A Ugandan government spokesman says officials from Kampala plan to meet members of the U.N. Security Council Monday.
This follows a recent U.N. report which accused the East African nation of supporting the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Fred Opolot, who is also the executive director for Uganda’s Media Center, says the administration will decide its next line of action after the meeting with the Security Council.
"Uganda is extremely cautious that it gets a consensus on the views [of Security Council members] as regards the outrageous allegations made by the group of experts that Uganda was involved in the DRC conflict," said Opolot.
“After the meeting with the Security Council, the minister of ICT [Information Communication and Technology] Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda will return to Uganda [while] other meetings will take place before a decision will be arrived at,” he added.
Earlier this month, a leaked U.N. report accused both Uganda and Rwanda of giving military support to DRC rebels. Both countries have denied the allegation.
Opolot said officials have delivered Uganda’s denial to the Security Council.
He said the government will reevaluate its commitment to provide troops to peacekeeping efforts in Africa.
“Certainly, Uganda is expressing its displeasure in that outrageous report, and it will reconsider its position in as far as all peace efforts are concerned in the region,” said Opolot.
Uganda has threatened to pull its troops from African peacekeeping missions, including the one in Somalia, because of a U.N. report that accuses Kampala of supporting Congolese rebels.
Opolot said Kampala still enjoys warm diplomatic relations with Kinshasa despite the report, which accused Uganda of supporting DRC-based rebels.
“The relationships between Uganda and the DRC are normal and Uganda is interested in the peaceful resolution of the conflict in the DRC,” he said. “We have certainly engaged the [President Joseph] Kabila government to ensure that he expressly comes out with a clear position on the UN report. But as of now, he has not overtly condemned Uganda.”
Meanwhile, Somali’s Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid says his country’s stability could be challenged if Kampala pulls out its troops from the African Union’s Peacekeeping Mission (AMISOM). Ugandan forces form the bulk of AMISOM’s troops fighting militant group al-Shabab in Somalia.
"Uganda has ensured that normalcy is attained in Mogadishu and the wider Somalia republic. So, if at all it has to take such a decision, it won’t take it lightheartedly. It will take it with all seriousness,” said Opolot.
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Clottey interview with Fred Opolot, Uganda government spokesman
