Hussein Bogere
20 January 2008
Kampala — Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kuteesa has said he will resign his job if accusations that Uganda has sent soldiers to politically troubled Kenya are proved true.
Addressing journalists in Kampala yesterday, Mr Kuteesa dismissed claims that Uganda has soldiers across the border.
"I will resign my job if it is discovered that Uganda sent troops to Kenya," Mr Kuteesa said in response to a question by a journalist.
Talk has been rife within the Opposition circles in Uganda and in Kenya, and in sections of the Kenyan press, that Uganda has troops in Kisumu helping shore up President Kibaki's hold on power.
On Monday last week, Kenyan opposition Members of Parliament from Western and Nyanza provinces expressed concern over what they said was the presence of Ugandan troops in their areas.
"These troops have been seen landing by boat along the shores of Lake Victoria at various points from Sori to Port Victoria. They have made crossings at Malaba and Busia border posts or simply violated the international boundaries by constantly crossing into Kenya," a statement from the MPs read.
The MPs further alleged that in Nyatike, Rangwe, Mbita, Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, Siaya, Bondo, and Kisumu districts, the Ugandan troops entered villages and markets and harassed people. The troops have caused deaths in Nyatike, Mbita, Gem, Bondo and Ugenya, the MPs claimed
Mr Kuteesa said he had called reporters to brief them on the political situation in Kenya, which he said not only affects Kenyans but also "their brothers and sisters in Uganda, and indeed, the region".
Said Mr Kuteesa: "The government and people of Uganda wish to assure our brothers and sisters in Kenya that there is no truth whatsoever in the allegations that Uganda interfered in the electoral process in Kenya or that it deployed or intends to deploy troops in Kenya or even engage in activities that would endanger the lives of our brothers and sisters in Kenya."
It is not the first time that Uganda is denying an alleged presence of its troops on foreign soil. In 1998, the government flatly denied that its troops had rolled tanks into DR Congo territory only to turn around later and admit that the invasion was in the interest of protecting Uganda from anti-Kampala rebels operating from across the border.
The minister blamed "mischievous elements within Uganda and Kenya" for the relentless allegations of Ugandan troop deployment in Kenya, ostensibly to help prop up President Kibaki whose re-election has yet bo be recognised around the world.
"People are talking recklessly," Mr Kuteesa said. "There is absolutely no truth. There are no troops and there will be no troops. This is a Kenya problem which must be resolved by Kenyans. This is a political problem, not a military problem."
He said Uganda will not give solutions to Kenya for its own problems, adding that Kampala has no magic wand to wave. He said, however, that there are a number of solutions, one of which is power-sharing.
Mr Kuteesa said President Museveni, who has been in regular contact with President Kibaki and Mr Raila Odinga, the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement Party (ODM), will come out with a position in the near future.
Sunday Monitor has separately learnt that President Museveni, in his capacity as chairman of the East African Community, will likely announce his proposed "way forward" on Wednesday in Nairobi.
It should be noted that President Museveni thus far is the only known leader to have sent a congratulatory message to President Kibaki.
Mr Kuteesa said, however, that Uganda would not find itself in an awkward position if there were a change of leadership in Kenya.
He said that while President Museveni congratulated President
Kibaki upon his swearing-in for his second five-year term, he also pointed out to him that he was hearing that there had been problems with the electoral process.
"He asked him whether he needed assistance," Mr Kuteesa said, although he did not reveal whether President Kibaki had called for assistance.
Mr Kuteesa appealed to the government and people of Kenya to stop attacks on Ugandans and Ugandan goods transiting through Kenya.
On Friday, protestors in Nairobi's Kibera slum vandalised the railway line, derailing a goods train destined to Uganda.
"The railway line has been restored," he said.
Uganda, Mr Kuteesa said, will continue to stand by Kenya in the quest for a peaceful and lasting solution.
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The Unsuspecting KENYANS must be warned. M7 has a hidden agenda on KENYA. If the chaos continues in KENYA M7 will annex KENYA and put a Tutsi in power in KENYA according to the TUTSI master plan. M7 a Tutsi refugee from Rwanda to UGANDA is the master planer of TUTSI hegemony and domination in East and Central Africa. Today Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi are ruled by Tutsis. Next will be KENYA!!
museveni you evil man.dictator.murderer of your own people in the north.clinging to power.hated by your own people.stay away from our country kenya.what authority do you have to give us a way forward.how dare you?