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@observer Thu, 04 Jul 2024 21:21:42

25 Congolese soldiers sentenced to death for fleeing from enemy

At least 25 Armed Forces of Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers attached to Northern Front operations have been sentenced to death after pleading guilty to fleeing from the enemy.      The soldiers were arrested following the recent swift advance of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels in Lubero territory. M23 rebels captured Kanyabayonga in recent weeks and later advanced to Miriki, Kimaka, Luofu, and Kayna. Rebels also captured FARDC’s military camp of Kasando, located about 4 kilometres from Kirumba town.       Appearing before the Butembo garrison military court presided over by captain magistrate Byamungu Munanira, the soldiers were charged with the dissipation of war munitions, fleeing from the enemy in Kaseghe and Matembe, violation of orders, and robbery.  The court heard that the soldiers abandoned war ammunition and fled from the frontline without orders from their commanders.       Munanira also sentenced one soldier to 10 years of main penal servitude for robbery while on the front. Munanura however released four wives of soldiers after the court failed to prove their involvement in the fleeing of soldiers from the front.        2nd Lt Reagan Mbuyi Kalonji, FARDC spokesperson for Northern Front operations says that the sentence acts as a lesson to discourage decisions that violate instructions during the fighting. Tension remains high on all fronts as both parties remain in their positions. M23 rebels have released threats of advancing to Butembo town.      In March 2022, M23, led by Bertrand Bisimwa and Gen Sultan Makenga, initiated a conflict against the government. The DRC government accuses Rwanda of supporting M23, although both Rwanda and M23 vehemently deny these claims. The rebels assert that they are fighting against corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the leadership of DRC.     

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@observer Sat, 06 Jul 2024 08:06:32

Museveni appoints tax fraud convict to monitor corruption at URA

President Yoweri Museveni has yet again created another unit to fight corruption this time at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). In a short statement released by the Presidential Press Unit (PPU), the unit is going to be under the State House. “The President…has created the State House Revenue Intelligence and Strategic Operations Unit to do an oversight on Uganda Revenue Authority operations and fight corruption within the tax administration system,” the statement reads in part. The statement adds that the creation of the unit will help the government close revenue leakages and boost tax collection. It adds that Museveni has also appointed David Kalemera as a senior presidential advisor and head of the unit. Interestingly, Kalemera is a tax fraud convict who was in 2022 found guilty by the Anti-Corruption court of falsifying customs documents and effectively dismissed from URA in 2017. Kalemera was found guilty alongside Ian Paul Ssemanda and Ronald Kazibwe of knowingly using falsified commercial invoices and packing lists when they omitted some goods for purposes of tax. In his defence, Kalemera attributed his troubles at URA to stepping on the toes of his bosses at URA. For example, Kalemera detailed before the Anti-Corruption court how he tried to enforce tax compliance against Sun Belt textiles to recover Shs 13.5 billion in taxes but ended up offending then commissioner of customs and now Sheema MP Dickson Kateshumbwa. He said when he ignored threats to drop the investigations, he ended up being charged with aiding dumping textiles on the Uganda market. The creation of another anti-corruption unit adds to a litany of statutory and other units created to fight corruption among different government agencies. State House now has several such units such as the Anti-Corruption Unit headed by Brig Henry Isoke, State House Investor Protection Unit headed by Col Edith Nakalema, State House Health Monitoring Unit headed by Dr Warren Namanya among others. These join statutory anti-corruption units such as the Inspectorate of Government, the Auditor General, the Director of Public Prosecution, the Police Criminal Investigation Department, Anti-Corruption court among others.    {loadposition inarticle}

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