U N I T E D   N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Central and Eastern Africa

Tel: +254 2 622147
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e-mail: irin@ocha.unon.org


CENTRAL AND EASTERN AFRICA
IRIN-CEA Weekly Round-Up 349
16 - 22 September 2006


CONTENTS:

UGANDA: ICC indictments against rebels should stand, president says
UGANDA: Border districts on alert over bird flu
RWANDA: Community service for genocide perpetrators
RWANDA: Another acquittal at UN tribunal
DRC: Protests follow burning of Bemba's broadcast stations


ALSO SEE:

BURUNDI: FNL fighters assemble but continue to tax civilians
[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55640]

DRC: Recently demobilised militiamen re-arming
[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55597]

TANZANIA: Early marriage puts girls at risk of HIV
[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55633]


UGANDA: ICC indictments against rebels should stand, president says

President Yoweri Museveni's insistence that indictments against Lord's
Resistance Army commanders should stand until they sign a peace deal
could discourage the rebels from coming out of the bush, local leaders
in northern Uganda said on Wednesday.

The spokesman for the Gulu-based Human Rights Focus, James Otto, said
Museveni should have been seen leaning towards the peace process.

"This was not the case, unfortunately. It was a repeat of the old
message; an issue of calling names that may sway the process one way or
the other," Otto said.

The commandant of the Unyama Internally Displaced Peoples' Camp near
Gulu, Odoki Lamaka, said: "If this continues, it will mean that these
rebels will not come out and we shall never get peace. The ICC should
hear our voices and drop these arrest warrants."

Museveni said on local radio in northern Uganda that the International
Criminal Court (ICC) indictments would not be dropped until "the
terrorists" accepted a peace deal.

[Full Story on:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55659]

[On the Net: LRA leader moves towards assembly point
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55651]


UGANDA: Border districts on alert over bird flu

Uganda authorities have asked officials in districts bordering Sudan to
be on alert following confirmed cases of avian flu in the southern
Sudanese capital of Juba, officials said on Friday.

"We have sent out a warning to all districts especially those bordering
Sudan and the national task force on bird flu is meeting every week to
assess the situation," Paul Kaggwa, the health ministry spokesman, said.

The districts include Adjumani, Apac, Arua, Gulu, Kaabong, Kitgum,
Koboko, Kotido, Lira, Moroto, Moyo, Nebbi, Pader and Yumbe. They were
asked to set up and strengthen task forces on bird flu to enhance
surveillance and public education.

A communication strategy has been developed in local languages to raise
public awareness about the disease. The Uganda Wildlife Authority was
also monitoring the movement of birds from the north.

[Full story on:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55682]


RWANDA: Community service for genocide perpetrators

At least 55,000 people convicted of taking part in the 1994 genocide in
Rwanda are likely to be sentenced to community service instead of
prison, an official with Rwanda's home-grown justice system, known as
'gacaca', said on Wednesday.

"They will contribute to building infrastructure in the country as well
as reconciliation so that victims can eventually live next to them
again," Emanuel Twagirumukiza, the executive secretary of the community
service programme, said in the capital, Kigali.

The gacaca courts have investigated 700,000 suspects since they were
established in 2001. The current final phase of trying to reintegrate
the genocide perpetrators began on 11 September. According to Rwandan
government figures, 937,000 Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus were
killed during the 100-day-long genocide.

[Full Story on:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55661]


RWANDA: Another acquittal at UN tribunal

The United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda on
Wednesday acquitted a former Rwandan minister of education of genocide
charges.

A panel of judges ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove, beyond
reasonable doubt, the charges against Andre Rwamakuba, 56. He had been
charged with four counts of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Rwamakuba's acquittal is the fifth since the tribunal's inception and
the second in less than a month after the acquittal of a former mayor,
Jean Mpambara, on 12 September.

[Full Story on:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55645]

[On the Net: UN court, Kigali resolve differences
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55638]


DRC: Protests follow burning of Bemba's broadcast stations

Fears that fighting could reignite in the capital, Kinshasa, increased
on Tuesday as supporters of presidential contender Jean-Pierre Bemba set
up barricades and burned tyres to protest the destruction of his radio
and television stations the day before.

"We want to get weapons to right the wrongs committed by those who are
trying to silence and kill Bemba," a supporter said before the police
dispersed the demonstration.

In August, the incumbent president, Joseph Kabila's guards also
destroyed Bemba's helicopter.

[Full Story on:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55621]

[On the Net: Kabila, Bemba's aides agree to probe unrest
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=55324]


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