Hungry for Truth, Peace and Justice

Rwandan envoy flees to S. Africa

By Barbara Among
The New Vision
Monday, 1st March, 2010

Rwanda’s former army chief is reported to be seeking asylum in South Africa.

Sources said yesterday that Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa fled Rwanda through Uganda before escaping to Kenya from where he flew to South Africa. The sources added that Nyamwasa left Kenya on Sunday.

Foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa said Nyamwasa was not in Uganda.

“Our security forces informed me that he came through a smuggling route and went through to Kenya and he is believed to be in South Africa,” Kutesa told Vision Voice FM.

The embattled diplomat fled Rwanda on Friday at the end of a one-week annual retreat for Rwandan diplomats abroad.

Kayumba apparently left to report back to his duty station in India but escaped to Uganda through smuggler’s routes in Kagitumba and linked with his driver across the border.

Kayumba is said to have spent a few hours in Uganda, contacted some friends and relatives before heading to Malaba, through what Ugandan intelligence has called “a non-designated route” to Kenya.

“We can categorically say that he is not here now. Both Kampala and Kigali are now sure on this,” said foreign affairs permanent secretary James Mugume.

Rwanda’s ambassador to Uganda, Frank Mugambage, yesterday said: “We have communicated to the region, including Kenya and Interpol, because his crime is serious.”

A statement issued by Rwanda’s foreign affairs ministry announced that Nyamwasa was no longer its envoy to India.

It added that before he fled, “Nyamwasa was questioned by Rwandan investigative authorities on serious criminal charges.”

Local media reported that he was linked to the opposition Green Party. Two weeks ago, Umuseso, a local tabloid, reported that the general was on strained terms with the authorities to the extent that no government official or even fellow soldiers attended the funeral of his mother recently.

Earlier Kampala Town Clerk had failed to convince the committee on how the responsibility for street lighting was moved from KCC to the Ministry of works. She told the committee that the matter was agreed on in a meeting at State House chaired by President Museveni.

She said it was observed that KCC did not have the human resource capacity to manage the project, but the committee had minutes indicating that Kijjambu told the same meeting that the work of street lighting had been tendered at sh3.4b. She however, denied ever making that statement opting to call it a typographical error.

He denial angered the committee members who said that sh19b was spent on the deal of street lighting and considering the substantial amount, Kijjambu needed to take oath before she could proceed with further testimony.

“We have reached a critical stage of sh19b I think the witness should take oath,” Kazibwe suggested and the members agreed in unison. But Kijjambu suddenly looked downcast and leaned over the table supporting her head with her palm.

“Mr. Chairman Allow me to take oath while seated. I am not feeling well. I came when I was sick I did not pick the sickness from here,” she said.

Nandala seemingly appalled, asked, “Do you want to continue or we should give you time to compose yourself,” upon which she replied, “ I would want to be given more time. I am completely breaking down. I was already sick but I feared to be mistaken to dodging the committee,” she said as she was waved off.

The committee was shocked at how the cost for street lighting kept on fluctuating, with the first estimate standing at sh6.9b then revised downwards to sh2.55b and then how it later shot up to sh19b. The company that eventually took the contract Dott services received sh7.5b in the first phase, sh2b in the second and sh5.3b in the third phase.

Kijjambu is expected back in the committee today for further testimony.

posted by Mamadou Kouyate @ 11:55 PM