Uganda’s Vice President, Maj Jessica Alupo last week joined other Heads of State and Governments from across Africa to pay tribute and last respects to Kenya’s third President, Mwai Kibaki.
The ceremony attracted crowds, with Presidents Salvar Kiir of South Sudan, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia also in attendance alongside the Prime Minister of Rwanda-Edourdo Ngirente, former Malawian President-Joyce Banda and several other dignitaries from different countries.
President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya led the tribute to a man revered and described by many as a statesman, who laid a firm foundation for the development of the nation of Kenya.
“We come to mourn and celebrate a father and President, a gentleman, a measured man, a man of faith and honour, one of the last standing heroes of our Independence struggles, a modest man, and quoting former World bank President Robert McNamara; one of the greatest economists in Africa.”
Various speakers described President Mwai Kibaki as a man who was in service of Kenya for more than 54 years, an icon of tolerance, an educationist, a man of great honour and strong legacy, a peace maker and broker, a man with great vision, a patriot, a man of great simplicity, and, a distinguished public servant.
Kibaki was buried at his home in Othaya, Nyeri County.
The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces on April 30 burnt 378 guns collected from Karimojong warriors. The UPDF has been participating in a campaign with the African Amnesty on the voluntary surrender of illicit weapons held by civilians in Karamoja sub-region. The guns were burnt at Kotido air strip in the presence of local leaders, community and the joint security forces with the main aim of discouraging the circulation of illegal firearms.
Karamoja sub-region has been experiencing renewed insecurity following intensified cattle rustling, attacks on civilians and security by suspected warriors from within the region and neighbouring Kenya.
Maj Gen Geoffrey Katsigazi Tumusiime, the deputy inspector general of police who represented the Internal Affairs noted that Karamoja has suffered at the hands of few individuals who illegally possess firearms, rendering the whole community vulnerable.
Rebecca Kadaga, Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and East African Community Affairs Minister, has challenged Ugandans to prepare to take over the DRC market through quick and targeted investments into the mineral-rich country.
“The EAC will have global connectivity from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. This will support the existing trade corridors in the movement of goods and people into the hinterland of the community. For Uganda to tap into this opportunity, there is need for quick and targeted investment in roads and related infrastructure” said Kadaga. She was delivering a ministerial statement to the Ugandan parliament about the admission of DRC into the EAC.
Kadaga wondered why Ugandans had not expressed their readiness to capture the opportunities that come with DR Congo’s admission into the EAC. In an earlier press conference held at the Ministry of East African Community Affairs offices in Kampala, Kadaga said DRC’s admission into the EAC would be an opportunity for Ugandan businesses to have their goods access an alternative market away from the bans and blockades put on Uganda’s goods by Kenya.
“Instead of battling with Kenya over our eggs and sugar, we shall take our commodities to a bigger market (DRC). Kenya has about 40 million people while DRC has 90 million people. We have a bigger market in DRC than in Kenya. For Ugandans, it is a big plus for us to now have more than one route of access to the sea”.
Between 2019 and 2021, Uganda and Kenya locked horns over the latter’s blockade on the entry of Uganda’s products into the Kenyan market. Some of the Ugandan commodities banned in Kenya have included maize, sugar, milk, poultry and poultry products.
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