East African Week Review

Rwanda

UN Was A "Serious failure” In Country, Chief of UN Inquiry Says

Former Prime Minister of Sweden and Chairperson of the UN mandated Inquiry into the organization’s actions during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Ingvar Carlsson, on Wednesday said that the UN betrayed Rwandans during some of the "worst brutality humanity has ever seen.”

He said that the overriding failure in the response of the UN, can be summarized as a lack of resources and a lack of will to take on the commitment which would have been necessary to prevent or stop the Genocide.

20 Mourners Feared Dead as Boat Capsizes in L. Kivu
The 16th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rutsiro District kicked off on a sad note as over 20 people were by Wednesday evening, not yet accounted for following a boat accident in Lake Kivu that was caused by a heavy storm.

By Thursday, six bodies had been recovered and of the 50 who miraculously survived the accident, 19 were admitted in critical conditions at Kibuye Hospital in Karongi district.

Uganda

NSSF Bosses Refund Cash

In Uganda the Former National Social Security Fund (NSSF) boss David Jamwa and his deputy, Mondo Kagonyera, have paid back most of the money they had taken as advances.

The organization confirmed that hundreds of millions of shillings had been refunded through deductions from their salaries on a monthly basis during the time they were suspended.

Jamwa’s outstanding amount had dropped from Shs244m to Shs32m whereas Kagonyera had refunded all the Shs111m he owed NSSF.

Jamwa and co. were made to pay after being reported to have irregularly allocated themselves huge housing and salary advances during their tenure as the bosses of NSSF.

Waragi Kills Thirty

The death toll of people suspected to have consumed contaminated alcohol (waragi) in Kabale District in western Uganda, increased from 20 to 30 within a spec of two days from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Ten others who reportedly drunk the local brew packed in sachets were admitted to hospital after losing their sight.
Authorities have warned that the death toll could increase since the poisonous waragi is sold cheaply in towns and can be accessed by the poor.

The news was met with anxiety and panic as people wondered about how to tell the poisonous alcohol from the safe one, simply because they are not yet ready to quit drinking.

Kenya

PM Rules out Amending Draft constitution
Kenya Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of amending the draft constitution saying that the process has reached a point of no return since it already catered to the equity, equality and other rights of freedom dreamt about by the Kenyan citizens.

He said that all Kenyans understand that the level the constitution had reached would not allow any more drafting or amendments as an adherence to the rule of law and constitutionalism of the country.

Hopefully, the rule of law will help prevent ballot box hostilities in Kenya like the ones we witnessed in the last presidential race.

Burundi

Tensions High in Run-Up to Elections
There is growing concern about worsening security as Burundi approaches elections in the forthcoming year especially caused by the youths from both the opposition and the ruling party bent on confronting each other.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) operating in Burundi has henceforth called upon Burundi’s neighbors to provide a regional force to help train and support Burundians on election security and monitoring.

Ends