RWANDA:RWANDANS AND FRIENDS OF RWANDA STAGED DEMONSTRATION IN BRUSSELS FOR INGABIRE

RWANDANS AND THE FRIENDS OF RWANDA STAGED DEMONSTRATION IN BRUSSELS FOR INGABIRE

USA-RWANDO COOPERATION TO INSTILL KAGAME'S IMPUNITY THROUGH AFRICOM

KAGAME CONTINUE TO ENJOY HUGE SUPPORT FROM USA AT THE EXPENSE OF DEMOCRACY IN RWANDA

RWANDANS SHOULD ENJOY THE LIBERTY AND PROSPERITY BROUGHT BY INDEPENDENCE

Hotel Rwanda film director Terry George speaks out – Smearing a Hero

By Terry George 

Paul Rusesabagina, the real-life hero of the movie “Hotel Rwanda,” is being denounced by some in his country as a traitor and a criminal. Perhaps he helped bring some of this abuse on himself, but none of it is deserved. As director and producer of the film, I’d like to explain.

To make a film of a true story you must compress timelines, create composite characters and dramatize emotions. When it came to making “Hotel Rwanda” — the story of how Paul Rusesabagina saved the lives of hundreds of people who took shelter from the 1994 genocide in the hotel he managed — I was obsessed with getting it right. The Rwandan episode was a slaughter of unimaginable horror and magnitude, yet I firmly believed I had found a story that showed that even in the midst of such horror the human capacity for good can triumph.
Before making the film, I grilled Rusesabagina and read all I could about his experience. I traveled to Brussels and Rwanda, and I met survivors from his hotel, some of whom still worked there. No one contradicted his story.
When the film was released, Rusesabagina was acknowledged as a hero not just by ordinary people across the United States and Europe but also by diplomats, politicians, journalists and Rwandan officials in diplomatic posts here. Rwandan expatriates gave testimony to the veracity of the film, as did people who had been in the hotel and who tearfully acknowledged Rusesabagina’s role.
Last May I had the chance to meet Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Rwanda. I sat beside him as he and his wife and most of Rwanda’s parliament watched the movie. Afterward he leaned over to me and said the film had done much good around the world in exposing the horrors of the genocide. The next evening, I screened the film at Amahoro Stadium for some 10,000 people. It was the most emotional screening I have ever been at. I spent close to an hour afterward accepting thanks and congratulations.
But there was one empty seat at both screenings — the one reserved for Paul Rusesabagina. Two days before, as I waited for him to join me at the boarding gate in Brussels for the flight to Kigali, he called to say he had decided not to travel to Rwanda. On his speaking tours around the United States and Europe, he had begun to criticize Kagame’s government, saying that the last election in Rwanda, in which Kagame received 90.5 percent of the vote, was not democratic and that true peace would come to Rwanda only when it had an inclusive government. Because of his criticism, Rusesabagina said, he had been advised that it would not be safe for him. I could not persuade him to come.
Last fall his fears were borne out when Rwandan journalists and politicians began a smear campaign against him. On Oct. 28 a reporter for the Rwandan daily newspaper the New Times ran a long story on the “true nature” of Rusesabagina, which quoted a former receptionist at the hotel as saying that he had saved only his few friends, and that he had charged people to stay in the rooms (a fact we had highlighted and explained in the film). Buried at the end of the piece was probably the true fear of the Rwandan authorities: that Rusesabagina planned to form a political party.
The newspaper attacks on Rusesabagina have steadily escalated. In November he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bush. Six days later a New Times editorial said he would “go down in the annals of history as a man who sold the soul of the Rwandan Genocide to amass medals.”
In February Kagame joined the campaign — cryptically at first. In a speech at Amahoro Stadium to mark National Heroes Day, Kagame said Rwanda’s heroes are not made in America, Europe or in Asia; cinema or film stars have no place on the list of national heroes. He went on to make several veiled comments about “a manufactured hero.”
A few days later Rwandan Radio ran a two-hour live talk show about Rusesabagina. The speakers included genocide survivors and, sadly, some old friends of Rusesabagina’s. Francois Xavier Ngarambe, the president of Ibuka, the umbrella body of genocide survivors’ associations, ended the show by claiming: “He has hijacked heroism. He is trading with the genocide. He should be charged.”
I called Rusesabagina in Brussels to discuss what was going on. He said he saw the smear campaign as confirmation of his previous fears and of his reservations about the Kagame regime. His new autobiography, “An Ordinary Man,” will only make things worse, as in his last chapter he writes, “Rwanda is today a nation governed by and for the benefit of a small group of elite Tutsis. . . . Those few Hutus who have been elevated to high-ranking posts are usually empty suits without any real authority of their own. They are known locally as Hutus de service or Hutus for hire.”
On April 6, the 12th anniversary of the genocide, Kagame launched his first attack on Rusesabagina, saying, “He should try his talents elsewhere and not climb on the falsehood of being a hero, because it’s totally false.” I pray that this situation can be resolved. The millions who saw “Hotel Rwanda” and received its message of hope ought to know that they were not duped.
I understand Paul Rusesabagina’s desire to foster inclusiveness in Rwanda. I understand, as well, Kagame’s legitimate fear that the country has suffered too much, too recently, to allow divisions to be fostered. There are many politicians here and abroad who could mediate this clash. “Hotel Rwanda 2″ is a sequel I never want to make.
Terry George was co-writer, director and producer of the film “Hotel Rwanda.”

RWANDA:NO TRUE RECONCILIATION IN RWANDA

NO TRUE RECONCILIATION IN RWANDA

by Habimana Rukundo on Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 8:35pm

Hutu Refugees in Goma: Most of them were killed by the RPA, according to the former RPA officer

There is no true reconciliation in Rwanda. 

If any , as you said there is a "one way reconciliation" , or forced reconciliation .Imagine this

An army fighting for power invades a country . In the process , they wipe away the falimy of a young boy (the only survivor) . The young boy , following his neighbors and family friends, flee to Congo , where he is chassed again , under the rain of Katyusha and 105mm , to the Congo forest , then he fall sick .... Some of his friends die , and he was injured , and finally repatriated back to Rwanda . 

he undegoes an "ingando" training, where he is taught about the new country policy . He is taught about "loving his country" , he learns how the former regime (back in the time when he lastly experienced peace) was demoniac ! He is taught that history is false ... and then he is sent back to his village. 

Back at the village , he see other orphans ("Tutsi genocide orphans") going to school for free , being given all accomodations (from the school fees , matress , books even pens and clothes ....) , while he don't even dream of education , simply because he did not survive the Tutsi genocide .

“ Paul Kagame is a war criminal and he deserves to be executed 20 times a day for his crimes against humanity.”And through it all , MY BOY IS PRAISING THE REGIME , singing and dancing about the reconciliation installed by the current "father of the nation" (Mzee wacu , as many name him) . Our boy may even be currently enrolled in the local leadership of Intore .

Questions : 

1. Do you think this kid will make noise , protest , or do anything to claim a fair treatment ?? (How can he do it while the Intore are watching every house of the neighbohood ?? )

2. Do you think when Kagame comes to this village (followed with Kabarebe and other Congo war "heroes") , this kid will not applaud them ?? 

Sure he will ... !Youth prisoners accused of the Genocide in Rwanda work in field in youth prison in Gitagata, Rwanda.

3. Do you think this kid will not participate in foundraising for helping the "Tutsi genocide survivors" ?? 

You bet he will try to participate more than anyone else ! Being aware that he has none to speak for him , he will try to stay out of trouble . Azubahiriza gahunda zose za leta !

4. When Kigali Gvt will need to refute the "Mapping report" , do you think this boy will be a key witness for them ??? 

I bet he will be testifying that "only interahamwe were killed " , and RPA are angels !

5. Do you think this kid will have any way to ask for a proper burial for his family dead back in 1990 ?? 

No , no no no.... ! Why ??? Think about it . 

( Take this hint: How can an Intore ask for a proper burial for people killed by "freedom fighters" ??)

Rwanda's Island Prison for Children! Hundreds of vagrants, thieves and street kids have been sent, without a trial, to a remote island — an extreme example of the levels of repression in Rwanda.Reconciliation ?? mmmm ... Only as long as the one who implemented it has control ! Otherwise , I am afraid, it will waver quicker than most of us think .

Peace .

PRESIDENT OF RWANDA PAUL KAGAME PRAISING HIM SELF FOR KILLING RWANDAN REFUGEES

http://soundcloud.com/umuvugizi/20100413-kagame-yigamba-ko 

RWANDA:Insights into Rwandan hit man’s plot to murder Col. Karegeya.

Col Patrick Karegeya wanted Dead

From THE UMUVUGIZI NEWSPAPER
After the plot to assassinate the renagade and former Rwanda’s Army Chief, General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, Rwanda’s hitman has been trying to murder his coleague Colonel Patrick Karegeya reasons being he talked too much about Rwanda being behind the failed plot against  Kayumba’s life.
Umuvugizi newspaper has been investigating the murder plot which leaked to the public and here, it brings you the full telephone conversation that leaked.
In the file attached to this story, one hears the voice of Colonel Dan Munyuza, Rwanda’s DMI chief was sending the driver to Col Karegeya to find his boss home and shoot him as the only way to silence Karegeya from the noise over the attempted assassination on Kayumba in June 2010.
Using a telephone line of one of the neighbouring countries, one hears another voice of one Aime who acted as a go-between the driver and Col. Munyuza in the murderous plot.
Aime, the go-between, constantly refered to Col. Munyuza as a technician (Technicien) who was behind the whole plot, organised funding, and searched for people to carry out the shooting of Col. Karegeya, a lightskinned person, (Umuntu w’urutuku).
The technician advised Aime and the driver to be more careful while studying the environment at home before carrying out the plot to avoid messing up just like they did with the plot against Gen. Kayumba.
As one listens into the recording of the telephone conversation you hear Col Munyuza accepting to pay the first installment of the required amount of money needed to carry out through some airhost.
The technician promised the duo that if that plot was well accompolished, there was another job in the waiting, finishing off the ailing General Kayumba from the clinic where struggling for life after surviving the first attempt on his life. Another option was killing Kayumba’s wife whom the technician said was also making noise over her husband’s fate.
The technician asked for the address of where the Kayumbas residended saying the DMI needed to know the exact location of the home.
The conversation ends with Col. Munyuza emphasising seriousness in the plot against Col. Karegeya to avoid more problems. Sources say that on the urgent list of Rwandans supposed to be killed from South Africa include Rwandan Tycoon Tribert Rujugiro.
Kagabo, London

RWANDA: Unsafe to speak out

Rwandan president Paul Kagame holds a press conference in Kigali, Rwanda, Monday, Aug. 9 2010. © AP Photo / Margaret Cappa

By Amnesty International’s Central and East Africa Campaigner.
Freedom of expression in Rwanda has been unduly restricted for many years. The killings of a political opponent and a journalist in 2010 indicate how people who criticize the authorities are often at risk.
We believe the Rwandan government should re-open the investigation into the killings of Jean-Leonard Rugambage and André Kagwa Rwisereka by establishing two separate independent commissions of enquiry.
One year ago, Rwandan journalist and deputy editor of the Kinyarwanda newspaper Umuvugizi, Jean-Leonard Rugambage, was shot dead outside his home in Kigali on 24 June 2010. There is no evidence that Rwandan police have explored those leads into the killing of Jean-Leonard Rugambage that pointed towards it being politically motivated.
20 days later, on 14 July 2010, André Kagwa Rwisereka, vice president of the opposition Democratic Green Party, was found dead in Butare, southern Rwanda. He had been beheaded. No-one has been brought to justice for André Kagwa Rwisereka’s murder. The police opened investigations, but the prosecution claim to have insufficient evidence to press charges.
The months leading up to the August 2010 presidential elections, which President Kagame won with 93 per cent of the vote, were marked by a clampdown on freedom of expression and association.  Help us speak up for freedom of expression and mark these key dates.
Take action by…
Joining our call to allow criticism to be voiced in #Rwanda. Copy and paste the messages below & send them to @PaulKagame on 2 key dates:
24 June
@PaulKagame: I’m calling on the Rwandan authorities to re-open the investigation into
#Rugambage’s murder 1 year ago
With a follow-up tweet linking to the page with instructions for others who want to take the action:
Join me & message the Rwandan authorities to re-open the investigation into #Rugambage’s killing @PaulKagame. http://bit.ly/kagameAI
14 July
@PaulKagame: I’m calling on the Rwandan authorities to re-open the investigation into
#Rwisereka’s murder 1 year ago
With a follow-up tweet linking to the page with instructions for others who want to take the action:
Join me & message the Rwandan authorities to re-open the investigation into #Rwisereka’s
killing @PaulKagame. http://bit.ly/kagameAI
Disclaimer – Amnesty International has specified the example tweets and is not responsible for alternative messages sent by users.
If President Kagame responds to individuals, users are recommended to send him a link to the campaign: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR47/002/2011/en/ef7cd1a3-d1db-46da-b569-818b7555b83b/afr470022011en.pdf

RWANDA:Rethinking Rwanda, 1994

Professor of Peace Studies, Political Science, and Sociology
Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies Click Here for the video

Click here to view the video of this lecture. 

Christian Davenport

Sixteen years ago, the world watched as Rwanda descended into large-scale violence that left up to a million people dead. This was followed by massive out-migration (nearly half the country), untold amounts of internal displacement, and a deluge of articles, TV news features, movies, and commentary from human rights activists, political leaders, and ordinary people from around the world. 
Exactly what happened during Rwanda’s hundred days of horror?  Christian Davenport has spent more than a decade researching this question. His answer takes all the elements of what has become the conventional story — civil war, genocide, ethnic conflict, refugees, French UN missions, Tutsi rebels, the Hutu army — and combines them in unexpected ways.  His research turns on its head the way we understand Rwanda, political violence, intervention, and the study of conflict itself.
Christian Davenport is a scholar of political conflict, from genocide to domestic spying. He directs two research and action projects: the Radical Information Project and Stop Our States. He is the author or editor of four books: State Repression and the Domestic Democratic Peace, Media Bias, Perspective and State Repression, Repression and Mobilization, and Paths to State Repression.
Free and open to the public.
A light lunch will be available before the lecture.

Related links: 

Christian Davenport bio

News: Research Sheds New Light on Rwanda Killings

Interview: Truth and Justice in Rwanda

Britain Suspends President Kagame’s Visit

Queen Elizabeth warns Rwanda of its dubious diplomatic Incidences

From UMUVUGIZI NEWSPAPER
The British government has surprisingly suspended President Paul Kagame’s planned  visit which was schedule to take place between July 18 and 24th.  During the same visit, Kagame was expected to feature as the guest of honour at a Rwandan youth convention known as Itorero.
Reliable sources confirm that Rwandan Diaspora in the United Kingdom is preparing to foot the expenses incurred in organising the halted presidential visit to the UK.
The suspended planned visit comes days after the British government warned Kigali authorities against political activities carried out by Rwanda’s ruling party the RPF on British soil which are said to be targeting Rwandan refugees living in the country.
Recently, the British Scotland yard Police and M15 sent a warning notice to members of Rwandan opposition living in UK, warning them of possible security threats. The same police sent a warning to Rwanda’s Embassy in the UK  informing them that  tough diplomatic measures would be taken if  members of the mission don’t stop in activities incompatible  with their status .
A former Rwandan military intelligence official living in Belgium was suspected of involvement  in similar incidences and he was stopped from entering the UK . Another Rwandan spy, one Rubagumya was also arrested in Uganda on related Incidences .
All these events follow a series of meetings held by Rwanda’s key security officials around Europe. One of such meetings was held on January 15 in London chaired by the Chief Spy Colonel. Dr. Emmanuel Ndahiro, in attendance was Rwandan Ambassador to Britain Ernest Rwamucyo, others at the meeting were Rwandan security operatives Jimmy Uwizeye, Col. Mupenzi , Linda, Lt. Tom Rwabugiri, and the representative of the Rwandan Diaspora in Britain Mr. Mugabo.
Despite different pieces of evidence attained by British secret services implicating Rwandan Government in dubious activities  against its critics in UK, ,president Kagame recently dramatically denied he’s Government’s Involvement in these  allegations and instead  accused respected British security services of not being professional .
Although UK is one of Rwanda’s key donors, it has maintained that it’s  support is strictly based on mutual interests of respecting universal jurisdiction ,Freedom of press , Freedom of expression and respecting value of citizens.
Suspending President Kagame’s visit sends a strong warning that the donor community and the entire European continent is interested in seeing a responsible government in Rwanda that is accountable to the citizens rather than one that is bent on using the donors’ money in expanding the spy network that is cracking down its citizens in exile.
Johnson , Europe .

US proposes UN force for Sudan's Abyei

By Sally Kelly
London, (Pal Telegraph) - US introduces UN resolution that would deploy a 4,200-strong Ethiopian peacekeeping force to disputed Abyei region.
The United States has introduced a UN resolution that would deploy a 4,200-strong Ethiopian peacekeeping force to Sudan's disputed Abyei region, the scene of heavy fighting in recent weeks.
Susan Rice, US ambassador to the UN, said the resolution will support an agreement signed on Monday by the Khartoum-based government in the north, and the government of south Sudan, to demilitarise the contested border region.

Rice told reporters that the two parties requested the troops to be deployed under UN auspices and called for swift adoption of the resolution by the Security Council so they can get on the ground in Abyei immediately.

"Ultimately, it's obviously up for the Security Council to decide the strength and the mandate of any UN mission,'' she said.

"But the United States, in tabling this draft, has sought to remain faithful to the agreement reached by the parties, which we understand was hard won and inherently fragile.''

She declined to predict how long it would take to adopt the resolution and said that it would not happen overnight.

The violence in Abyei and neighbouring south Kordofan comes as south Sudan prepares to declare independence from the north on July 9, the culmination of a 2005 peace deal that ended more than two decades of civil war that killed about two million people.

The north's invasion of the Abyei region and takeover of the town of Abyei was triggered by an attack on May 19 on northern and UN troops by southern soldiers.

John Temin, of the United States Institute of Peace, spoke to Al Jazeera about the draft resolution and said: "It is important to be very clear that this is a temporary agreement that was reached. The fundamental question of whether Abyei is part of north or south remains unresolved and we are no where closer to resolving that question as a result of this agreement."

What this agreement does is remove some of the northern troops who moved into Abyei several week ago and put in Ethiopan troops to try and calm the situation, Temin said.

Abyei tensions

While south Sudan's independence is expected to take place on schedule, crucial issues remain unresolved.

The areas of debate include: the future of Abyei, which is supposed to be decided in a referendum; the north-south border demarcation; how oil revenues and other resources will be shared; and citizenship.

Rice told reporters that the purpose of the interim security agreement for Abyei is to allow the withdrawal of Sudanese forces not to settle the future of the region.

Violence began in south Kordofan earlier this month when Sudan's military attacked a black community aligned with Sudan's south.

The UN says that about 10,000 people have fled the region to escape the violence.


Source: agencies

RWANDA:Unsafe to speak out

From Amnesty International

Rwandan president Paul Kagame holds a press conference in Kigali, Rwanda, Monday, Aug. 9 2010. © AP Photo / Margaret Cappa

By Tom Gibson, Amnesty Internationals Central and East Africa Campaigner
Freedom of expression in Rwanda has been unduly restricted for many years. The killings of a political opponent and a journalist in 2010 indicate how people who criticize the authorities are often at risk.
We believe the Rwandan government should re-open the investigation into the killings of Jean-Leonard Rugambage and André Kagwa Rwisereka by establishing two separate independent commissions of enquiry.
One year ago, Rwandan journalist and deputy editor of the Kinyarwanda newspaper Umuvugizi, Jean-Leonard Rugambage, was shot dead outside his home in Kigali on 24 June 2010. There is no evidence that Rwandan police have explored those leads into the killing of Jean-Leonard Rugambage that pointed towards it being politically motivated.
20 days later, on 14 July 2010, André Kagwa Rwisereka, vice president of the opposition Democratic Green Party, was found dead in Butare, southern Rwanda. He had been beheaded. No-one has been brought to justice for André Kagwa Rwisereka’s murder. The police opened investigations, but the prosecution claim to have insufficient evidence to press charges.
The months leading up to the August 2010 presidential elections, which President Kagame won with 93 per cent of the vote, were marked by a clampdown on freedom of expression and association.  Help us speak up for freedom of expression and mark these key dates.
Take action by…
Joining our call to allow criticism to be voiced in #Rwanda. Copy and paste the messages below & send them to @PaulKagame on 2 key dates:
24 June
@PaulKagame: I’m calling on the Rwandan authorities to re-open the investigation into
#Rugambage’s murder 1 year ago
With a follow-up tweet linking to the page with instructions for others who want to take the action:
Join me & message the Rwandan authorities to re-open the investigation into #Rugambage’s killing @PaulKagame. http://bit.ly/kagameAI
14 July
@PaulKagame: I’m calling on the Rwandan authorities to re-open the investigation into
#Rwisereka’s murder 1 year ago
With a follow-up tweet linking to the page with instructions for others who want to take the action:
Join me & message the Rwandan authorities to re-open the investigation into #Rwisereka’s
killing @PaulKagame. http://bit.ly/kagameAI
Disclaimer – Amnesty International has specified the example tweets and is not responsible for alternative messages sent by users.
If President Kagame responds to individuals, users are recommended to send him a link to the campaign: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR47/002/2011/en/ef7cd1a3-d1db-46da-b569-818b7555b83b/afr470022011en.pdf

Why we should be concerned about Rwanda

Rwandan Protesters in Europe

from NEWSRWANDA-NKUNDA

For all the façade on stability in Rwanda, there is more than enough proof that the situation might be worsening. Indeed, we should be afraid if not concerned about this tiny central African state with a penchant for ethnic violence.

Someone is beating the drums of war and like a teenager hungry for attention; he wants us to take him seriously. The signs are more ominous than ever. We ignore them at our own peril.

Rwanda has gone through many phases for the last seventeen years since the 1994 genocide. Throughout, violence has been an important and undisputed part of the package. However, the latest signs of violence are in a category of their own.

In the past, violence has for the most part pitted two groups, Hutu and Tutsi against each other. More than ever before, as Kagame’s autocracy worsens, the prospects of a united and multi-ethnic force rising against him are becoming more pronounced. Although the likely protagonists keep denying this, the breeze of violent resistance is very much palpable.

Frantz Fanon in his book The Wretched of the Earth talks about the concept of liberating violence. If violence spreads out the oppressed (Fanon’s primary concern is the colonized), having nothing of value to lose, and are the first to embrace violence. In Rwanda the oppressed are a handful many.

The hope for Fanon is that violence would become the greatest equalizer as the “last become the first”. Many might rightfully say that Rwandans have had enough of this. I am personally skeptical of the likelihood of violence to liberate. However, what is left for Rwandans to try? Is it acceptable that Rwandans hide in exile because they cannot express their views back home? When and where does the cycle of violence stop?

Somehow, as a people, we seem incapable of conceptualizing a life that guarantees equal freedom for all. Paul Kagame is going down in history as just another despot, having failed to reconcile Rwanda and heal the ethnic divide. Even worse, Kagame’s recklessness seems to have divided the Rwandan Patriotic Front, the ruling party. As a testament, his former allies are now his most vicious opponents. They are barking so loud and are eagerly waiting for the chance to bite him hard. If war breaks out, it will most likely be the RPF against the rpf.

Kagame’s former allies and top ranking members of the RPF now describe him as a bloody thirsty dictator with no respect for human life. Theogene Rudasingwa former RPF secretary general and director of Kagame’s cabinet, a Tutsi himself has this to say, “….” Knowing very well that these men fought alongside Kagame during the 1994 liberation war, we do well to give them an ear.

Even harder to ignore at home are assassinations and nihilistic violence. Just before the last presidential elections, Kigali was gaining the notoriety as the city of grenade explosions. Whether this was an inside job as some have speculated or not, it is a highly disturbing precursor. Moreover, several members of the former CNDP, a proxy militia of the Rwandan government based in Eastern DRC, have been executed. High ranking military personnel (most of them Tutsi) are languishing in Rwandan jails accused of treason.

The fallout between Kagame and Kayumba an equally highly respected Tutsi leader might well be the ultimate sign of this instability. The subsequent attempt to assassinate Kayumba brings to light the dangerous and highly alarming inner struggles of power in Rwanda politics. You kill me or I kill you!

Given the inter-ethnic alliances that are blooming, it is likely that the second wave of violence might not be as bloody as the first. That for now is our source of hope. Our politicians do not want to talk, making violence seem rather inescapable.

I am sorry for the NRM poll mess - Museveni

President Museveni  

By Sheila Naturinda 

Posted by Daily Monitor

President Museveni has apologised to supporters of the NRM for the Monday election mess that has caused undue embarrassment to the party leadership.

Mr Museveni, who is also the chairman of the NRM, yesterday, five days after the polls begun, could not hide his disappointment in the party’s electoral commission which he singled out as being responsible for the mess.

In a recorded statement from State House Entebbe, Mr Museveni said he will personally investigate why his EC has such weakness and failed to deliver.

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“Unfortunately the administrative arrangements were not good; you therefore ended up lining up for many hours and some of you couldn’t vote on that day [Monday] and the elections were postponed to tomorrow [today],” he said.

His frustration in his own party’s EC comes on the backdrop of widespread discontentment among opposition politicians with the Eng Badru Kiggundu-led National Electoral Commission.

“I am sorry about this inconvenience which was caused to you. We are studying the reasons why the party EC didn’t provide the materials in time and in enough quantities.”

Mr Museveni also said he blamed the mess on some selfish and irresponsible senior leaders in his party because they don’t think about anything else other than themselves.

“These are the ones who complicate the work of the NRM registrars. You have heard complaints of voters whose names were left out of the registers just because they didn’t support the senior leaders’ candidature previously; others have been inflated and put in more names in the registers,” he said.

He cautioned against violence in today’s polls and said senior members should stop their biases against junior party members. He said he would personally take any petitions and handle them, in cases where the party officials failed to address peoples’ complaints.

“Come to me if the NRM channels fail,” Mr Museveni said. “We have had situations where senior leaders are biased against some members yet I have told all of them previously that a senior leader shouldn’t take sides because it is the people to elect and not the leader to elect,” he said. “As chairman of NRM I am ready to work with anybody elected by NRM as long as he is a member of the NRM.”

He added: “I appeal to all of you not to be violent because there is no need for violence. If there is any problem, please complain and NRM officials will take action and if they don’t I will as a party leader.”

Since the onset of all grassroot NRM polls and the ongoing flag primaries, some districts and areas have become hot spots for violence intimidation and security has been increase there ahead of today’s polls. But Mr Museveni said he had dispatched a team of investigators to many areas including Sembabule. He warned that anyone found engaging in violence would be dealt with.

In some areas where election took place on Monday, and losers failed to accept defeat, some declaring themselves winners on local stations and others reportedly altering the results in their favour, Mr Museveni said such people would be dealt with because it is criminal to alter results.

“I have heard that some people have tried to alter the election results and all these are criminal offences and you can be arrested and imprisoned,” he said.

He has asked his party members to acknowledge and welcome converts from other parties and allow them to vote, “only if they denounced their original parties and the parish branches welcome them to the NRM party officially.”

Obama meet with Young African Leaders at the White House

Image via Wikipedia

The White House teleconference with the young leaders participated at this Town Hall were picked by US embassies in their respective countries.

Click here to listen to the Video of Obama's Speech

Participants who were present

Angola

Luis Kandangongo Jimbo
Executive Director, Angolan Institute for Electoral Systems and
Democracy (IASED)

Marco Peter de Paula Almeida
Commercial Director, Octomar-Serviços Marítimos, Ltda


Benin

Irene Cocovi Mensah
Executive Director, Organization to Support Initiatives for
Sustainable Development (OSIDD)


Botswana

Itumeleng Ramsden
Radio Personality, Yarona FM

Uyapo Ndadi
Director, Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS


Burkina Faso

Bobson Horieta Antonia Coulibaly
Lawyer, Cabinet d’Avocats Maitre Barthelemy Kere; President, Junior
International Chamber Ouaga Metba

Abdoul Karim Sango
Professor, Public Law and the Right to Information, National
Administration School

Sugrnoma Camille Romaric Sondo
Director General, M’ZAKA Sécurité Sarl; Vice President, Ouaga Junior
International Chamber

Burundi

Gloria Kaneza
Centenary Ambassador, Girl Guides

Cameroon

Abdoulrazack Abdoulay
President, National Youth Council of Cameroon

Emmanuel Sanyi Sanyi
Founder and National President, Local Youth Corner Cameroon

Marie Tamoifo Nkom
President, Jeunesse Verte du Cameroun (Green Youth of Cameroon)

Cape Verde

Ivan Carlos Fortes Evora Santos
National Coordinator of the White Ribbon Campaign, Institute of Gender
Equality and Equity (ICIEG)

Claudia Sofia Marques Rodrigues
President, Institute of Gender Equality and Equity

Cleonice Ester Vieira Lopes Silva Cabral
President, Church of Nazarene Youth Association

Central African Republic

Jean-Félix Wilfrand Riva
Chairman, National Association for Central African Students;
Coordinator, Leaders of Students of African Universities

Fernand Sylvio Mande Djapou
Junior Lawyer; Coordinator, Youth NGO Network in Human Rights

Nadia Carine Therese Poutou Fornel
Legal Advisor and Secretary General, CAR Women’s Legal Association

Chad

Isseine Bourma Mahamat Zene
CEO, Zen Corporation

Ladiba Gondeu
Professor of Sociology, N'Djamena University

Jareth Beain
Head of Program on Public Resource Management, Group for Alternative
Research and Monitoring of the Chad-Cameroon Petrol Project

Congo

Welcom Romell Nzaba Nodjitolom
President, Couleur Congolaise (NGO)

Jacinthe Claudia Mahoussi Dossou
Foundation Assistant, MTN (Telecom)

Côte d’Ivoire

Tiemoko Antoine Assale
Journalist, Editions; Head, Human Resources and Legal Affairs, Le
Reveil Press Group

Aminata Kane Epse Kone
Journalist, National Islamic Radio Al Bayane

Kouadio Julien Tingain
National Coordinator, Ivoirian Coalition of Publish What You Pay

Djibouti

Hodan Abdi Osman
Business Owner

Liban Abdoulkader Elmi
President, National Youth Council of Djibouti

Miguil Hassan Farah
Entrepreneur


Democratic Republic of Congo

Yomboranyama Ngambashongo Anice
Journalist; Chairperson, APIC

Isiloketshi Anzuluni
Retail & Operational Risk Manager, Ecobank DRC; Co- Founder, La Releve
SPRL

Marc Tshibasu
Trade Marketing Representative, British-American Tobacco Congo


Equatorial Guinea

Santiago Martin Engono Esono
Accountant, Espor Litoral Medical Center


Eritrea

Merry Tewolde Mussie
Research/Consultancy Coordinator and Lecturer, SMAP Institute of
Training, Education and Consultancy


Ethiopia

Mahlet Eyassu Melkie
Climate Change Program Manager, Forum for Environment

Salsawit Tsega Ketema
Entrepreneur

Meron Getnet Hailegiorgis
Writer; Actress

Yohannes Mezgebe Abay
Vice President/Coordinator, East Africa and Indian Ocean Sub Region,
Pan African Youth Union

Gabon

Andy Roland Nziengui Nziengui
Vice President, Pan African Youth Union

Ghana

Emmanuel Pumpuni Asante
Head of Programs, The Ghana Center for Democratic Development

Anas Aremeyaw Anas
Editor, Crusading Guide newspaper

Shamima Muslim
Presenter, Flagship News Magazine Program; Host, “Good Morning Ghana”

Guinea

Alpha Abdoulaye Diallo
Doctor; National Coordinator, African Youth Network, Guinea

Yacouba Konate
President, National Movement of Guinean Youths

Adama Sylla
Program Coordinator, Young Women Leaders Network; Vice President, Mano
River Union Youth Parliament

Kenya

Benard Ochieng Akango
Owner, B.O Akango Advocates

Doris Makena Kirima
Academic Trainee, American Red Cross


Lesotho

Mabulara Esther Tsuene
Executive Director, Lesotho Council of NGOs

Lemohang Raphael Molibeli
Commissioner, Health and Social Development, Lesotho Council of Non-
Governmental Organizations


Liberia

Bai Sama Gwenning Best
Marketing Manager, The Liberian Observer Corporation

Amos Teah Kofa
Coordinator, Voluntary Partnership Agreement


Madagascar

Farasoa Lucette Rajaonarivelo
Training Assistant, Academy for Educational Development (AED)

Tahiry Ramanantsoa Ep. Ratsimbazafy
Trade and Communication Manager, Madatours and Madavision

Nirinjaka Ramasinjatovo Ep. Naharivelo
Deputy Country Director, PACT Madagascar





Malawi

Felix Limbani
Director of Programs, Youth Net and Counseling (YONECO)

Tamara Kapichira-Banda
HIV/AIDS and Testing Counselor, Banja la Mtsogolo

Thembi Grace Thadzi
Presidential Advisor, Malawi Development Advisory Council


Mali

Mariam Diallo
Regional Coordinator, Sub-Saharan Africa and French Language
Facilitator, International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics
(iKNOW Politics)

Fatoumata Amadou Sangho
Founder and President, Association pour le Developpement de l’Afrique
(ADA); Marketing and Communication Department, Mali Development Bank

Fatimata Traore
Founder and Vice President, Bamako Elite; Landside Services
Coordinator, MAERSK


Mauritania

Ely Cheikh Bah Ahmed Telba
Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Peace Newspaper

Mkhaitratt Mohamed Vall Mabrouk
Administrator, Office of the Mayor, Tidjikja, Mauritania

Madina Athie
Technical Coordinator, National Forum for Human Rights (FONADH)


Mauritius

Jaques Jonathan Ravat
Head of Department, Social Studies, Institut Cardinal Jean Margéot
(ICJM)

Maria Diana Isobelle Bablee
Archivist, National Archives of Mauritius

Maria Jessica Joëlle Rabot
Field Coordinator, Collectif Urgence Toxida (CUT)


Mozambique

Nadja Remane Gomes
Lawyer, Mozambican League of Human Rights (LDH)

Paulo Alculeto Lopes de Araujo
National Coordinator and Director, Youth Association for the
Development of Volunteer Service in Mozambique (AJUDE)

Quiteria Anicia Fernando Guirengane
Chief, Foreign Affairs Division, Youth Parliament of Mozambique


Namibia

Michael Mulunga
Administrator, Young Achievers

Patrick Henrico Sam
Program Manager, Physically Active Youth (PAY)

Isaak Panduleni Amupolo
Performance Artist and Director, Ondangwa Drama Club


Niger

Halilatou Issoufou Mamane
Graduate student, University of Niamey Abdou Moumouni

Fatoumata Harouna Bako
Technical and Administrative Assistant, International Committee for
the Development of Peoples (CISP)

Aminatou Daouda Hainikoye
Research Assistant, Human Sciences Research Laboratory (LASDEL)

Nigeria

Taiwo Adegboyega Adewole
CEO/MD, Taiwo Adewole and Associates

Ruth Nwukabu Audu
Program Manager, Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP)

Bako Sabo Kantiok
Program Officer, Fantsuam Foundation

Rwanda

Ariane Inkesha
Researcher, Communication and Public Relations Officer, Institute of
Research and Dialogue for Peace (IRDP)

Edwin Sabuhoro
CEO and Owner, Rwanda Eco-Tours Agency; Senior Economic Development/
Tourism Advisor, SNV -Rwanda

Dianah Mukundwa
University Student and Gender Minister, School of Finance and Banking

São Tomé and Príncipe

Katya Leron Do Sacramento Dória De Sousa Aragão
Executive Director, House of Arts, Creation, Environment, and Utopias
(CACAU)


Senegal

Maimouna Ndour Ep Faye
Coordinator and Chief, Political Desk, Canal Info News

Aissatou Padane
Chargé d’affaires, Alios Finance Senegal

Seychelles

Neddy Stephen Paul Padayachy
Senior Health Educator, Youth Health Centre

Sierra Leone

Frances Marke
Public Relations Strategist, Student Movement for Girls’ Education

Donald Kalokoh
Country Representative, Youth Action International (YAI)

Amienatta Khoumba Kanawa
Project Officer, Sierra Leone Youth Empowerment Organization (SLYEO)

Somalia

Najma Ahmed Abdi
Chairperson and CEO, Somali Youth Leadership Forum (SYLF)

South Africa

Frederick Kenneth Swaniker
Founder & CEO, African Leadership Academy

Lesego Sekano
International Relations Officer, National Union of Mine Workers

Palesa Zandile Shongwe
Curator/Coordinator, Tri-Continental Human Rights Documentary Film
Festival


Sudan

Munira Aligo Abe Museme
Gender Specialist, World Bank

Alsanosi Ahmed Ibrahim Ali
Journalist, Citizen Newspaper

Swaziland

Lindelwe Fikile Karabo Nxumalo
Gender Research Officer, Lutheran Development Service

Samkelo Melusi Sukati
Business Advisor, TechnoServe

Nonhlanhla Dlamini
Director, One Circle

Tanzania

Modesta Lilian Mahiga
Founder and Managing Director, Professional Approach Ltd.

Masoud Salim Mohamed
Chairman, Zanzibar Youth Network; Senior Guide, Ocean Tours of
Zanzibar Travel Agency

Malula Hassan Nkanyemka
Project Development Advisor, Mwanza Region, Tanzania

The Gambia

Isatou Dumbuya
Columnist, The Point newspaper

Thomas Kojo Quayson Adamper
Head, Corporate Communications, Oceanic Bank (Gambia) Ltd.

Sana Sarr
Client Relations/Operations Manager, Unique Solutions


Togo

Dede Ame Marthe Amandine Woamede
Consultant, AfricSearch

Koffi Amegbo Nomedji
Program Director, ALAFIA

Kudjo Djogbenyui Nokplim Kaglan
Journalist, Spokesman, and Head of the English Desk, Savoir News
Agency

Uganda

Med Ssengooba
Officer for Administration and Programs, Legal Actions for Persons
with Disabilities

Josephine Kankunda
Senior Researcher, The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative

Jalia Nabukalu
Director, JADE Consult

Zambia

Abigail Kaindu
Core Financial Literacy Trainer, Camfed

Mundia Paul Hakoola
Secretary General, National Youth Anti-Corruption Movement (NYACM)

Brenda Mpande Lizabete Phiri
Consultant, Deloitte & Touche

Zimbabwe

Sydney Chisi
Founding Director, Youth Initiative for Democracy in Zimbabwe (YIDEZ)

Cleopatra Ndlovu
Former Executive Director, Women in Parliament Support Unit

Mathias Masimba Nyamanhindi
Program Coordinator, Student Solidarity Trust (SST)

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