Text:
http://www.africanews.org/central/congo-kinshasa/stories/19990418_feat4.html
Source App: [Smuggled 'Goods' To Congo Even Include Mobutu Generals - Netscape]
Smuggled 'Goods' To Congo Even Include Mobutu
Generals
April 18, 1999
Kampala - Congolese anger against Uganda's perceived meddling in their affairs
was recently whipped up by the appearance of a Mobutu general in the liberated
areas, courtesy of Uganda security.
UPDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier James Kazini reportedly recently 'smuggled' General Philemon Barimoto into the Congo infuriating President Yoweri Museveni and triggering off anti-Barimoto demonstrations in Kisangani. Sunday Vision has learnt that when queried by President Museveni later, Kazini reportedly explained that Major General Salim Saleh gave him a go-ahead.
Details emerging from military intelligence sources show that Barimoto was stealthily driven to Mbarara in an army jeep and then flown together with Kazini to Kisangani in January this year. The sources said Kazini 'smuggled' Barimoto through Mbarara 'fearing going though Entebbe Airport since he knew that President Museveni was against Barimoto's going to Kisangani'.
The sources also told Sunday Vision that there were massive demonstrations in Kisangani against Barimoto's visit to the war torn country. But Barimoto blames his "negative reception" in Kisangani on an External Security Organisation Assistant Director, Humphrey Babukika and Saleh's wife Jovia who he reportedly says "decampaigned" him before President Museveni and in the Congo.
Barimoto who fled to Niger after the fall of President Mobutu in August 1997 came to Uganda last year, met President Museveni and expressed desire to join the war against President Laurent Kabila through Uganda. He claims to have troops in Angola, Congo Brazzaville and is in contact with other Mobutu era Generals in West African and European capitals.
He has since generated a lot of controversy when he claimed that Jovia, Babukika, an ex-English international football star/ UNICEF Goodwill Ambasador, John Fashanu, Jovia's business associate, Rodgers Mwana Ngele and others extorted from him more than US$200,000 for him to meet President Museveni and join the Congo war. Jovia has repeatedly denied that she received any money from him.
She instead accuses Barimoto of owing her US$150,000 as monies she spent on Barimoto's entourage when they were in Kampala last year. Sunday Vision has reliably learnt that Barimoto met Kazini in January this year after his (Batimoto's) son, Gefumba had made contact with the UPDF officer in Kampala.
An appointment was fixed and the following day Barimoto met Kazini at the latter's residence. Sources said that the External Security Organisation deputy Director General, Busho and Babukika, now on detention in Kampala on President Museveni's orders also attended the meeting.
Sources also said that Babukika tried to convince Brigadier Kazini not to take Barimoto to the "struggle in the Congo". But that Kazini complained that the money given out to Jovia, Babukika, and others would have instead been used to buy a lot of ammunitions and arMs. Sources further revealed that the whole group later went to MOSA Courts along Nile Avenue.
But the final plan for Barimoto to go to Kisangani was concluded in Speke Hotel along the same road. Kazini reportedly deployed a soldier to guard Barimoto's room in Speke Hotel.
Kazini reportedly released a jeep for Barimoto to travel to Mbarara and then he (Kazini) flew from Entebbe to Mbarara where he picked up Barimoto on his way to Kisangani. Sources said that on March 5, 1999 while seeing off some Major General Saleh's visitors, Babukika met Barimoto and his son at Entebbe International Airport.
Barimot reportedly accused Babukika of decampaigning him before President Museveni and in the Congo. Barimoto reportedly warned Babukika that he (Babukika) took his money but one day he would have to pay it back.
Barimoto reportedly also blamed his misfortune in Kisangani on Babukika's friendship with one of the anti Kabila rebel commanders, Jean Pierre Ondekane who he claims hates him. The sources also said that Barimoto claims that Ondekane and another rebel commander, Bemba have warned that Barimoto's joining the rebel movement now will be more of a liability.