UNITED NATIONS BACKS UGANDA

The United Nations has distanced itself from a recent report claiming that Uganda is supporting the M 23 rebel movement in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

This responds from the United Nations comes after Uganda threatened to pull out its peacekeeping forces from Somalia and all regional countries where it is currently undertaking peacekeeping operations.

It is unclear now whether Uganda will go ahead to pull its forces from the peacekeeping operations with this latest statement from the World governing body.

UN security Chief Ambassador H.S Puri said views expressed by independent expert group does not reflect on that of the United Nations.

He lauded Uganda’s efforts in peacekeeping in Somalia and other countries when he met with ICT minister, Ruhakana Rugunda in the capital Kigali and encouraged Uganda not to withdraw its forces since it contribute immensely to the peace of the world.

But many analysts say it as a way of getting Uganda to remain in the peacekeeping areas since countries are reluctant to volunteer troops for such ventures.

                                 The UN expert groups reports

In recent months, a team of UN experts group have been studying and analyzing trends in Africa with reports and recommendation to various governments and the UN.

It started in Ghana when the group accused the Ghanaian government of harboring mercenaries to overthrow the Ivorian government in Ivory Coast and continue to other parts of Africa.

The latest being Rwanda and Uganda who were on separate report accused of supporting the M 23 rebel movement in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rwanda threatened to sue the UN over the report but was subsequently elected to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member which many believed made Rwanda revised its initial decision on the legal suit.

Uganda did not go for a legal battle, but decided to pull its troops from all UN backed peacekeeping operations over the report prompting this urgent respond from the United Nations.

Many people on the continent are now confused as to the mandate of these so-called UN expert groups working for the world body since virtually all the reports they issues is met with the strongest protest and the UN seems not have a clear picture on how these reports are issued.