Equal Opportunity Uganda Style!

by redjade Fri Dec 19, 2003 16:31

Joram is setting up an indymedia IMC in Uganda.

It should be one of the more interesting IMCs in the world, me thinks!

by Lars Rubenco Fri Dec 19, 2003 16:42

following on from the comment at http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=62669&results_offset=30 about one company in particular, Ireland's role in this situation is very unclear.
on the one hand the government is channelling monies throughg various agencies and biliateral agreements, but the clarity of where that money is going is uncertain. money for infrastructure is needed for western styled development but roads leading from mines is another.
i'll get back to you with more again, but keep in mind that while you hear of so much expenditure on 'development', this 'development' is very often linked directly with the scenes you see on the above site.

by Chekov Fri Dec 19, 2003 17:11

"Uganda has become the main exporter of diamonds"

Which are virtually all plundered from the Congo. Perhaps the largest pitched battle of the long and bloody war in the Congo was over control of Kisangani, the Eastern diamond hub. It was between the Ugandan and Rwandan armies, which are supposed to be allies! and involved near-indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas with heavy artillery.

Despite its IMF star billing Uganda remains one of the poorest and least developed countries in Africa. It is heavily militarised and the army acts with impunity against civilians, particularly ethnic groups judged hostile to Musevini. There are at least 3 rebel groups active in the country and the army is involved in the violence in Sudan, Congo and the Central African Republic.

The Ugandan army has close links with the British army. Musevini's son graduated from Sandhurst in 2000. When I was in Kampala in 2000, I checked into a hostel late one night. I awoke to find myself sharing a room with about 50 Sandhurst students who were on training manouevres there. This is apparently common.