1 million South Sudan refugees now in Uganda, UN says

August 17, 2017

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The number of South Sudanese refugees sheltering in Uganda has reached 1 million, the United Nations said Thursday, a grim milestone for what has become the world's fastest-growing refugee crisis.

Ugandan officials say they are overwhelmed by the flow of people fleeing South Sudan's civil war and the U.N. refugee agency urges the international community to donate more for humanitarian assistance.

An average of 1,800 South Sudanese citizens have been arriving daily in Uganda over the past 12 months, the UNHCR said in a statement. Another one million or more South Sudanese are sheltering in Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Congo and Central African Republic.

The number of people fleeing jumped after deadly fighting again erupted in South Sudan's capital, Juba, in July 2016. "Recent arrivals continue to speak of barbaric violence, with armed groups reportedly burning down houses with civilians inside, people being killed in front of family members, sexual assaults of women and girls and kidnapping of boys for forced conscription," the statement said.

"With refugees still arriving in their thousands, the amount of aid we are able to deliver is increasingly falling short." A fundraising summit hosted by Uganda in June raised only a fraction of the $2 billion that Ugandan officials have said is needed to sufficiently look after the refugees and the communities hosting them.

Most of the refugees are women and children fleeing violence, often along ethnic lines, since the world's newest country erupted into violence in December 2013. Ugandan refugee officials have repeatedly warned the influx is straining the country's ability to be generous to the refugees, who often are given small plots of land for building temporary shelters and planting crops when they arrive.

The largest of the settlements hosting refugees from South Sudan, Bidi Bidi, is roughly 230 square kilometers (88.8 sq. miles). The World Food Program cut food rations for some refugees amid funding shortages in June.

The U.N. says at least $674 million is needed to support South Sudanese refugees in Uganda this year, although only a fifth of that amount has been received. The money is needed to provide basic services, including stocking clinics with medicines and putting up schools. Aid agencies say classroom sizes in the few available schools often exceed 200 pupils, and other children have dropped out because the nearest schools are located miles away.

"The funding shortfall in Uganda is now significantly impacting the abilities to deliver life-saving aid and key basic services," the UNHCR statement said. Fighting persists in parts of South Sudan despite multiple cease-fire agreements. Rebel forces said Tuesday they had reclaimed their stronghold of Pagak in the northeast, less than a week after being pushed out by government forces.

Both sides have committed serious rights violations, including murder and rape, against civilians, according to U.N. investigators.

Israel's Netanyahu in Uganda to start 4-nation Africa tour

July 04, 2016

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country's raid on Uganda's Entebbe airport 40 years ago, in which his brother was killed, "changed the course" of his life. Speaking shortly after his arrival in Uganda, Netanyahu praised Israel's commando raid on the airport which freed Israeli hostages from a hijacked plane. "International terrorism suffered a stinging defeat," from the mission in July 1976.

The Entebbe rescue is a seminal event in Israeli history and is widely seen as one of the country's greatest military successes. It also was a monumental event for Netanyahu, as the death of his brother, Yonatan, pushed him into the public eye and on a track that would take him to the country's highest office.

An Israeli band played somber tunes at the airport on the shore of Lake Victoria to mark the anniversary of the Israeli rescue mission, during which three hostages were killed. A relative of one of the Israeli hostages lit a memorial flame as Netanyahu and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni stood in silence.

Netanyahu traveled to Uganda with soldiers and pilots who were members of the rescue team. "This is a deeply moving day for me," he said. "Forty years ago they landed in the dead of night in a country led by a brutal dictator who gave refuge to terrorists. Today we landed in broad daylight in a friendly country led by a president who fights terrorists."

Netanyahu's visit to Uganda starts his four-nation tour of Africa. "After many decades, I can say unequivocally Israel is coming back to Africa and Africa is coming back to Israel," he said. "All of our peoples will benefit greatly from our growing partnership."

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said his government opposes the "indiscriminate use of violence" as well as bigotry. He said Uganda's government supports a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

"The two of you belong to that area," Museveni said, urging both sides to live "side by side in two states ... in peace and with recognized borders." The one-day visit to Uganda is the start of Netanyahu's tour of Africa during which he will also visit Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia.

Later on Monday Netanyahu will attend a summit of regional leaders focusing on security. In exchange for its expertise in security and other fields, Israel wants African states to side with it at the U.N., where the General Assembly overwhelmingly recognized Palestine as a nonmember observer state in 2012. Israel also has a shared interest with the four African countries of confronting Islamic extremists.

Uganda's Entebbe Airport is where Netanyahu's brother, Yonatan, was struck by a bullet as he led Israeli commandos in a daring rescue mission to rescue hijacked Israeli passengers. Israel's success in the raid humiliated then-Ugandan President Idi Amin.

Four decades later, Uganda has good relations with Israel, which is courting allies to counter Palestine's rising influence at the United Nations. While in Uganda Netanyahu will also attend a security-themed summit of regional leaders, including those from Kenya and Tanzania, said Don Wanyama, a spokesman for Uganda's president.

Although the rescue mission breached Uganda's territorial integrity, Amin, who had taken power by force and ruled as a dictator, had become an increasingly isolated figure and would soon be forced out of power with the help of Tanzanian forces. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni himself led one of several exile groups that waged a guerrilla war against Amin.

A lingering loathing of Amin, who was accused of many human rights atrocities and who died in Saudi Arabia in 2003, is one reason why many Ugandans today do not see the success of the Israeli raid — in which many Ugandan soldiers were killed and military equipment destroyed — as a disaster for Uganda. Yonatan Netanyahu was shot dead as he helped the Israeli hostages who had been held inside the airport terminal back onto the plane. His death made Yonatan an Israeli hero, and thrust Netanyahu toward public life.

Still, some Ugandans say Netanyahu's historic visit should be a moment to mourn the Ugandan victims of the operation. Moses Ali, Uganda's deputy prime minister who served as a government minister under Amin, told Uganda's Daily Monitor newspaper that the rescue mission should not be celebrated by Ugandans.

"If you are siding with Israelis, then you can celebrate because it was their victory," he said. "If you are not, then you should be mourning our dead ones." Netanyahu will also be visiting Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia this week.

Israel wants African states to side with it at the U.N., where the General Assembly overwhelmingly recognized Palestine as a nonmember observer state in 2012. The Palestinians have used their upgraded status to launch a diplomatic offensive against Israel and its occupation of lands where the Palestinians hope to establish a future state.

"Israel has been on a mission to repair its image globally and more specifically within the U.N. where the Africa group has for decades now supported the Palestinian cause, and vote in general toward that end," said Angelo Izama, a Ugandan analyst who runs a think tank called Fana Kwawote.

As a key U.S. ally on regional security, especially in violence-prone Somalia, Uganda is an attractive ally for Israel as well, according to Izama. "Washington views the Museveni administration as a regional hegemon, a key to the security of the wider region. Uganda's involvement in counter-terrorism in Somalia ... and its significant expenditure on security goods, including arms and technology, are another reason" for Netanyahu's visit, he said.

Netanyahu's African trip has generated some controversy at home, due to the large size of his delegation, as well as the personal nature of the visit. In an editorial published Monday, the Haaretz daily praised Netanyahu for strengthening Israel's ties with Africa, but suggested that he was largely driven by his own emotional involvement. "Despite the expected success of the diplomatic and economic contacts, it's hard to shake off the impression that the entire trip would not be taking place were it not for Netanyahu's desire to take advantage of his official position in order to conduct a ceremony in the old Entebbe airport," it wrote.

AP writer Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Uganda, South Korea leaders sign co-operation agreements

May 29, 2016

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda and South Korea signed cooperation agreements Sunday that officials here hope will lead to transfer of technology as Uganda tries to implement an ambitious industrialization program.

The memorandums of understanding in areas such as health and education were signed at Uganda's State House in Entebbe, where visiting South Korean leader Park Geun-hye and her delegation were given a banquet. Details of the agreements were not yet available.

"There is a great potential for co-operation between South Korea and Uganda for the mutual benefit of both countries," Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said during the banquet, according to his office.

Uganda is the second leg of Park's Africa visit, during which she has focused on trade and business. In a speech Friday before the African Union in Ethiopia, Park urged African leaders to support international efforts to denuclearize rival North Korea.

Uganda has good diplomatic relations with North Korea, which has recently been training Ugandan security forces. Museveni said Sunday that he supports the peaceful reunification of Korea. Park's next stop is Kenya.

Uganda: Opposition leader remanded to maximum security jail

May 18, 2016

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda's opposition leader was remanded Wednesday to a maximum security prison in the capital after being charged with treason for organizing protests against the re-election of long-time President Yoweri Museveni.

Kizza Besigye briefly appeared in a magistrate's court in Kampala to be charged before he was driven away under heavy guard to a jail on the shores of Lake Victoria. Besigye was charged afresh after being transferred from Moroto, where had been detained after the treason charges were first read to him last week, said Solomon Muyita, a spokesman for the judiciary. Treason has a maximum penalty of death upon conviction. Besigye will return to court on June 1.

Besigye came second in presidential elections held in February, but rejected the official results as fraudulent and called for an international audit of the results, one of the reasons cited for charging him with treason.

The polls were marred by violence and delays in delivery of voting materials in areas seen as opposition strongholds, as well as a government shutdown of social media. Election observers cited many irregularities, with the European Union delegation saying the election commission lacked independence.

Uganda's top court heard a petition against Museveni's victory and ruled he was validly re-elected. Despite the court's decision, Besigye has urged his supporters to wage a defiance campaign over the disputed polls as well as what he says is harassment by the security forces.

Besigye has been repeatedly arrested by the police, who sometimes detain him inside his own home. Museveni, who took power by force in 1986, has been elected five times since 1996. All the elections have been marred by allegations of rigging.

Ugandan opposition leader charged with treason over protests

May 14, 2016

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda's main opposition leader has been charged with treason and jailed in a remote area in the country's northeast, a judiciary spokesman said Saturday. Kizza Besigye was handed charges late Friday stemming from his public attacks on the legitimacy of President Yoweri Museveni, who won a disputed election in February, said Solomon Muyita.

Besigye, a qualified physician, was Museveni's personal doctor during the guerrilla war that launched Museveni into power in 1986. He held various government positions and rose to become a colonel in the army, but then broke ranks with Museveni in 1999.

Besigye ran for president in 2001, promising a more democratic government, and has challenged Museveni in elections since then. He claims he won the February vote and has repeatedly urged his supporters to wage a defiance campaign against the authorities.

There is a video online purportedly showing Besigye being sworn in as Uganda's president. The Associated Press couldn't independently verify the authenticity of the video, but Besigye's party, the Forum for Democratic Change, reported on Twitter that Besigye had been sworn in on the eve of Museveni's inauguration for a fifth term.

Muyita cited the alleged inauguration of Besigye as one of the reasons for the treason charge, which carries a maximum penalty of death on conviction. Besigye was charged in the district of Moroto, where he had been flown after being arrested on Wednesday in the capital Kampala.

His lawyer didn't answer calls seeking a comment Saturday.

Uganda's Yoweri Museveni wins disputed polls; rival detained

February 20, 2016

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Long-time Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner of the presidential election, with more than 60 percent of the votes, but the main opposition party rejected the results as fraudulent.

Museveni's nearest rival, opposition leader Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change party, got 35 percent, according to final results announced by the election commission. Besigye himself was under house arrest as Museveni was declared the winner, with heavily armed police standing guard near his residence on the outskirts of the capital, Kampala.

Museveni's ruling party, the National Resistance Movement, urged "all candidates to respect the will of the people and the authority of the electoral commission and accept the result. We ask all Ugandans to remain calm and peaceful and not to engage in any public disruptions." The party released the statement shortly after the results were announced.

However Besigye's opposition party appealed to "all Ugandans and the international community to reject and condemn the fraud that has been committed and to expose it to the fullest extent possible. Clearly what we are witnessing in the choreographed announcements of the fraudulent results is part of a creeping political coup d'état."

The election on Thursday was marred by lengthy delays in the delivery of polling materials, some incidents of violence as well as a government shutdown of social media which is ongoing. The election was marked by an "intimidating atmosphere, which was mainly created by state actors," said the European Union observer mission. Uganda's election commission lacks independence and transparency and does not have the trust of all the parties, EU mission leader Eduard Kukan told reporters Saturday. Opposition supporters were harassed by law enforcement officials in more than 20 districts, according to the EU's preliminary report.

Police on Friday surrounded the headquarters of the FDC opposition party as Besigye met with members and a helicopter fired tear gas at a crowd outside. Police then moved in and took away Besigye, a 59-year-old doctor. He was later taken to his house which was guarded by police who prevented access to journalists.

After Besigye's arrest on Friday, his supporters took to the streets. Riot police lobbed tear gas and stun grenades at them and fired warning shots from automatic rifles, then chased them through narrow alleys, arresting some.

Besigye's party is alleging massive vote rigging and accuses the government of deliberately stalling voting in opposition strongholds in Kampala and the neighboring Wakiso district. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke by phone with Museveni "to underscore that Uganda's progress depends on adherence to democratic principles in the ongoing election process," the State Department said. Kerry urged Museveni to rein in the security forces.

The 71-year-old Museveni took power by force in 1986 and pulled Uganda out of years of chaos after a guerrilla war. He is a key U.S. ally on security matters, especially in Somalia. Critics fear he may want to rule for life and they accuse him of using security forces to intimidate the opposition.

Besigye was Museveni's personal physician during the bush war and served as deputy interior minister in his first Cabinet. He broke with the president in 1999, saying Museveni was no longer a democrat.

Uganda opposition leader under house arrest amid tensions

February 20, 2016

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda's security forces on Saturday put the main opposition candidate under house arrest to prevent him from leading protests as the country awaited the results of a disputed election.

Police took "preventive measures" against Kizza Besigye to stem further unrest, police spokesman Fred Enanga told The Associated Press. The elections on Thursday were marred by late delivery of polling materials, sporadic violence and a government shutdown of social media. Partial results from about 75 percent of the vote show long-time President Yoweri Museveni leading with over 60 percent against Besigye's 35 percent.

The final tally is expected later on Saturday. Police on Friday surrounded the headquarters of Besigye's party, the Forum for Democratic Change, as Besigye met with party members, and a helicopter fired tear gas at a crowd outside. Police then moved in and took Besigye, a 59-year-old doctor, to an unknown location. He was later taken to his house overnight.

Besigye's party has alleged massive vote rigging, and has accused the government of deliberately stalling voting in areas seen as opposition strongholds and orchestrating violence. "We have to contain the situation," Enanga said. "We have reasonable cause to prevent him from promoting actions of violence."

Police prevented journalists from accessing Besigye's home on the outskirts of the capital, Kampala. After Besigye's arrest on Friday, his supporters took to the streets. Riot police lobbed tear gas and stun grenades at them and fired warning shots from automatic rifles, then chased them through narrow alleys, arresting some.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke by phone with Museveni "to underscore that Uganda's progress depends on adherence to democratic principles in the ongoing election process," the State Department said. Kerry urged Museveni to rein the security forces.

The 71-year-old Museveni took power by force in 1986 and pulled Uganda out of years of chaos after a guerrilla war. He is a key U.S. ally on security matters, especially in Somalia. Critics fear he may want to rule for life, and they accuse him of using security forces to intimidate and harass the opposition.

Besigye was Museveni's personal physician during a war and served as deputy interior minister in his first Cabinet. He broke with the president in 1999, saying Museveni was no longer a democrat.

Voting in Uganda plagued by delays; social media shut down

February 18, 2016

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — After delays blamed on slow delivery of voting materials, Ugandans cast ballots Thursday in presidential elections amid a shutdown of some social media sites. Even at noon, five hours after voting was supposed to start, some polling stations in the capital, including a major one, still had not received any voting papers. People had formed long lines and ballot boxes had arrived mid-morning, but still there were no ballots, so no one could vote.

President Yoweri Museveni faces a strong challenge from Kizza Besigye, who has called Museveni a dictator and said he doubts that voting will be free or fair. Many people complained of an apparent shutdown of social media sites like Twitter and Facebook when they couldn't open those sites on their computers and phones.

Godfrey Mutabazi, the head of the Uganda Communications Commission, said the network failure was likely due to an ongoing operation to contain a security threat. "It's a security matter and I cannot answer on behalf of security," he told The Associated Press.

Some observers suspected it was to keep people from publicly griping about the late delivery of voting materials. More than 15 million people are registered to vote, for members of parliament as well as president.

Some ballot boxes had missing lids. Voting officials frantically made calls. "We are late simply because the lids for ballot boxes are not here. The boxes and the lids should have arrived at the same time," said Moses Omo, an official who was presiding over voting at a Catholic church in the central Ugandan district of Wakiso.

Many of those waiting said they would not leave without voting. "This is very disappointing but I am going to stay here under the sun until it is my turn to vote," said Fred Mubiru, a taxi driver. "Nothing will discourage me."

Although opinion polls had shown Museveni to be ahead of his opponents, analysts expect this election to be his toughest yet, citing the massive crowds Besigye attracted across the country. Museveni, 71, remains popular in some parts of rural Uganda, where he is seen as a father figure and is beloved by those who remember his time as a guerrilla leader fighting a dictatorship.

He came to power in 1986 and pulled Uganda out of years of chaos. He is widely credited with restoring peace and presiding over economic growth, and is a key U.S. ally on security matters, especially in Somalia. But his critics worry that he may want to rule for life, and accuse him of using the security forces to intimidate the opposition.

Besigye, 59, is running for the fourth time against Museveni. He campaigned on a promise to run a more effective government, vowing to stem official corruption. He said he will continue "the struggle" in other ways if he loses, suggesting a protest movement similar to the one that followed the last election in 2011. That movement was violently put down by security forces.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch said a weak "human rights situation seriously undermines the prospects of free and fair elections and the ability of Ugandans to exercise fundamental human rights such as free expression, assembly, and association."

The Committee to Protect Journalists has also reported "a worsening pattern of harassment and intimidation of journalists" in Uganda. Ahead of the polls, there has been a heavy security presence in Kampala, with heavily armed police patrolling the streets and armored vehicles parked at key junctions.

Voting starts in Uganda election seen as challenge to leader

February 18, 2016

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Ugandans voted Thursday in presidential elections seen as the toughest challenge yet for the country's long-time president, who faces seven opponents. The voting was marred by delays because of the late delivery of voting materials in many places, especially in the capital Kampala, and many people complained of an apparent shutdown of social media sites like Twitter and Facebook when they couldn't open those sites on their computers and phones.

Godfrey Mutabazi, the head of the Uganda Communications Commission, said the network failure was likely due to an ongoing operation to contain a security threat. "It's a security matter and I cannot answer on behalf of security," he told The Associated Press.

President Yoweri Museveni faces a strong challenge from Kizza Besigye, who has called Museveni a dictator and told reporters earlier this week that he does not believe voting will be free or fair. More than 15 million people are registered to vote. Ugandans are also choosing lawmakers.

There were long lines at many polling stations in Kampala, with people complaining loudly about the delays. Some ballot boxes had missing lids, stranding voting officials who frantically made calls. "We are late simply because the lids for ballot boxes are not here. The boxes and the lids should have arrived at the same time," said Moses Omo, an official who was presiding over voting at a Catholic church in the central Ugandan district of Wakiso.

Despite the delays, which lasted over an hour at some polling stations, many potential voters said they would not leave without voting. "This is very disappointing but I am going to stay here under the sun until it is my turn to vote," said Fred Mubiru, a taxi driver. "Nothing will discourage me."

Although opinion polls had shown Museveni to be ahead of his opponents, analysts expect this election to be his toughest yet, citing the massive crowds Besigye attracted across the country. Museveni, 71, remains popular in some parts of rural Uganda, where he is seen as a father figure and is beloved by those who remember his time as a guerrilla leader fighting a dictatorship.

He came to power in 1986 and pulled Uganda out of years of chaos. He is widely credited with restoring peace and presiding over economic growth, and is a key U.S. ally on security matters, especially in Somalia. But his critics worry that he may want to rule for life, and accuse him of using the security forces to intimidate the opposition.

Besigye, 59, is running for the fourth time against Museveni. He campaigned on a promise to run a more effective government, vowing to stem official corruption. He said he will continue "the struggle" in other ways if he loses, suggesting a protest movement similar to the one that followed the last election in 2011. That movement was violently put down by security forces.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch said a weak "human rights situation seriously undermines the prospects of free and fair elections and the ability of Ugandans to exercise fundamental human rights such as free expression, assembly, and association."

The Committee to Protect Journalists has also reported "a worsening pattern of harassment and intimidation of journalists" in Uganda. Ahead of the polls, there has been a heavy security presence in Kampala, with heavily armed police patrolling the streets and armored vehicles parked at key junctions.

Uganda's president cites security as key topic in debate

February 13, 2016

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda's long-time president declared Saturday he would deal firmly with any security threats during and after next week's presidential election, brushing aside fears of violence during a televised debate with seven challengers.

President Yoweri Museveni missed the first presidential debate and later said such events "should be left to high school students." But he took part in Saturday night's debate, which was watched by millions on live television, amid signs the race is tighter than previously thought.

"The bottom line is no one can play around with the security of Uganda when I am president," the 71-year-old leader said. Ugandans will choose a new president on Thursday, and opinion polls have shown Museveni in a close race with opposition leader Kizza Besigye to lead this east African nation of 36 million.

Uganda has not had a peaceful transfer of power since the country's independence from Britain in 1962. Museveni himself took power by force in 1986. Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, has been holding massive rallies across the country as he campaigns on a promise to clean up Ugandan politics and to improve government efficiency.

"I was disappointed when Museveni did not attend the first debate, because he should be a role model for others to follow," said Junior Muhwezi, a university student who watched Saturday's debate. Museveni has been a U.S. ally on regional security, especially on the topic of Somalia, which has been plagued by attacks by violent Islamic militants. But at home, Museveni's critics accuse the 71-year-old of increasingly behaving like a dictator.

Last month an army general who criticized Museveni as authoritarian was arrested by the military and sent to jail, drawing condemnation from critics who accused the government of intimidating perceived political opponents.

Uganda leader, in power for 3 decades, seeks re-election

July 31, 2015

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda's long-serving president on Friday declared his bid for re-election in 2016, saying the country needs him to stick around to continue its economic development.

President Yoweri Museveni, who took power by force in 1986 before winning elections in 1996, said he needs another term to bring this poor East African country up to middle-income status. He has been re-elected three times before.

Museveni has been a key security ally of the West, and was the first African leader to send peacekeeping forces into Somalia to back the government against Islamic militants. He will face a challenge from Kizza Besigye, who is widely expected to become the leader of a proposed united opposition that activists hope will mimic the success of the opposition movement in Nigeria that won elections in May.

Museveni's declaration of his re-election bid ended months of speculation about his political plans amid pressure from his former prime minister, Amama Mbabazi, who has since announced he will run either as independent or with another group.

On Friday, not long before Museveni announced his re-election bid, Mbabazi told reporters the ruling party was undemocratic and that its top leaders had actively tried to destroy his presidential aspirations.

Although Museveni remains popular in many parts of rural Uganda, opposition leaders do not see him as a democrat and some even call him a dictator similar to the ones who previously ruled Uganda. Former comrades, like Mbabazi, say Museveni has deviated from the ideals for which they once fought and are concerned that the country could descend into violence if he does not retire.

Uganda has not had a peaceful transfer of power since independence from the British in 1962.

Uganda's president starts mediation role in Burundi unrest

July 14, 2015

BUJUMBURA, Burundi (AP) — Uganda's president has started mediating talks between Burundi's government and opposition groups that are opposed to President Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial bid for a third term.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni met with representatives of the Burundi government and opposition leaders in the nation's capital, Bujumbura, late Tuesday. The talks are being attended by Agathon Rwasa, the most prominent opposition leader in Burundi.

In remarks before the start of the talks, Museveni urged Burundi's leaders to strive for unity and said sectarianism is a threat to development. He said he is happy that the government had disarmed a pro-government youth militia that is accused of allegedly carrying out serious crimes, including murdering perceived opponents.

Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since taking power by force in 1986, was chosen by regional leaders earlier this month to mediate Burundi's political crisis ahead of presidential elections scheduled for July 21.

Burundi has been on edge since April when the country's ruling party nominated Nkurunziza to be its presidential candidate for a third term. Unrest boiled over into a military coup in May that was quickly put down by pro-Nkurunziza forces, but at least 77 people have died in sporadic protests in Bujumbura by civilians who say Nkurunziza must go after serving the two constitutionally-allowed terms. The nation's constitutional court has ruled in the president's favor, saying he is eligible for a third term because he was chosen by lawmakers — and not popularly elected — for his first term.

Amid the political unrest, concern is growing over a possible new rebel movement based in the country's northern provinces. Burundi's army announced Monday that it had killed 31 suspected rebels and captured 170 others in fighting in the country's north, but the leadership of the suspected rebels remains unclear.

Some Ugandan Muslims retreat in fear amid police hunt

April 17, 2015

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Kassim Segawa prayed inside his local mosque near Uganda's capital but, instead of being in the company of scores of the faithful, on this day he was alone.

A crackdown by Ugandan police on suspected Islamic extremists has sent a current of fear through the Islamic community, especially in the Masjid Taqwa mosque whose imam — a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner — was recently arrested.

"I am a brave man to come here to pray today," said Segawa after he rose from the carpets and mats on the floor of the Masjid Taqwa mosque, a nondescript building on the edge of a slum, stepped outside and slid the lone pair of sandals onto his feet. "We are living with a lot of fear these days."

The crackdown was precipitated by the murder on March 30 of a top Ugandan prosecutor who was the lead prosecutor in the case of a dozen men accused of bombing two sites where soccer fans had gathered to watch the 2010 World Cup final. Al-Shabab, the Somali Islamic extremist group, claimed responsibility for that attack which killed at least 70 people.

The imam of the Masjid Taqwa mosque, the former Guantanamo Bay detainee named Jamal Kiyemba, was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of being involved in the shooting death of prosecutor Joan Kagezi. He is one of about 30 people, mostly Muslim men and women who lived in different parts of Kampala, Uganda's capital, who have been arrested in the case but not formally charged in court.

Kiyemba was deported to Uganda in 2006 after being freed from Guantanamo Bay, where he was held after being arrested while trying to enter Afghanistan. Some who know him describe him as a quiet, kind man who donated money to the sick and taught the Quran to new members of his mosque.

Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi, a prominent human rights lawyer in Uganda, said the police are profiling some Muslims and that he knows of an entire family that has been taken into custody as suspected extremists.

"Many people have been targeted because of their religion, not necessarily because of what they have done," he said. Ugandan police deny unfairly targeting some Muslims. At least 12 million of Uganda's 36 million people are Muslims, according to government figures. Christianity is the predominant religion.

Police initially said al-Shabab, which opposes Uganda's military involvement in Somalia, may have killed the prosecutor. But without a claim of responsibility from al-Shabab, Ugandan authorities now say they are investigating many possible suspects, including a Congo-based, Ugandan-led Islamic extremist group known as Allied Democratic Forces.

Despite many terror warnings over the last few months, Uganda has avoided the frequent al-Shabab attacks seen in neighboring Kenya, which, like Uganda, is a target for contributing troops to a peacekeeping mission in Somalia. Ugandan police say they have foiled many attacks here over the years.

Segawa, the Muslim man who was praying alone in the Masjid Taqwa mosque, said the arrest of Kiyemba had left many of those who normally attend the mosque worried that they might be next. The 46-year-old, who drums up business for a taxi company, wears a long, scraggly beard even though some friends advised him to shave to avoid unnecessary attention from the police.

"The actions of the police are bad," he said. "They just arrest you without any evidence, in front of your family, and take you into custody and ask you what you have done." Isma Kizito, a 28-year-old motorcycle taxi driver who sometimes prays at Kiyemba's mosque, said the mosque's muezzin no longer sounds the call to prayer. An elderly man, the muezzin reportedly went into hiding after Kiyemba was arrested.

"Sometimes you come here and the mosque is closed," Kizito said angrily. "It means that the Muslims no longer come. I feel bad about this."

Uganda: Rebel Gen. under house arrest

January 02, 2015

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — A military general who recently returned from exile in Britain has been put under house arrest by soldiers, a Ugandan opposition group said Friday.

The group, Free Uganda, said the arrest of the four-star Gen. David Sejusa was "a cowardly act" by President Yoweri Museveni's regime. Sejusa returned from exile in London in December and on Thursday told journalists that he had turned down Museveni's invitation to meet for reconciliation. He heads a political party opposed to what he says is Museveni's increasingly authoritarian rule.

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda said the military action is intended to give Sejusa protection. Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo tweeted: "the renegade and bellicose Gen. Sejusa has been put under military confinement by the Uganda People's Defence Forces or UPDF and is safer that way."

Journalists were barred by heavily armed military police from getting close to the scene. The army had previously said Sejusa faces charges of treason, and some of his aides were arrested and charged with plotting to overthrow Museveni's government after he fled the country in April 2013.

At the time, he had written a letter to the domestic spy chief urging him to investigate allegations of a plot to kill high-ranking government officials seen as being opposed to the political rise of Museveni's son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who runs the country's special forces. Many Ugandans believe Muhoozi is being groomed to succeed his father. Museveni denies it.

U.S. 'reviewing' Uganda aid, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands halt aid

Feb. 25, 2014

KAMPALA, Uganda, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. and Canadian officials say they are reviewing relations with Uganda because of a new law they say violates human rights by cracking down on homosexuals.

The development comes one day after Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands said they would hold back millions of dollars in aid to Uganda to protest the law, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement Monday the United States is reviewing its relationship with Uganda "to ensure that all dimensions of our engagement, including assistance programs, uphold our anti-discrimination policies and principles and reflect our values."

Kerry urged repeal of the law, and said Washington is "deeply concerned about the law's potential to set back public health efforts in Uganda, including those to address HIV/AIDS, which must be conducted in a non-discriminatory manner in order to be effective."

He echoed a comment by U.S. President Barack Obama that the legislation "is not just morally wrong, it complicates a valued relationship."

The State Department said in October Washington is Uganda's largest bilateral donor, with aid "promoting good governance, human rights, multiparty democracy, and free and fair elections," and helping professionalize police and military, address health issues, family planning, agriculture and food security.

In addition, the United States provides "a small number" of military advisers to help the Ugandan government counter the Lord's Resistance Army, whose leaders have said they want to establish a theocratic government.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende said his country would withhold about $8 million in aid, saying the law violates "fundamental human rights," TheLocal.no reported Tuesday.

"Norway deeply regrets that Uganda's president today signed a new and stricter law against homosexuality," Brende said in a statement Monday. "It will worsen the situation of an already vulnerable group, and criminalize individuals and organizations working for the rights of sexual minorities."

The law, signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni Monday, strengthens existing penalties for homosexual acts, already illegal in Uganda, with the possibility of life in prison for a repeat offender. The new law makes it a criminal offense to sponsor or encourage homosexuality, and criminalizes failure to report homosexual practices.

Danish Aid Minister Mogens Jensen indicated his country would divert about $9 million in aid earmarked for Uganda, TheLocal.no said.

Dutch Foreign Trade and Aid Minister Lilianne Ploumen and Foreign Affairs Minister Frans Timmermans said the $9.6 million aid money sent annually to the Ugandan government to improve its judicial system will be stopped, DutchNews.nl reported.

Justice Ministry official Teeven said the Netherlands would be flexible on granting asylum to homosexuals from Uganda now that the "draconian" measures were in effect.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/02/25/US-reviewing-Uganda-aid-Norway-Denmark-Netherlands-halt-aid/UPI-44021393344691/.

Uganda president signs harsh anti-gay law

February 24, 2014

ENTEBBE, Uganda (AP) — Uganda's president on Monday signed an anti-gay bill that punishes gay sex with up to life in prison, a measure likely to send Uganda's beleaguered gay community further underground as the police try to implement it amid fevered anti-gay sentiment across the country.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said the bill, which goes into effect immediately, was needed because the West is promoting homosexuality in Africa. Museveni may have defied Western pressure to shelve the bill, four years and many versions after it was introduced, but his move — likely to galvanize support ahead of presidential elections — pleased many Ugandans who repeatedly urged him to sign the legislation.

Nigeria's president similarly signed an anti-gay bill into law just over a month ago, sparking increased violence against gays who already were persecuted in mob attacks. Some watchdog groups warn a similar backlash of violence may occur in Uganda.

"Experience from other jurisdictions with similarly draconian laws, such as Nigeria or Russia, indicates that their implementation is often followed by a surge in violence against individuals thought to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender," the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission said in a statement Monday. "The Ugandan government has not indicated any plans to counter such violence or to investigate potential allegations of abuse."

The Ugandan law calls for first-time offenders to be sentenced to 14 years in jail. It sets life imprisonment as the maximum penalty for "aggravated homosexuality," defined as repeated gay sex between consenting adults and acts involving a minor, a disabled person or where one partner is infected with HIV.

Uganda's new anti-gay law has been condemned around the world. In Washington, White House press secretary Jay Carney called the law "abhorrent," urged its repeal and said the White House is reviewing its relationship with Uganda.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay warned that the law would institutionalize discrimination and could encourage harassment and violence against gays. The office of European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in a statement said she is "is deeply concerned" by "draconian legislation" to criminalize homosexuality in Uganda.

At least six people have already been arrested over alleged homosexual offenses and more than a dozen have fled Uganda since lawmakers passed the bill in December, according to a prominent Ugandan gay activist, Pepe Julian Onziema.

"The president is making this decision because he has never met an openly gay person. That disappoints me," he said. Museveni signed the bill at the presidential palace as government officials, journalists and Ugandan scientists looked on. Government officials applauded after Museveni affixed his signature. Scientists had written a report which found there is no proven genetic basis for homosexuality, Museveni said, citing it as a reason for signing the bill.

"They should rehabilitate themselves and society should assist them to do so," Museveni said after signing the bill. Some European countries have threatened to cut aid to Uganda if the measure was enacted, though some EU officials have cautioned that interrupting development aid may not be the best reaction since it would harm Ugandans.

U.S. President Barack Obama warned that signing the bill would "complicate" the East African country's relationship with Washington. After Museveni signed the bill, the White House said the U.S. would urge Uganda's government to repeal the "abhorrent law."

"As President Obama has said, this law is more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda, it reflects poorly on the country's commitment to protecting the human rights of its people and will undermine public health, including efforts to fight HIV/AIDS," the statement said.

But in signing the legislation passed by lawmakers, Museveni said he rejected such reaction as interference in Ugandan affairs. "We Africans never seek to impose our view on others. If only they could let us alone," Museveni said. "We have been disappointed for a long time by the conduct of the West. There is now an attempt at social imperialism."

Museveni accused "arrogant and careless Western groups" of trying to recruit Ugandan children into homosexuality, but he did not name these purported groups. Museveni said he believes Western homosexuals have targeted poor Ugandans who then "prostitute" themselves for the money, an allegation repeated by the bill's Ugandan defenders. Museveni did not cite any examples of people he called "mercenary homosexuals."

Some critics believe Museveni signed the bill in hopes of galvanizing political support within his party, the National Resistance Movement, ahead of an upcoming meeting that is expected to endorse him as the party's sole choice in the 2016 presidential election.

Fox Odoi, a Ugandan lawmaker who was once Museveni's legal adviser and the only legislator who publicly opposed the anti-gay measure, predicted more arrests over alleged homosexual offenses now that the bill is law.

"I find it utterly primitive," he said. "But the president doesn't think so. It is a very dark day for the gay community. It is going to result in big harassment of gay people." The bill in its original draft called for the death penalty for some homosexual acts. That penalty was removed from the legislation following an international outcry.

The bill is widely popular in Uganda, where it has been championed by Christian clerics and many politicians. Ugandan schoolchildren from various schools in the capital, Kampala, celebrated after Museveni signed the bill. With big smiles on their faces and arms stretched in jubilation, they held placards including one that said "Obama leave us alone: Homosexuals have no room in Uganda."

The anti-gay measure was introduced in 2009 by a lawmaker with the ruling party who said the law was necessary to deter Western homosexuals from "recruiting" Ugandan children. That legislator, David Bahati, said Monday that the bill's enactment is "a triumph of our sovereignty, a victory for the people of Uganda, the children of Uganda."

Several Ugandan gays say Bahati and other political leaders were influenced by conservative U.S. evangelicals who wanted to spread their anti-gay agenda in Africa. Homosexuality is criminalized in many African countries.

Associated Press reporter Juergen Baetz in Brussels, Belgium contributed to this report.

Israel begins sending African migrants to Uganda

February 19, 2014

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has begun sending dozens of African migrants to Uganda, an Israeli official said Wednesday, a move that has sparked concerns that they are being coerced into going to a country that may not keep them safe.

The resettlement of people in Uganda, and perhaps other countries, marks a new phase in Israel's campaign to rid itself of thousands of Africans who have poured into the country in recent years. Migrants and activists said the arrangement, which includes a one-way ticket and a stipend, is questionable because it is unclear if there is an official agreement with Uganda that would secure the migrants' status. They said the new arrivals risk deportation to their home countries, where they may face conflict or persecution.

Uganda, for its part, denied any deal. The Israeli official said Israel paid $3,500 each in recent weeks to about 30 migrants who agreed to leave for Uganda, though he, too, said there was no formal agreement in place. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media on the matter.

Israel says the relocations are done on a voluntary basis. About 50,000 Africans, mostly from Eritrea and Sudan, have poured into Israel in recent years across the southern border with Egypt. The Africans say they are asylum-seekers fleeing persecution and danger. Israel says they are looking for employment, but it does not deport them because they could face danger in their conflict-ridden homelands. Critics say Israel has dragged its feet on reviewing the migrants' claims for refugee status.

Israel has grappled with how to deal with the influx, which has caused friction with locals and alarmed authorities who say Israel's Jewish character is threatened by the presence of the Africans. Israel has built a fence along the border with Egypt, all but stopping the influx, passed a law that allows for the migrants' detention and said it has a deal with an unidentified country to host some of the Africans until they are able to return home. It has used financial incentives in the past to encourage other African migrants to return home.

Rights groups say Israel has an obligation to protect the migrants, in part because of Israel's history of taking in Jewish refugees following the Holocaust, and because it is a signatory to the U.N. refugee convention.

"We are very concerned that these deportations are clearly not taking into consideration the safety and well-being of the deportees," said Elizabeth Tsurkov, of the Hotline for Migrant Workers, an advocacy group.

Ugandan officials denied any deal was in place. "We are not privy to such an arrangement," said David Kazungu, a Ugandan government commissioner who is in charge of refugees. Israel's Interior Ministry and the prime minister's office declined to comment.

Tsurkov said Israel's policies toward the migrants have forced many to accept the relocation offer. A recent amendment to an Israeli "infiltrators" law allows Israel to detain newly arrived migrants for up to a year.

The Interior Ministry also has begun ordering more veteran migrants to report to a new detention center in the southern desert when they try to renew visas that previously allowed them to stay in the country.

The Holot detention center is meant to be an "open" facility, where residents can come and go. But they must sign in several times a day and sleep there, making it impossible for them to stray far or hold jobs. Those who violate the rules, or reject what Israel calls "invitations" to report there, can be sent to a nearby prison.

The offers to relocate to a third country, and the threat of being sent to Holot, are part of a broader strategy to rid Israel of anyone it determines does not meet refugee status. In a speech last year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "continue to work to return the tens of thousands of illegal immigrants who crossed the border."

One Eritrean migrant who accepted the offer to move to Uganda said he did so because his options in Israel — detention or economic hardship — were bleak. He said that upon entering Uganda, he was given a two-month tourist visa, and he was not certain what his status would be once that period expired.

The 32-year-old man, who asked not to be identified for fear he would be sought out by Ugandan authorities, had worked menial jobs in Israel for two years. "I didn't want to go to Holot. That's why I left," said the man, who spoke to The Associated Press by phone from Kampala, Uganda. "Without a visa, you can't work. Without work you have no money. If you don't have money, how do you live in Israel?"

He said he approached Israel's Interior Ministry to ask how he could leave the country. He was offered a free ticket and some cash if he went back to Eritrea or else a free ticket to fly to Uganda. Fearing for his life should he return to his homeland, which is widely seen as one of the worst human rights violators, he chose Uganda, where he has lived for the past month.

Jack Zaidan, a migrant from Sudan's Darfur region who is still in Israel, said at least five Sudanese migrants he knows accepted the offer because of the situation in Israel. He said their fate in Uganda was uncertain.

"There is no protection in Uganda. You arrive and two days later police will catch you and send you away," he said.

Associated Press reporter Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda, and Associated Press writer Daniel Estrin contributed to this report.

Uganda's president opposes tough new anti-gay bill

January 17, 2014

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda's president opposes an anti-gay bill passed by lawmakers that calls for life imprisonment for gays, even as he characterizes homosexuals as "abnormal" people who should be rehabilitated, according to excerpts of his letter to the speaker of parliament.

President Yoweri Museveni's opposition to the bill comes despite pressure from evangelicals as well from lawmakers from his own party. But Frank Mugisha, a prominent Ugandan gay activist, said gays are not celebrating the president's words that were published Friday in Kampala's Daily Monitor newspaper, noting that his characterization of gays "creates more hatred" of them.

In his letter to parliament speaker Rebecca Kadaga, written days after lawmakers passed the bill by acclamation in December, Museveni called for the bill to be revised and wondered what to do "with an abnormal person? Do we kill him/her? Do we imprison him/her? Or we do contain him/her?"

Museveni has previously warned of serious consequences for Uganda's foreign relations if a bill proposing severe punishment for gays is passed. Some European countries have threatened to cut development assistance to Uganda if the bill becomes law.

Nicholas Opiyo, a Ugandan lawyer and independent political analyst, said Museveni is simply trying to "spread the blame" for a bill that is "unstoppable." Under the country's constitution, the bill will become law if parliament approves it with a two-thirds majority, which the lawmakers might now do even without any revisions.

"Museveni will say that 'I tried my best and the members of parliament have refused,' " he said. "He's looking for where to place the blame." Ugandan anti-gay activists accuse Western homosexuals of "recruiting" impoverished Ugandan children, and Museveni addressed this concern in his letter.

"We should legislate harshly against those people with money, from within and from without, who take advantage of the desperation of our youth to lure them into these abnormal and deviant behaviors," Museveni wrote, adding that he would support a life sentence for those who "lure normal youth" into homosexual acts.

Museveni called for improving the economy so that the youth have better jobs and are better positioned to reject offers of money for sex with Western homosexuals. Sarah Kagingo, a spokeswoman for the presidency, confirmed that Museveni wrote the letter and said he genuinely believes "the way forward is rehabilitation" for gays.

Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda under a colonial-era law that criminalizes acts "against the order of nature." Museveni's rejection of the bill comes as some African countries are toughening anti-gay laws. In Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan on Jan. 7 signed a law making it illegal for gay people to even hold a meeting. The Nigerian law criminalizes gay marriage, homosexual clubs, associations and organizations, with penalties of up to 14 years in jail.

The original bill in Uganda, first introduced in 2009, proposed the death penalty for some homosexual acts. That provision was later removed amid international pressure. A committee of lawmakers later recommended life imprisonment as the maximum penalty, reasoning in its report that "the death sentence, if executed, does not make the offender feel the punishment for his actions."

The legislation that Museveni wants revised set life imprisonment as the penalty for gay sex involving an HIV-infected person, acts with minors and the disabled, as well as repeated sex offenses among consenting adults.

The bill was highly popular among lawmakers and evangelical pastors who say a tough new law will deter Western homosexuals they accuse of "recruiting" Ugandan children to become gay. But Ugandan gays say the country's political and religious leaders were influenced by American evangelicals who wanted to spread their anti-gay campaign in Africa. A Ugandan gay rights group in March 2012 sued Scott Lively, a Massachusetts evangelical, under the Alien Tort Statute that allows non-citizens to file suit in the United States if there is an alleged violation of international law. A U.S. federal judge ruled in August that the case could proceed, saying systematic persecution on the basis of sexual orientation violates international norms.

Uganda warns South Sudan rebel leader

December 31, 2013

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Uganda's president on Monday warned South Sudan's rebel leader against rejecting the government's offer of a cease-fire, saying regional leaders would unite to "defeat" the former vice president who is accused of mounting a failed coup in the world's newest country.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni told reporters in Juba, the South Sudan capital, that a regional bloc known as IGAD had given Riek Machar "four days to respond" to the cease-fire offer. "If he doesn't we shall have to go for him, all of us," he said, referring to IGAD.

A meeting of East African leaders last week said it "welcomed the commitment" by South Sudan's government to cease hostilities against rebels and urged both sides to start peace talks by Tuesday. Machar instead called for a negotiated cease-fire that includes a way to monitor compliance.

The U.N. Security Council on Monday evening issued a statement reiterating its support for IGAD's "efforts to bring about peace" and insisted that the warring factions begin talks "without preconditions."

Violence since mid-December in South Sudan has displaced up to 180,000 people, the United Nations said Monday. Uganda's influence is strong in South Sudan, where special forces from the neighboring country have been deployed at the request of South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, raising questions about the impartiality of Uganda as a possible mediator in a conflict that many fear could lead to civil war in the world's newest country.

But France's ambassador to the United Nations said South Sudan's government has the right under international law to seek help from neighboring countries to defend itself. "There is a government in South Sudan, which has the right to ask for another country to support its military efforts," said Gerard Araud, who is the U.N. Security Council president. He added that the Security Council "does not have a say" in whether South Sudan seeks such help.

Museveni and Kiir are strong allies. The Ugandan leader is believed to be concerned about the security implications for Uganda of a violent takeover of South Sudan's government. For years the brutal warlord Joseph Kony, who once operated in the expansive jungle that now falls within South Sudan's territory, was a source of tension between Uganda and Sudan. Sudan's government faced persistent allegations of supporting Kony's rebellion against Uganda's government. Kony was forced to flee, and is thought to have fled to Congo and then Central African Republic, as the south moved closer to independence from Sudan.

South Sudan peacefully broke away from Sudan in 2011 after a decades-long fight for independence, giving Uganda a new sense of border security. Uganda, one of the South's strongest supporters in its quest for independence, denies it has taken sides in South Sudan's latest conflict, saying its forces provided security as Western countries and others safely evacuated their citizens from South Sudan.

Ugandan military spokesman Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda insisted Monday that Ugandan forces are stationed only at the international airport in Juba and that their task is to "facilitate evacuation of civilians." But United Nations workers in Juba told The Associated Press that Ugandan troops have been guarding the only bridge that crosses the Nile River.

Although Juba is now calm, unrest persists in other parts of the country. Col. Philip Aguer, the South Sudanese military spokesman, said Monday that, although there was "no major fighting" over the weekend, tension remained because "Machar has not committed himself to a cease-fire. We've not seen one."

U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky, however, said there was heavy fighting Sunday in Malakal, the capital of the oil-producing state Upper Nile. He said that while Kiir's government remains in control, the U.N. mission reported "significant battle damage in the city and widespread looting." He said 22,000 civilians have taken shelter in a U.N. compound there.

Pro-Machar forces still control Bentiu, the capital of South Sudan's other oil-producing state, Unity, and renegade troops are poised to attack Bor, the contested capital of Jonglei state, according to Aguer.

"There's a force advancing toward Bor," he said. Machar has assured the U.N. representative to South Sudan, Hilde Johnson, that he is in control of the armed groups advancing toward Bor, according to Araud, the French ambassador, who spoke to reporters after the Security Council received a briefing from Johnson.

But Araud said the Security Council has "a lot of doubts" about Machar's claims. He said the armed youths are "one of the big question marks" of the conflict and "at the moment nobody really knows where it's heading or what is its strength."

He said that although both the government and Machar have stated their "availability for negotiations," both sides appear intent for now on gaining the upper hand militarily. The Security Council's statement Monday evening called for the "immediate cessation of hostilities and commencement of dialogue."

The council stressed that civilians, foreigners and U.N. personnel and facilities must be protected, and political detainees released. It also said that oil facilities -- South Sudan's source of potential wealth -- must be guarded and the safety of their employees guaranteed.

In Washington, U.S. State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said Secretary of State John Kerry and other senior administration officials have been in regular contact with leaders in the region and in South Sudan to push for an immediate end to hostilities to allow for a mediated political dialogue and humanitarian access for citizens in need.

Harf said Kerry spoke with Kiir and Machar on Dec. 24, 26 and 28, and he also also spoke with Kiir on Dec. 20, 21 and 23. "We have folks on the ground encouraging the parties to come and start negotiations in the coming days, but it's a very complicated, tenuous situation." Harf said. "Obviously, our first priority is keeping our folks safe, helping them leave the country."

She said the U.S. so far has evacuated more than 400 U.S. officials and private citizens and about 700 citizens from at least 27 other countries on seven chartered flights and six military aircraft. The United Nations is scrambling to bolster its peacekeeping force in South Sudan from 8,000 troops and police to nearly 14,000, in part by transferring forces from missions in other vulnerable African countries.

Nesirky said 73 Bangladeshi police who had been serving in the U.N. Mission in Congo arrived in South Sudan last week and Nepalese police serving in Liberia were expected to arrive later this week. But U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous, who also briefed the Security Council on Monday, said the United Nations cannot meet its needs in South Sudan solely by transferring forces from other missions. He said the U.N. needs member states to contribute new troops and equipment, including a level 2 field hospital and tactical helicopters.

Although Kiir insists the latest unrest was sparked by a coup mounted by soldiers loyal to Machar late Dec. 15, this account has been disputed by some officials with the ruling party who say violence broke out when presidential guards from Kiir's majority Dinka tribe tried to disarm guards from the Nuer ethnic group of Machar.

South Sudan has been plagued by ethnic tension and a power struggle within the ruling party that appears to have escalated after Kiir sacked Machar as his deputy earlier this year. Machar has criticized Kiir as a dictator and says he will contest the 2015 presidential election.

The U.N., South Sudan's government and other analysts say the dispute is political at its heart, but has since taken on ethnic overtones. The fighting has killed more than 1,000 people, according to the U.N.

Muhumuza reported from Kampala, Uganda. Associated Press reporters Elias Meseret in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Alexandra Olson at the United Nations contributed to this report.

Uganda deploys troops to South Sudan amid unrest

December 30, 2013

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Uganda's president visited South Sudan Monday to help advance efforts to find a political solution to a crisis that pits South Sudan's president against his former deputy, a Ugandan official said.

Up to 180,000 people have been displaced by the resulting fighting since mid-December, the United Nations said. Uganda's influence is strong in South Sudan, where special forces from the neighboring country have been deployed at the request of South Sudan President Salva Kiir, raising questions about the impartiality of Uganda as a possible mediator in a conflict that many fear could lead to civil war in the world's newest country.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni visited South Sudan "in the spirit" of diplomatic efforts by East African leaders who want Kiir and his political rivals to start peace talks by Tuesday, according to Fred Opolot, a spokesman for Uganda's Foreign Ministry.

"The mood among regional leaders, and in Uganda, is that these guys must get to the table and talk," said Opolot, talking about Kiir and the opposition. Museveni and Kiir are strong allies. The Ugandan leader is believed to be concerned about the security implications for Uganda of a violent takeover of South Sudan's government.

For years the brutal warlord Joseph Kony, who once operated in the expansive jungle that now falls within South Sudan's territory, was a source of tension between Uganda and Sudan. Sudan's government faced persistent allegations of supporting Kony's rebellion against Uganda's government. Kony was forced to flee, and is thought to have fled to Congo and then Central African Republic, as the south moved closer to independence from Sudan.

South Sudan peacefully broke away from Sudan in 2011 after a decades-long fight for independence, giving Uganda a new sense of border security. Uganda, one of the south's strongest supporters in its quest for independence, denies it has taken sides in South Sudan's latest conflict, saying its forces provided security as Western countries and others safely evacuated their citizens from South Sudan.

Ugandan military spokesman Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda insisted Monday that Ugandan forces are stationed only at the international airport in Juba, the South Sudan capital, and that their task is to "facilitate evacuation of civilians." But United Nations workers in Juba told The Associated Press that Ugandan troops have been guarding the only bridge that crosses the Nile River.

Although Juba is now calm, unrest persists in other parts of the country. East African leaders meeting under a bloc called IGAD said Friday that they "welcomed the commitment" by South Sudan's government to cease hostilities against rebels who control some parts of the oil-producing country. The leaders also condemned "all unconstitutional action" to try to topple South Sudan's government and urged deposed Vice President Riek Machar to make similar commitments to stop fighting.

Machar, a fugitive whose whereabouts are unknown, has said that any cease-fire had to be negotiated by delegations from both sides and must include a way to monitor compliance. Col. Philip Aguer, the South Sudanese military spokesman, said Monday that, although there was "no major fighting" over the weekend, tension remained because "Machar has not committed himself to a cease-fire. We've not seen one." Forces loyal to Machar still control Bentiu, the capital of oil-producing Unity state.

Although Kiir insists the fighting was sparked by a coup mounted by soldiers loyal to Machar late Dec. 15, this account has been disputed by some officials with the ruling party who say violence broke out when presidential guards from Kiir's majority Dinka tribe tried to disarm guards from the Nuer ethnic group of Machar.

South Sudan has been plagued by ethnic tension and a power struggle within the ruling party that appears to have escalated after Kiir sacked Machar as his deputy earlier this year. Machar has criticized Kiir as a dictator and says he will contest the 2015 presidential election.

The U.N., South Sudan's government and other analysts say the dispute is political at its heart, but has since taken on ethnic overtones. The fighting has killed more than 1,000 people and displaced up to 180,000, according to the U.N.

Muhumuza reported from Kampala, Uganda.