Your source for credible news Issue no 007
August, 2020
Mukwege’s forays into anti-Rwanda negativist propaganda reveal an ideology more aligned with the likes of FDLR
NEWS
Kagame advocates for deeper solidarity and investments in Africa’s health systems
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OP - ED
Latest Kampala diatribes against Rwanda fit classic mold of the guilty culprit that cries louder than the wronged – Part 2 Page 7
Mukwege who aims to boost his international reputation with the kind of attacks against Rwanda that echo those of defeated, genocidaire groups.
A Congolese called Dr. Denis Mukwege is in the media for allegations against Rwanda that bear no resemblance to the truth. It has become apparent that Mukwege – who in 2018 was jointly awarded a Nobel Peace Prize – is determined to build on his profile with constant, highly negativist allegations against Rwanda Page 2
WatchdogUg spins a story about an “arrest” in Rwanda that never was
HRW latest report reflects an obvious goal: to weaponize Mihigo’s death
WatchdogUg, one of the websites known to be outlets for the misinformation by Ugandan intelligence against Rwanda this Sunday published an article that a Ugandan national was arrested in Rwanda. However, upon inquiry in Rwanda, it turned out that nothing like this had happened.
The suicide of singer Kizito Mihigo is turning out to be quite a blessing for different groups or individuals with political, or other agendas against the Government of Rwanda. One of these of course is Human Rights Watch, which has long made it a habit to level charges or accusations against the Rwandan leadership that never stand the slightest scrutiny. Page 8
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Desperate times in Uganda lead to spike in suicides Page 10
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Issue no 007 August 2020
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Mukwege’s forays into anti-Rwanda negativist propaganda reveal an ideology more aligned with the likes of FDLR
Mukwege who aims to boost his international reputation with the kind of attacks against Rwanda that echo those of defeated, genocidaire groups.
By Jean Gatera A Congolese called Dr. Denis Mukwege is in the media for allegations against Rwanda that bear no resemblance to the truth. It has become apparent that Mukwege – who in 2018 was jointly awarded a Nobel Peace Prize – is determined to build on his profile with constant, highly negativist allegations against Rwanda – usually for propagandist, political reasons. Mukwege for, instance, has been repeating the allegations, only ever supported by those with long-standing political agendas to discredit, or de-legitimize the Kigali administration, that “Rwanda has committed genocide in Congo.” Challenged to substantiate his allegations, Mukwege – founder of the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu – instead took to claiming that he was “facing death threats from Rwanda.” He claims to be “living in fear following online and offline ‘threats’ and that he is now seeking special protection.” Mukwege claims the so-called death threats are “coming from Rwanda”, and that the claims were coming from Gen. (James) Kabarebe, security adviser to President Kagame. But Kabarebe did no such thing as threaten anyone. He was making remarks on a talk show on Rwanda Television during the
recent commemoration of the 26th year of the liberation of Rwanda. During the show Kabarebe, responding to a question about negative propaganda attacks on Rwanda, such as contained in a long discredited UN “Mapping Report” (which was so discredited even the UN dumped it). Gen. Kabarebe called the Mapping Report “one of the tools that those fighting Rwanda use to spread harmful anti-Rwanda propaganda, especially those that still harbor the bitterness of defeat by the Rwandese Patriotic Army forces which defeated the ex-FAR, the Interahamwe militias and the entire genocidal regime.” The so-called Mapping Report, written by individuals with an agenda aligned to that of the defeated groups and all their allies, alleged that, “Rwandan soldiers committed atrocities and human rights abuses between 1993 and 2003.” These claims were roundly proven to be false, and the Mapping Report never saw the light of day. Some of the individuals still spreading propaganda to promote the Mapping Report, mainly genocidaires and their apologists, live in Europe. “But there are others we always hear, the likes of Dr. Mukwege in South
Kivu, who continue to be used by the defeated groups,” Gen. Kabarebe pointed out.
attacks against Rwanda, that Mukwege supports the FDLR,” said another source.
It turns out that Mukwege has jumped on these remarks to claim, “Rwanda is threatening his life.”
In fact Mukwege in his work at Panzi Hospital treating rape victims, and others affected by the trauma of conflict, also is known to be discriminatory, along ethnicity. “He is the kind of tribalist that for instance views Banyamulenge as ‘Rwandese’, which reveals more of who he is,” others have said.
Mukwege, however, fears something bigger, some analysts say. He could be fearful that his attacks on Rwanda could be fully exposed as those of a negativist who has gotten his prizes on false pretenses. Many point for instance to Mukwege’s silence in the face of atrocities against the Banyamulenge. Congolese Banyamulenge activist Boniface Ruhara Mibari questions how “Dr. Mukwege is resolved to remain silent in the face of a tragedy which has destroyed almost the entire Banyamulenge community, causing hundreds of deaths while hundreds of thousands of cows raided.” It is now emerging that Mukwege is very selective in his condemnations. Many that know him for instance vow that this Nobel Peace Laureate has never even once condemned well-known terrorist groups, like the FDLR which has committed countless atrocities in the east of his country, even once. “This raises the suspicion, when taken together with his constant, incendiary
Furthermore, other sources add, Mukwege – whose career according to sources in Bukavu also has been characterized by self-aggrandizement – has failed to condemn massacres in Ituri Province by illegal armed groups there, where the arms fuelling the violence are reported mainly to come from Uganda. “Villages are burnt to the ground (by the armed groups). People flee. They lose their livelihoods, and their living conditions are extremely precarious,” wrote Reliefweb, an international NGO, in February this year, adding that there is widespread displacement of refugees, looting and atrocities such as rape. “Yet Mukwege says nothing about all this,” peace-loving Congolese have remarked. “Why is he so silent on atrocities like these, or those of FDLR?”
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Issue no 007 August 2020
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Kagame advocates for deeper solidarity and investments in Africa’s health systems By Jason Muhire On August 20, 2020, President Paul Kagame, speaking at a virtual meeting of the African Union Bureau and Chairs of Regional Economic Communities, made two requests that would enhance Africa’s capabilities to manage the coronavirus pandemic and address future health emergencies on the continent. “I would like to request the Chairperson to consider appointing one of the Heads of State to work closely with Strive Masiyiwa who is already on the task to focus on ensuring that Africa obtains the vaccine once it is available,” the President said with regard to the coronavirus pandemic that the Africa is battling against.
“I think to work together as a region, continent or internationally, you are not going to run away from the responsibility of making your contribution. In a sense, this feeds back to you if the [Africa] CDC and the AU are doing well. We as Rwandans benefit from that as well,” President Kagame argued. In his second request to the African Union Bureau and Chairs of Regional Economic Communities, President Kagame also noted the need to advance the domestic health financing agenda that was propelled by the AU. “This is the moment to look closely at our health budgets and see where we can improve both the quantity and quality of spending,” he said.
In the context of Rwanda, it is worth to note that on 13 July 2020, the Kibungo hospital received from the Ngoma district administration an ambulance worth Rwf70 millions adding to the three usual ambulances that the hospital had. This followed a similar event that had taken place on 9 June, 2020, in Nyaruguru district where an ambulance was donated to Munini hospital by the district administration. These government and community based efforts to enhance local hospitals capabilities were complemented by similar efforts in the health sectors such as the recruitment of personal to monitor suspect cases and improve contact tracing and the decentralization of testing centers. Indeed, Rwanda opened several
COVID-19 centers in provinces. As of July 16th this year, there were eight testing labs in the country; two in Kigali city and six others located in Kirehe, Rubavu, Rwamagana, Nyagatare, Rusizi and Huye districts. Further, according to the Africa Public Health Alliance and 15%+ Campaign, Rwanda out-competed other countries by allocating 18.8 percent of its annual budget to the health sector, followed by Botswana with 17.8 percent. The Abuja declaration provided that African countries would allocate at least 15 percent of domestic budgets to health sectors to achieve MDGs and African health priorities.
The African Union had previously put a ream together, appointing the Zimbabwean businessman Strive Masiyiwa to lead in the coordination of procurement efforts when it emerged that countries making individual orders of medical supplies were having a hard time obtaining them due to the fierce global competition to acquire the precious and lifesaving items. As president Kagame noted in an interview to The East African on August 3, 2020, the most important thing for East Africans – and Africans – is not to waste the opportunity of learning lessons from such a pandemic. “We stand a better chance, a very good chance of survival, and we’ll be back to good health, good economies, and normal life if we work together” he said. Indeed, solidarity can only be achieved if all African countries take into consideration each country’s resources and make appropriate contributions, however modest. It is in adherence to the spirit of solidarity – one of the founding principles of the African Union- that Rwanda pledged $1m to the African Union COVID Fund and the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in April 23, 2020.
President Kagame called upon fellow African leaders to join efforts in investing in the continent’s health sector.
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Issue no 007 August 2020
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Karasira cries that he ‘can’t live without a salary’, after self-inflicted dismissal By Fred Gashema Sacked former University of Rwanda lecturer Aimable Karasira is begging for support “to cope with life” after he was dismissed by the university administration. “I will no longer be getting a monthly salary as I used to,” cried the former lecturer in the Faculty of Computer Science, in an interview on “Real Talk”, a local YouTube channel, shortly after receiving his dismissal letter. The comment prompted
many to ask: “When Karasira was saying all the things to drag the university into disrepute, why didn’t he think of the consequences, is he a child?!” The dismissal last week of Karasira, a man that over the years has gained a reputation as an unstable, and highly controversial figure, followed several public quarrels with UR Administration. The university, among other things, faulted Karasira for “constantly expressing attitudes and opinions, through controversial
public statements that run counter to professional values, ethics and obligations as an educator.” In the dismissal letter, signed by Prof. Philip Cotton, the university’s vice chancellor, said there were “no circumstances in Karasira’s favor to mitigate his faults”, stressing that his last administrative sanction was dated as 10 December 2019, plus recurrence of several disciplinary sanctions. It was further revealed that Karasira, among his many issues, was fired for “spreading informa-
tion intended to incite people, and that dishonored the university, and public institutions in general.” Karasira has on numerous occasions featured in videos that distinctly are seen as undermining the gains Rwanda has made over the last 26 years, whether in fighting the ideology of genocide; whether in unity and reconciliation; whether in economic and social progress. “I wouldn’t mind so much if anyone made criticism, but in constructive, informed ways,” said a social media observer. “But with Karasira it is just endless negativity; dishonest, negative opinions.” Other Rwandans find it problematic that Karasira usually finds audience on online platforms dedicated to undermining Rwanda’s security – most notably “Radio Ubumwe”, or “Radio Itahuka”. Anyone that has listened to a talk show on any of these channels knows they are the voice of terrorist groups like RNC and others. Officials of RNC, and others of groups like FDLR, FLN and so on have regularly used “Itahuka” to try to incite hatred against the Rwandan administration, and violence. But now, after the university has cut him loose “for acts completely incompatible with an educator’s mission,” Karasira now is claiming that he is “feeling remorseful.” He has been wailing, on the Real Talk YouTube channel, that he was “fooled by enemies of Rwanda.” He continued: “there were some elements that used to fool me; they would tell me what to say about Rwanda and I fell in that trap!” This has prompted much public laughter. “So, a whole professor couldn’t realize the wrongness of what he was doing, but realizes it when he loses a salary?” asked a viewer that saw the video, adding, “let him sit, chill and realize that UR was even very patient with him. Let him learn from his faults.”
Karasira’s actions led to his employer (UR) cutting him loose, but surprisingly he is crying he can’t live without his salary
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Issue no 007 August 2020
Failed former “presidential candidate” Mwenedata pushes more falsehoods abroad Mwenedata, the “politician” as he calls himself, in the interview, when asked about the recent letter he signed with other members of anti-Rwanda terrorist groups purportedly “calling upon the international community to acknowledge the dangers that Tutsi survivors face”, instead made abusive remarks against the RPF – a party and army that stopped the genocide against the Tutsi and liberated Rwanda – with claims that it is a party of “killers”, and that he “would wish to see genocide survivors parting ways with it.
Disgruntled Mwenedata trades falshoods abroad.
By John Karera The self-styled reconciliation expert, Gilbert Mwenedata, now living in the US, Friday last week called upon survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to part ways with the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), with claims that “RPF are killers selling bodies of victims of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi”. Mwenedata said this during an interview with Jean Nepomuscene Mporamusanga on Biza Tubireba Tugaceceka – one of the anti-Rwanda YouTube channels. In 2018, Mwenedata founded a groups called the ‘People’s Initiative for Democratic Alliance (PIDA), with claims that he wanted “to join hands with other Rwandans in building the country”. Through that party he initiated a coalition “Rwanda Bridge Builders” with other groups committed to pushing a subversive agenda against Rwanda, such as Daphrose Nkundwa, former president of the Réseau international des femmes pour la Démocratie et la Paix (RIFDP) -Belgium, Rwanda National Congress “head of diplomacy” Charlotte Mukankusi, as well as Jean-Marie Vianney Ndagijimana the first Foreign Minister in the interim government who ran away with $200,000 that he had been given to go open Rwanda embassies abroad.
“These are the sorts of opinions found in genocide denialist groups, and others like that with an agenda to sanitize the real killers,” said a viewer that saw the video. “Mwenedata himself knows everything the government has done for survivors through institutions like FARG. It is clear that he is doing all this for negativist interests to tarnish Rwanda’s image,” remarked another viewer. “You can never see him calling for justice for Rwandans tortured by RNC or any other anti-Rwanda terrorist group that he works with.” In 2017 Mwenedata tried to contest for presidential elections as an independent candidate and on July 7, 2017, while the National Electoral Commission (NEC) was announcing the final list of presidential candidates, announced that he was disqualified. According to NEC, it was proven that Mwenedata had forged the signature of a deceased person, Nyombayire Enock from Gasabo District, to endorse his candidacy. “Mwenedata is a man discredited by anyone who got to know him. After it was announced that he forged a signature and used that of a deceased person, he fled the country in fear that he might be prosecuted,” remarked a source from NEC. “He now wants to peddle his baseless criticisms and fabricated stories over Rwanda’s leadership for a living,” he added.
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Europe-based terrorist official Biruka tries to incite peaceful Rwandans to violence By Moses Gisa and Fred Gashema
Innocent Biruka, the deputy Secretary General CRND-Ubwiyunge, a Belgium based anti-Rwanda terror group has been caught up in yet another criminal act inciting Rwandans inside and outside the country to revolt against their elected leadership. In an interview that took place on August 21 with one of the many hostile YouTube channels, Radio &Television (RTV) Ubwiyunge, run by anti-Rwanda terrorist group CNRD-Ubwiyunge, Biruka described himself as a “revolutionary leader” whose mandate allegedly is to fight injustice in Rwanda. The remarks of Biruka, whose group has been implicated in terrorist attacks, clearly were meant to incite violence, with mutinying soldiers in Mali as his example. Social media platforms users were quick to mock Biruka, laughing at his assertions as “trash, given the trust Rwandans have in their leadership. Biruka and his allies from the anti-Rwanda terror groups are worth no attention at all!” commented a Facebook account. “We Rwandans know better how far we have come, and the future
we want,” he added. Other observers point to recent trends in Europe where groups like Jambo asbl, all affiliated to genocide denialism, or anti-Rwanda terrorism, have been particularly active in their attempts to incite hate against the Rwandan administration. “All these groups, MRCD, Jambo, and others may have different names, but they all have the goal of trying to sow instability in Rwanda,” remarked a Diaspora source. Biruka, a renowned terrorist who previously claimed responsibility of an armed terror attack on Rwanda that occurred on June 28, 2020 in Ruheru Sector of Nyaruguru District, Southern Province, is attempting to incite Rwandans “to disobey government laws.” Biruka’s CNRD heads FLN, a terrorist militia responsible for armed attacks on the Rwandan soil. They include attacks of June, December 2018 in the Rwandan Southern and Western Province which claimed 6 innocent civilians and injured several others. The attack also set ablaze commuter buses, looting citizens’ belongings, and holding them hostage – before the latter were rescued by troops of the Rwanda Defense.
CNRD terror group Biruka attempted but failed to incite Rwandans to revolt their own elected leadership. Right are FLN terrorists, perpetrators of some attacks on Rwanda in the past
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Issue no 007 August 2020
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Rusesabagina’s MRCD attempts another hoax forging letter in Argentine Nobel Laureate’s name water as there is no way someone like Esquivel, a Nobel laureate, would issue such a letter without him sharing it in his official communications, or on his official social media accounts, observers point out. No one with any sense of integrity would attempt to use another person’s name as Rusesabagina and Twagiramungu have, but these are old conmen that forgot shame long ago!” another Diaspora source told us. “The only thing that ever interests them is to tarnish Rwanda, and in the process hope to earn some money.” MRCD, author of terrorist attacks like this in Nyaruguru District in 2018 (right) dares release a forgery of a “letter”, purportedly from Argentinian Nobel laureate Adolfo Perez Esquivel to “condemn” Rwanda
By Joan Karera Last Thursday MRCD-Ubumwe, a Brussels-based group headed by Paul Rusesabagina and Faustin Twagiramungu released what it claimed was a letter from Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, a renowned Argentine writer, sculptor and painter and winner of the 1980 Nobel Peace Prize. The purported letter that Rusesabagina and his accomplice released supposedly was addressed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. They allege it was what they call
“serious human rights violations suffered by the Rwandan people.” Diaspora commentators were quick to spot Rusesabagina and Twagiramungu’s so-called letter as a forgery. “These two conmen have lost all sense of shame and dignity,” laughed a Rwandan-Belgian familiar with the workings of MRCD. “Reading the letter, anyone would immediately realize that it’s a forgery written under the name of Adolfo Pérez Esquivel by these anti-Rwanda negativists,” our source added. The claims of MRCD hold no
Faustin Twagiramungu, the “vice-president” and spokesperson of MRCD for instance last November in a press conference in Brussels called on young people to join the FLN, the armed terrorist wing of their group which at the time was operating in the east of DR Congo, exhorting them into acts to destabilize Rwanda. MRCD’s FLN back in 2018 carried out attacks in Nyaruguru District, Nyabimata Sector and killed some civilians, left others wounded and looted small livestock from people’s homes, money and goods such as sugar, beers from shops. “The people behind such terrorism are now alleging that the
Rwandan Government violates humans’ rights, through a forgery of a letter,” noted a commentator adding, “it is very typical of these old crooks!” Many know that Rusesabagina is not new to the business of forgery, or conning people. He is someone that conned the whole world that he was a hero, claiming he saved people from genocide though he never did such a thing, those that know him well will remark. “So, for him and his friend to forge a letter? Very easy!” In the movie Hotel Rwanda, Rusesabagina is portrayed as a hero that saved hundreds of people taking refuge from the Interahamwe militias and ex-FAR at the Milles Collines Hotel. But every eyewitness has said that no one could stay in the hotel without first paying him, and those that failed to do so would be thrown out. “If they were killed, that was of no concern to Rusesabagina,” eyewitnesses that were there, in the terrible times of April to July 94, have said. “Once a conman, always a conman,” laughed one of our sources upon learning the forgery of a letter Rusesabagina and Twagiramungu have produced.
WatchdogUg spins a story about an “arrest” in Rwanda that never was By Patience Kirabo WatchdogUg, one of the websites known to be outlets for the misinformation by Ugandan intelligence against Rwanda this Sunday published an article that a Ugandan national was arrested in Rwanda. However, upon inquiry in Rwanda, it turned out that nothing like this had happened. Watchdog alleged that one Edward Kabagambe, whom it claims had been arrested last Friday had crossed into Rwanda before the supposed arrest. Contrary to the claims that
Kabagambe crossed to Rwanda through a porous border point and was arrested by the Rwandan security however, Rwandan authorities have said there was no such arrest. The Kampala-based website is yet again stirring up a false moral equivalence that mirrors Uganda’s arbitrary arrests and illegal detentions of hundreds of innocent Rwandans, said a Rwandan border official that spoke confidentially. For the past three years, reports have described how Ugandan security services have been
harassing Rwandans with illegal arrests, and detaining hundreds incommunicado, with never a word to their consular representative, or their families. “Rwanda has never done such things to one Ugandan, and stories like that of Watchdog only are meant to create false equivalences,” our source added. Even a case of mistaken identity can lead to death at the hands of Ugandan security forces, it has been reported. One such case was of Ugandan Sebudirimba, a 40-year-old who was hacked to near-death by Ugandan security
agents who mistook him to be a Rwandan national. Kabagambe must have been a case of mistaken identity, falling victim to Uganda’s security agents’ hostility, some think. In their article Watchdog alleges that the arrested individual’s “relatives have waited for his return but all in vain.” “Instead of misleading the man’s family, Watchdog should urge the Ugandan Government to launch an investigation into the real causes of his disappearance,” our border source said.
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Issue no 007 August 2020
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Latest Kampala diatribes against Rwanda fit mold of the guilty culprit that cries louder than the victim – Part 2 anything like that, of president Museveni.
By Alex Muhumuza In the first part of this article we examine a portion of a piece titled, “Biruta’s false claims against Uganda diversionary from Kigali criminal acts” that appeared on Softpower, a Kampala-based website this week. The Softpower article is full of self-serving diatribes against Rwanda by unnamed Kampala security sources. This is hardly surprising by an outlet of misinformation run by Sarah Kagingo, one of the most ardent minions of the Museveni regime. Following the first part of our dissection of the piece, we begin where we left off: Take the claim that Rwanda has been sending agents to Uganda ‘to kidnap people’ (supposedly Ugandans and Rwandan refugees). It follows another, that “a number of armed Rwandan state agents have over the years been arrested on Ugandan territory.” But this is something known only by Kampala’s merchants of misinformation. Kampala has never paraded one alleged armed Rwandan agent to the public, to back its claims. The reason for that is simple: that claim is just another of the endless fictions the Ugandan regime concocts against Rwanda. Softpower – like a multitude of other websites, blog sites and social media accounts on CMI’s payroll – has been a champion of smearing Rwandans whom Maj. Gen. Abel Kandiho’s agents abduct on accusations of “espionage”, “illegal weapons possession”, “kidnap”, and others. In Uganda it had become routine (before Rwanda issued its travel advisory against its people crossing to the country) for CMI operatives to single out any Rwandan, surround him, forcefully drag him into a vehicle, slap a hood over his head, handcuffs on his wrists, and drive off. The victim is never told what he or she is accused of. That victim could be an old man in Uganda to visit a son at
Apparently unable to filter which kind of fictions might contain some credibility, Softpower soon reverts to an old ploy. That is when, every time Kampala propagandists attempt to deflect blame for their regime’s crimes, Rwanda is the scapegoat.
Softpower falsely claims Museveni “pardoned Rene Rutagungira” who was among 9 illegally detained Rwandans released in January this year (pictured at the border). The Rwandans were released as a result of Kigali pressure.
school, like. It could be a businessman, transiting on his way to Nairobi. It could be some civilian from Rubavu, together with his mother visiting Kampala for the first time, looking for a family member gone missing. Rwandan media has tirelessly reported on the plight of these victims: people like Fidele Gatsinzi, Damascene Muhawenayo, Patrick Niyigena, Moses Ishimwe, and numerous others none of whose abductors ever brought a case against. These people, and hundreds of others like them, were illegally detained – in dungeons or ungazetted places of detention, so-called safe houses – subjected to torture, but not one was tried. Why? Because, as lawyers of some of the Rwandans, like Kampala-based attorneys Eron Kiiza and Anthony Odur (of Kiiza & Mugisha Advocates) have pointed out, the allegations against the victims are concocted. “We have repeatedly challenged CMI to provide evidence but they never did, even once,” said Kiiza mid last year. But whenever CMI claims it “has arrested this Rwandan spy!” or it has “arrested a Rwandan on illegal weapons charges”, and so on, the regime propagandists, never bothering to verify facts, regurgitate the propaganda. That is their job, and they do it very zealously. When Softpower says, “Rwandan armed state agents”, it is falsely insinuating that the very victims of CMI’s arbitrary arrests and torture are the so-called “Rwandan state agents”.
Shamelessly the website then drags Rene Rutagungira – who languished in Ugandan military detention, illegally detained on accusations for which CMI had zero proof – into the mud, again. “Rutagungira had been kidnapping Ugandans, and Rwandan refugees and illegally repatriating them to Rwanda since 2013,” Softpower claims, obviously thinking that to repeat a lie a hundred times makes it truth. Rutagungira, a businessman in the Ugandan capital when CMI abducted him, was guilty of no crime. They detained him, a civilian, at Mbuya, then at Makindye Military Barracks from August 2017 up to when he was released in January this year, with eight other Rwandans. As attorney Kiiza has revealed: “Ugandan security could not produce one credible piece of evidence. They resorted to torture, but could prove nothing!” Showing that there is no limit to the shamelessness of Ugandan propaganda lies, Softpower then claims, “Rutagungira was pardoned by President at the request of President Kagame.” This is an incredible distortion of the truth. Rutagungira – and all others released from the clutches of Ugandan security agencies – are back home (in Rwanda) only because Kigali mounted relentless pressure on Kampala to either release, or try them in court. There isn’t one Rwandan that has been released because of the alleged magnanimity, or
“Uganda in the previous couple of years has witnessed assassinations of high-profile persons,” writes Softpower. It goes on to quote a shadowy source saying: “the high-profile assassinations were committed by Rwandan state agents with intention to compromise Uganda’s national security.” One familiar with the sleazy habit of Kampala of making such allegations with nothing to back them won’t be surprised by the repeated sleazy attempts to smear Rwanda with the deaths of individuals like former Uganda Police Spokesperson AIGP Andrew Kaweesi, former Arua MP Ibrahim Abiriga, former Buyende DPC Muhammad Kirumira and others. Attempts to blame Rwanda any time a prominent Ugandan like these – or the dozens of Ugandan clerics gunned down in the earlier decade – is killed have always originated with Museveni. Every time, even before a minute’s investigation is conducted, Museveni addresses the public with claims that a ‘neighboring country’ (code for Rwanda) is behind the crime.” As usual, the Ugandan ruler and his minions are lying. He knows who is killing Ugandans, but it is no foreign government. It is Museveni and his security apparatus. Which foreign government can for instance go back to a murder scene to retrieve video from CCTV cameras? None. Yet that’s what happened near Kaweesi’s house in Kulambiro where the assassins killed him, his driver,
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OP-ED
Issue no 007 August 2020 >> from page 7
and bodyguard. Next day Museveni’s security people, upon realizing the cameras could have captured the murder, went and took out the video. Three and a half years later, no one has said what happened to the footage. The Ugandan regime can attempt to smear Rwanda with Museveni’s crimes, but Ugandans are no longer fooled. Popular opposition leader Bobi Wine of People Power this Thursday for instance read out a string of names, of his party’s officials killed by the Ugandan state: Yassin Kawuma (who took a bullet in Wine’s place), Asuman Walyendo, Michael Alinda, Sweet Pepsi, Hakim Sekamwa, Ritah Nabukenya, Dan Kyetune, Charles Mutyabule, Golooba Omulangira, Robert Nyakutta, Ismail and Asuman Lwanidi. He
was quite clear about who is responsible for their fates: the Ugandan ruler and his government. “Museveni and his minions have deceived Ugandans so long it can’t work any longer,” said a Kigali-based social media commentator. “Whatever scapegoating they try against Kigali, it can no longer work.” It is the same when Softpower tries another falsehood, that “there are many refugees in Uganda because of problems in Rwanda.” This is a long discredited claim. An organisation like the UN has proclaimed Rwanda as completely safe for all her people. “There are no reasons there should be Rwandan refugee anywhere,” says a cessation clause declared on 30 June 2013 by UNHCR, the
UN agency for refugees. Those Rwandans that remain in exile mostly are suspects, or culprits in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who fear to stand trial. To-date Uganda hosts close to 300 genocide suspects that it has refused to deport, to be made answerable for their crimes. Also there are the hundreds of Rwandan refugees in Ugandan camps that Kampala has insisted on keeping, “because they are a huge cash cow for corrupt Museveni Government acolytes,” said a Kampala journalist. An audit by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight, carried out in January 2018 for instance revealed “massive inflation” of refugee numbers by Uganda’s Office of the Prime Minister; massive over-charging for land
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ostensibly to host refugees; gross overpayment for water-trucking vendors, and other fraudulent expenditures that cost donors millions of dollars. The corruption unearthed was such that the governments of Japan, Germany and the UK cut all funding off for Uganda’s refugee program. “The Museveni regime has been inflating refugee numbers because of the lucrative corruption opportunities, which is a big reason they retain Rwandan refugees,” a Kigali official said, adding that Kinyarwanda-speaking refugees also are seen as an important recruitment source for anti-Rwanda terrorist groups. Never expect a bottom when it comes to the Ugandan regime and its propagandists, our source said.
HRW latest report reflects an obvious goal: to weaponize Mihigo’s death By Alex Muhumuza The suicide of singer Kizito Mihigo is turning out to be quite a blessing for different groups or individuals with political, or other agendas against the Government of Rwanda. One of these of course is Human Rights Watch, which has long made it a habit to level charges or accusations against the Rwandan leadership that never stand the slightest scrutiny. And so they (HRW) are at it again, this time with a report spuriously titled, “Kizito Mihigo Execution: 6 Months on, No Justice.” Notice how the so-called defender of human rights arrogates itself the right to be the jury and judge, terming as “an execution” a death that Rwandan authorities investigated, and determined was a suicide?
Human Rights Watch, run by Ken Roth since 1993, is out with a report full of allegations and assertions with the single intention of weaponizing the suicide of Kizito Mihigo.
That’s Human Rights Watch for you. They will say anything they please against “leaders from the Third World”, especially the African head of state that, for reasons best known to their
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OP-ED
Issue no 007 August 2020
investigations of potentially unlawful death.” HRW doesn’t say who it might have been that “requested cooperation” from Rwanda, and if so, whether Rwanda refused to cooperate with who that might be.
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monarch of 27 years – Ken Roth – have provoked their unending ire. Anyone that is well informed about Mihigo’s demise; anyone that is not motivated by some political or personal reasons against Rwanda is under no doubt that the singer killed himself. There was no reason to doubt it when, on 17 February earlier this year, Rwanda Police announced that Mihigo had been found dead in his cell at Remera Police Station. The authorities had no reason to lie. If Rwanda for instance were some kind of lawless state – as HRW likes to pretend it is – why would they go to the trouble of releasing Mihigo from prison, so as to “execute” him in a police cell? Mihigo was serving a ten-year prison term when the President granted him clemency after serving four. Rwanda has arrested many self-declared enemies of the state: the Callixte Nsabimanas, LaForge Bazeyes, Abegas, Mushayidis, Habibs, and others. Upon arrest all these people had their day in court, got a fair trial, and are serving their sentences. When residents in Nyaruguru District arrested Mihigo, on 13 February, no one mistreated him. The residents handed him to the authorities, who detained him at Remera Police, to prepare a file to advance to prosecution. In other words, due legal process was underway when a few days later Mihigo killed himself. The truth of the singer’s death is contained in the medical autopsy’s report of 26 February. “The cause of death was asphyxia, hypoxia, most probably from hanging,” it said. The National Public Prosecution Authority then issued a communiqué: “The report includes an analysis of the scene of the incident, a post-mortem examination by the Rwanda Forensic Laboratory, and a statement from witnesses. NPPA also disclosed that Mihigo’s family was shown the contents of the autopsy report. Prosecution then concluded that no further investigation would be carried out.
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Kizito Mihigo.
But here we are, six months later, with Human Rights Watch proclaiming “Rwandan authorities have not conducted ‘a credible and transparent investigation’ into ‘the suspicious death in custody’ of Kizito Mihigo, a well known singer.’” This statement amazingly conveys two things. First is the insolence of groups like HRW – self-appointed watchdogs of Western values that bludgeon, as they please, governments of the poorer countries – obvious in the casual dismissal of the work, and communications of Rwandan state institutions. Moreover, regarding the death of a Rwandan citizen. Secondly, with that statement Human Rights Watch has shown that the death of Mihigo is one it is turning into another weapon in its constant, vendetta-like targeting of the Rwandan administration, whether on not that is what it intended to convey. But, to get back to the claim that Mihigo was “executed” (normally the kind of talk expected from deranged conspiracy nuts, not a so-called international rights group) what reasons does HRW give for that? The first hinges on the assertion that “Rwandan authorities did not conduct ‘a credible investigation’”. Parse that for a second. The facts show Rwandan authorities did indeed conduct a credible investigation. They saw the body, and announced it the very morning they saw it. The body then was taken to hospital, examined by medical professionals, who then wrote an autopsy reflective of their findings. The authorities
then communicated these results to relatives of the deceased, before calling the media to make them public.
HRW’s latest diatribe against Rwanda is a litany of accusations against several officials in Rwanda’s leadership structure that one normally finds on the websites of apologists of the 94 Genocide Against the Tutsi, or deniers and trivializers of the same. These groups, many of them based in Europe or North America, have jumped on Mihigo’s death – as they do even when a goat dies in Rwanda – to shout, “murder!”
So what is HRW’s problem? That Kigali did not first contact them? That it didn’t invite HRW to rush to the death scene? Or that Rwanda did not invite American law enforcement, which presumably would make HRW happy?
That is in line with their mission in life, which is to utter, write, or concoct any slander, however deranged, with the hope of discrediting Kigali.
HRW, perhaps aware of how nonsensical their claims might appear, then injects in a smoke and mirrors assertion that “Rwanda should have allowed an independent body ‘to carry out an impartial, thorough, and transparent investigation’”.
There is its first smear, that Mihigo was “executed”.
An “independent body” like which one though? And why would there be need for one if competent Rwandan law enforcement, medical, and judicial authorities did their work and communicated their findings? One can think of no reason behind this demand beyond insolence, and the determination to weaponize Mihigo’s death for political ends. Also, to proclaim a death “an execution”, beforehand, then turn around to demand an investigation is very revelatory of the mindset with which they’ve written their report. The truth, or the facts about Mihigo’s death is not their motivation. Propaganda is. Everything in the so-called report is tendentious, including high-sounding legalistic claims about something called “the Minnesota Protocol” that, they say, “in some circumstances provide that states have a duty to cooperate internationally in
HRW is in lockstep with them.
Then another, that “Mihigo was held incommunicado after arrest.” His own family members have debunked this particular falsehood, saying for the record they visited him a number of times at Remera Police. There also is the dubious claim that “before Mihigo went to prison, he was made to attend a meeting with several high profile officials to inform him ‘the President wasn’t happy with him!’” Makes one wonder: who are these alleged high-ranking officials that have nothing to do but convene a meeting with a singer to tell him of the President’s unhappiness? The HRW people are really amazing in regurgitating things they pick from groups like Jambo asbl – a Brussels-based association of offspring of some of the biggest perpetrators of the Genocide Against the Tutsi – whose mission unsurprisingly is to attempt to sanitize their genocidaire parents, while tarnishing Rwanda. When it comes to HRW’s stance on Rwanda, it has become difficult to distinguish it from Jambo asbl.
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REGIONAL
Issue no 007 August 2020
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CARTOON OF THE WEEK
Karasira’s actions led to his employer (UR) cutting him loose, but surprisingly he is crying he can’t live without his salary
Desperate times in Uganda lead to spike in suicides By Hannah Rugema The COVID-19 death toll in Uganda is significantly higher than being communicated, with cases of suicide directly linked to the pandemic in Uganda also increasing, according to experts. Even institutions like Uganda Police cannot hide the evidence any more, people note. According to the force’s deputy spokesperson, ACP Polly Namaye, suicide cases have spiked by a 22.7 percent increase. Desperate Ugandans attribute this to “severe increase in poverty.” According to many in the Ugandan capital, security forces have made matters worse “with indiscriminately violent enforcement of Covid-19 measures.” It is widely reported that Uganda Police, LDUs, and UPDF have
often used Covid-19 measures as a pretext to beat up traders, market vendors, and others and robbing them of merchandise and money. “It is really bad!” said a resident of Kampala that did not give his name. “Traders have to work; can’t the security men properly enforce social distancing, or curfew hours in an orderly way? “But through their violence they have contributed to more poverty and desperation in Uganda!” remarked our source. There have been incidents when individuals have set themselves on fire. On the Third of last month, 29-year old Fred Walugembe set himself on fire inside Masaka Police Station. It was reported that Walugembe committed suicide after policemen demanded a bribe to release his motorbike – which was his
means of earning a livelihood. “They violently seized Walugembe’s boda on pretext of fighting Covid-19, but he had no money to give them,” a friend of his told the Ugandan media. According to the World Bank Covid-19 will worsen the effects of poverty in Uganda, with an estimated three million expected to fall into poverty particularly in urban areas. This, says the World Bank, is above the estimated 8.7 million in the previous fiscal year. A Kampala source said that the current figure will put the total number of poor Ugandans facing life threatening poverty as high as eleven million or more. “Sadly, this is the result of cosmetic measures! No real measures was taken by the government to mitigate the impact on ordinary citizens, and now people
are dying,” a Ugandan economist said. A number of commentators have pointed to the fact people were promised things that weren’t delivered. “Even food relief was not delivered, leave alone relief from bank loans and so on,” decried a trader of Nakasero Market that identified herself only as Nalumansi. A recent UN social-economic analysis of the Covid-19 impact in Uganda indicated that 60 per cent of informal enterprises had stopped their operations or moved below the poverty level denying income to between five to six million informal workers. Big numbers of fathers and mothers in Uganda have been captured on video demanding that the government “take their children since they no longer have the means to feed them.”
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