that's the theory. The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS ) has imposed a tariff on the importation of used vehicles, requiring a pre-shipment inspection fee on cars from the country of origin before shipping. The law, which took effect last September, has provoked the ire of Uganda's car salesmen since its inception. The Uganda Used Vehicles Importers Association, led by David Tigawalana, told the UNBS on Thursday that the law unduly increases the cost of doing business. Imported used cars are also subjected to a 20% "environmental" tax. Tigawalana proposed that the UNBS "set up centers in Uganda where the inspection of cars can be carried out without the importers incurring extra costs."

-Caleb B. Ray

Database for Refugees

A joint project between the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, NGO Refugees United, a telecommunications company (Ericsson) and a telephone service provider (MTN) initiated an attempt to use cell phones to help dislocated persons and refugees in Uganda to find their families. Refugees will use mobile devices to reigster themselves, search for and reconnect with family members. A database will be established with all the data collected and will be used as a search engine to help locate other refugees. This is considered to be an "innovative" way to bring technolovy to a developing nation in a way that utilizes it in such a way that will benefit the people of Uganda in a very real way-- if all goes as planned. Maybe multileveled cooperation isn't such a far-fetched idea after all?

Brianna Howell

Ethiopia use aid to punish dissidents

Given the rise of illiberal capitalist regimes as alternatives to democracy, we need to ask ourselves whether foreign aid should be used to support oppression of dissidents around the world. Ethiopia offers a perfect case study. The Bloomberg reports that mountainous east African nation receives aid to the tune of $3 billion annually. This makes the country the second highest aid recipient.

Yet the aid has not been accompanied by corresponding gains in democratization. In stead, the state has used, “donor- supported programs” to “control the population, punish dissent, and undermine political opponents.” In my opinion, it is criminal to fund a government that is openly abusing the rights of its citizens. At the very least, aid can (and perhaps should) be channeled through civil society and independent NGOs.

Etienne

The dark past of colonists in Africa

The socialist worker, a London based publication, revisit the realities of colonialism in Africa. In a commentary, “Africa Independence: A Dream of Freedom Derailed”, they argue that the reality of colonialism was “brutality, rapacious exploitation and savage racism”.

The colonists to our dismay believed that colonialism was the best thing that could happened to the “dark” continent. For instance, in 1897, the British governor for Kenya argued that, “These people must learn submission by bullets—it’s the only school; after that you may begin more modern and humane methods of education”.

You often wonder whether the west has recovered from this sort of thinking. If not, what needs to happen in order to achieve a shift in thinking, whereby Africans are accorded the humanity they deserve?

Etienne

Reinvestment Programs Helping MDGs

Environmental and infrastructural reinvestments near the oil reserves found in Lake Albert (as discussed in Second Committees second topic paper) are not only positively impacting the environmental conditions, but also increasing Uganda's potential to reach other MDGs. Lake Albert River Valley, once a remote and desolate area, has now seen foreign investments near $1 billion. This has improved business and social opportunities in the area; schools, heath care facilities (including maternity wards) public transportation, telecommunication, agriculture, real estate, manufacturing facilities, trade and tourism are some of the added opportunities that have arrisen and created a large number of jobs in the area. Public-Private vocational education opportunities are also being provided by businesses in the area reflecting a growing in foreign investments in Uganda's private sector. These businesses have fostered economic growth by generating tax revenues, building long term capacity for growth through growing infastructure and education in technology, innovation and "skills building."


The resulting impacts of this reinvestment have demonstrated progress toward reaching the following MDGs.

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger (creation of jobs)
• Achieve universal primary education (creation of private schools in area)
  
• Reduce child mortality (maternity wards/health clinics)
• Improve Maternal Health
• Combat AIDS
• Ensure environmental sustainablity
• Develop global partnership of development

Fantastic.

By Brianna Howell

Uganda Receives "B" Economic Rating

The credit rating agency Fitch has given Uganda's economy a "B" rating with a positive outlook for continued economic growth. Their rating is primarily based on the fact that 2 billion barrels of oil were recently discovered within the country, an economic boon that will most likely contribute to significant growth. However, Uganda's present rating is lower than the previous year's, which was a B+, due to the government's ongoing dispute with Heritage oil over tax issues. This has temporarily stalled the growth of the oil industry that will be based around Uganda's oil reserves. Many African countries place emphasis on attaining higher ratings like these as a means to access international markets.

Chris Bilbro

African Nations Form Brigade to Combat LRA

According to the African Union, four nations have agreed to join together to form a "joint military force" to combat the Lord's Resistance Army. The LRA is staging attacks up to 600 miles away from Uganda, with the latest attack coming last Sunday in the Central African Republic. The brigade, which would commonly include 1,000 men, is being formed with help from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and the Central African Republic. The plan includes the formation of a joint operations center to oversee shared information and intelligence and the creation an eventual joint border patrol system. Along with these four countries, the AU is planning on soliciting help from Nigeria and South Africa.

Mary Naset

USA On Ugandan Court's Dismissal of Charges Against Besigye

The Constitutional Court dismissed the treason and terrorism charges and trials against the FDC leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and ten others. The United States has responded favorably to these events, with Mr. Philip Crawley the USA assistant secretary bureau of public affairs saying that the ruling will allow Dr. Besigye to "campaign freely and without fear of prosecution from the state". Mr. Crawley went on to mention an independent judiciary being important to democracy, and that the judiciary is acting in an independent manner. The Constitutional Court is composed of a panel of five judges who said the State could not continue with the cases because the State's agents violated the rights of the accused by beseiging the High Court and rearresting the suspects to block their release on bail. The panel also blocked the state from using any process to initiate charges in connection with the alleged treason charges against the defendents again. It is a major victory for Besigye, after being arrested in 2005 after returning from exile. Charged with both treason and rape, both sets were dropped. Now Dr. Besigye can go into the 2011 elections without any criminal charges against him, unless the government plans an appeal.

By Margaret Nunne

Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill

On October 14, 2009 the Ugandan parliamentarian David Bahati introducted the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. This law would seek to put Ugandan who are LGBT HIV - positive found having sex to be put to death by the death penalty. What's important is that this bill has been put on hold due to the pressure from the Obama administration, U.S. Congress and numerous human rights organizations. Unfortunately the stalling of the bill has not stopped the on going violence and harassment against homosexuals in Uganda.

By: Ivana Miljic

Genetically Modified Maize Trials to Begin in Uganda

Once regulators approve a new program to grow genetically modified maize, field trials will begin in Kenya and Uganda this year. Twelve varieties of the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) have been developed through a number of scientific organizations, including scientists from Uganda and Kenya, Monsanto, and a research body called the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. The program was developed to improve production of maize to the world's poorest continent. Maize is a staple crop but has been badly affected by drought; thus, the maize has been modified to be drought-resistant. The scientists aim to increase maize yields by 24 to 35 percent. Though the idea of genetically modified crops sounds wonderful by bringing food to the masses, there has been much criticism as well. Many questions the safety of the genetically modified foods and fear they may harm wildlife or even humans. However, if the trials yield safe, cheap food for the starving without causing detriment to the environment, this could be a miracle crop.

-Abbey Smith

What Uganda needs...

Although an obvious answer, Uganda, and indeed all of Africa, needs money. Not from foreign aid mind you, but from tax revenue and entrepreneurs. Extending individual property rights in Uganda will be a major step in the right direction. After all, increased property rights is one detail credited to the expansion of the US economy, and allowed us to generate substantial, taxable incomes. According to studies, "a mere 1% increase in GDP on the African continent would be equal to three times the amount of foreign aid pouring into Africa annually." It would seem that the old adage of giving a man or teaching him to fish reigns true in Africa. With an increase in GDP, more than just quality of life increases; productivity creates a sense of pride, and pride can go a longer way than a handout.

-Caleb B. Ray

New Job Centre

The Ugandan Government, along with private sectors sponsorships, will be creating a center hopefully by December, where about 2000 jobs will be posted. Funded by the Job Stimulus Program, a part of the finance ministry, the center was initially started by Ugandan Youth Convention, which has already been training young people in hopes of them getting these jobs. The idea is that this center will be able to address the problem of job scarcity, but more so, the lack of jobs for the Ugandan youth. While the government and Ugandan entrepreneurs are sponsoring this new program, America and Canada will actually be providing some job offerings in different industries. The center will start will 2000 jobs, but the hope is that it will grow to at least 6000 by the end of 2011.

A campaign started by President Museveni is also talked about. The leader is trying to promote patriotism in the classroom by providing textbooks and investing in patriotism courses. Although he is trying to unite the students by putting aside their tribe difference and creating Ugandan nationality, he attacks anyone that opposes his position as ignorant.

Albie Braun

Uganda may reach MDGs

According to the World Bank, Uganda may be able to reach its Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) by 2015. Uganda is one of few Sub-Saharan African countries to be in reach of these goals. However, to be in reach does not say much. Uganda will need to double its efforts in the next five years in order to achieve its MDGs. During this time of economic need, this seems unlikely, especially as the World Bank has also forecasted that the global gross domestic product will shrink from 3.5% growth in 2010 to 3.3% growth in 2011. Uganda will need to beat the odds and work against a system that has all countries struggling in order to double efforts. However, experts are beginning to hope that the economic downturn is finishing its course. If so, perhaps Uganda will join the few countries in 2015 able to achieve their MDGs.

Abbey Smith

Foreign Countries Eying Uganda's Oil Supply

Foreign markets have expressed interest in expanding into Uganda's oil market. Leaders from the Australian government have stated that they have increased dialogue with Uganda on a mutually beneficial relationship that would provide oil to Australia and an increase in trade and diplomatic relations for both countries. Not only does Australia have an interest in Uganda's oil supply, but they are also eying Uganda's mineral resources, specifically the copper that is found along the Uganda/Democratic Republic of the Congo border. It is estimated that Uganda possesses 700 million barrels of oil under Lake Albert, but that the country itself only needs 11,000 barrels per day.

Mary Naset

Museveni Awards Obote Independence Medal

Despite being deep political enemies when they both were alive and vying for power, President Museveni has credited Obote as part of the group that got Uganda out of colonial rule 5 years to the date of his death in Zambia. Obote along with SseKabaka Edward Mutesa, Uganda's first and only ceremonial president and 47 others were awarded, posthumously, the National Independence Medal. This award recognizes civilian efforts towards Uganda's goal of self rule. According to the article's author, Tabu Butagira for the Daily Monitor, the list of the awardees reads like a list of fallen UPC ideologues, or those who were once admirerers turned critics of Museveni. Obote's son accepted the award for his late father, and said that he deserved it much earlier but would not criticize on an election eve. The awards are a signal to Museveni's constituents that he is still mending the past so Uganda can move on towards a brighter future.

by Margaret Nunne

The Importance of Communication

A recent BBC article states that in developing nations 300 million fewer women than men have cell phones. This figure equates to about 23% in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Thankfully, this has caught the attention of Cherie Blair, wife to the former British Prime Minister. Through a new program, an approximated 150 million phones will be supplied to women in developing nations. Mrs. Blair states that having access to a phone "can help with literacy. It can help with health programmes and projects and it's a way of helping women develop small businesses and get financial independence." Several phone companies have pledged large sums to aid in this program taking off, and with their involvement promises to be a successful initiative. In addition to the financial benefits sure to be felt by the women who participate in this program, reports suggest 93% of women feel safer because of their mobile phone; 85% say they feel more independent. Essentially, this new push will not only promote financial stability, but safety and independence as well.

megan smith

The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

The Police in Kampala have been ordered to respect journalists' freedom and to stop the harassment of the media. This comes after a wave of police beatings directed at journalists at political rallies and protests. Kampala police chief, Asan Kasingye, apologized to the press, stating his outrage at the beatings. "This is unacceptable. The Police need to respect the fact that journalists have an important role to play in society, especially during elections," said Kasingye. His word of advice to the police? If you don't like bad things being said about you, then stop doing bad things. If his threat will be enforced remains to be seen, but it comes in the wake of a report stating that the Police are the number one abuser of journalists' rights in Uganda.

Bukenya's Defeat shows Museveni is a Political Genius

Abbey Semuwemba from allAfrica.com is extremely proud to be a Ugandan. With the end of the NRM primaries, she would like to extend her congratulations to President Museveni as a brilliant political brain; the best Uganda has had to date. He "managed to get rid of one his future opponents in his vice president, Gilbert Bukenya without firing a single bullet or anything like imprisonment." He genius move was just that; not hurting Bukenya in any way. I think this is quiet interesting and did not think much of it when I first read it. When examining the article closer, I realized that this is probably the first time in Ugandan history that an opponent was not physically hurt while the incumbent tried to secure the seat of President.

By: Ivana Miljic

Uganda Offers to Send More Troops to Somalia

Following a meeting with the UN Security Council in which the instability with Somalia was a main topic of discussion, President Yoweri Museveni has stated that Uganda is willing to send anywhere from 12,000 to 20,000 more troops to Somalia in order to prevent Somalia from becoming a terrorist run state. Museveni stated that the number of troops to be sent is irrelevant because allowing Somalia to become run by terrorists is not an option. The only obstacle that Museveni faces is funding. He stated that Uganda has both the power and the know-how to help stabilize Somalia, but the AU or UN has to provide more financing, however a $73 million budget cut is complicating matters. Much of this money is needed to go towards aircrafts that help UN peacekeeping missions in both Sudan and Somalia. This article also discussed how Uganda's involvement in the mission in Somalia is controversial and was stated to be one of the reasons for the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist attack in July Kampala which killed 76 people.

by Brianna

Childen find a place to call Home.

Uganda's per capital income is still only half of the average annual per capital income of $600 for Sub-Saharan nations. And although the nation has been a model for AIDS education, 1.2 million children have been orphaned by AIDS.
Children homes have been set up in Uganda in Kakiri, near the capital Kampala; Entebbe; Gulu; and Fort Portal. It is in such places that children who live on the streets call home. Recently, the SOS children home was acknowledged for its tremendous work at supporting Children who have AIDS. They have provided a loving avenue where these children can fing loving environment to live and survive.

Ugandan Government releases MDG report

The Ugandan government, along with the United Nations Development Program, has released the latest score card that rates on and reports how Ugandan is achieving the Millinery Development Goals. Essentially, Uganda is doing well and keeping pace with all goals save for the health goals of reducing child and mother deaths. The government and President Museveni have recognized this failure and during the General Assembly in September, the president admitted that Uganda may be unable to meet the health goal by 2015.

A new plan has been implement by the government called the National Millennium Development Goal Acceleration Framework. It reinforces common sense by calling for effective family planning, emergency care, and experienced workers at the time of birth. Yet another area that Uganda needs to work on is the education of the youth. The report reveals that although there is an increase in student enrollment, there is not a corresponding increase in the completion rate, rather the failure to complete is what is effecting the report.

Albie Braun

Decline in Exports

Random quote of interest: “We are seeing light at the end of a long and very dark tunnel. But for this light to be brighter, we need to sustain the emerging recovery,” said WTO director-general Pascal Lamy in Washington recently.

Uganda's total exports decreased from 2008 to 2009 by 9.1%. Of course we know that this is primarily due to the global economic crisis, however a bad crop season is also to blame for this. This 9.1% decrease in overall exports reflects some good and bad news for Uganda. First, the bad: traditional exports decreased by nearly 21% in the same time period. Luckily however, (the good), the service based sector of Uganda's economy has been on a steady rise, which has helped to balance out the deficit. Typically, as countries begin to move out of the poverty level and into a more advanced economic power, they begin to rely less on agriculture/exports for revenue and begin to transition in certain services to build up their economy. This is a good sign for Uganda. And what's more good news for Uganda: there has also been a steady increase in foreign investments which is also helping to transition in new markets.

By Brianna

Renditions to Uganda Declared Illegal by Kenyan Courts

In a highly controversial move, Kenyan courts have declared rendition of Kenyans to Uganda to be illegal. Following the rendition of Mohammed Hamid Suleiman to Uganda on charges relating to the Kampala bombings, a number of domestic critics have spoken out against this practice. Kenya's moving of prisoners has led some in Kenya to label Uganda as "Kenya's Guantanamo Bay." Under Kenyan law, this practice is supposed to be illegal as long as the suspect has Kenyan citizenship. Judges have attacked the government for allowing the practice despite law, and some have claimed that Kenya has extradited nationals out of fear of reprisal from terrorist groups.

Chris Bilbro

Uganda may pull troops out of Somalia

After the U.N. made allegations against Uganda's soldiers in the former Zaire and Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda has vowed to pull out the 4500 soldiers currently working in a peacekeeping facility in Somalia. The allegations included accounts of torture and even massacre and the U.N. urged the necessity to prosecute those responsible. Other than Uganda, only Burundi has offered troops to the African Union to help the war-torn Somalia, so such a pull out may be harmful to the peacekeeping process.

Abbey Smith

UN Congo Report Released Amid Protest from Uganda and Rwanda

The United Nations released a report today revealing massive Human rights violations in the DRC. The report however really upset Uganda and Rwanda, because it blamed the two countries' armed forces for implicating in the crimes. The report itself documents over 600 major crimes, including mass rape and targeted killings of civilians and other crimes against humanity from 1993 to 2003. Rwanda and Uganda's armed forces are said to have committed mass acts of genocide. The United Nations invited Rwanda and Uganda to challenge the report openly but the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. By: Ivana Miljic

UN Report Accuses Uganda of War Crimes in the DRC

A leaked UN report, scheduled to be published Friday, is accusing the Ugandan army of committing war crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The report, which concerns conflicts in the DRC between 1993 and 2003, alleges the Ugandan army "of massacres of civilians, torture, and the destruction of infrastructure that led to civilian deaths" while backing Congolese rebels who overthrew President Seko in 1997. The report has caused much anger within the Ugandan government, including Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa calling the report "deeply flawed." Mr. Kutesa has written a letter to the UN claiming that those behind the information found in the report have suspect motives and that such a flawed report causes great problems for Uganda. As Mr. Kutesa wrote, "Such sinister tactics undermine Uganda's resolve to continue contributing to, and participating in, various regional and international peacekeeping operations."

Mary Naset

International law becomes domestic

Uganda is looking to apply numerous international legal practices to domestic policy. The Uganda National Committee of International Humanitarian Law is engaged in debates numerous policies which the nation has ratified in the past, but has been slow to domesticate. Working with members of the International Red Cross, Uganda is taking a relaxed approach to implementation of the laws, which include articles of the Geneva Convention as well as a prohibition of stockpiling bacteriolgical and chemical weapons, and other weapons such as mines and incendiary weapons. It was noted that while 194 states world-wide have ratified the Geneva convention, only 91 have made efforts towards domestication of the document.

-Caleb Ray

Telephone Tapping in Uganda

The Ugandan dictator, Yoweri Museveni, has approved a bill that would allow for telephone tapping. The Bill, popularly known as the “Phone tapping law” would enable government officials to eavesdrop of private communication if they suspected criminal activity. In addition, the new law makes it mandatory for all mobile phone users to register their SIM cards. Emails and postal letters will not be spared scrutiny.

Museveni claims that these laws are necessary to counter potential terror attacks. But critics are worried that the government could use this law as a pretext to maintain a tight control. Earlier on July 11^th, at least 76 people perished in a terror attack linked to the Al shabaab terror group.

Etienne