Museveni attack on ICC dominates independence celebrations

KOLOLO.
President Museveni yesterday attacked the International Criminal Court (ICC) for summoning Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta over a case related to election violence that rocked the country in 2007.

Mr Museveni said by summoning Mr Kenyatta, a sitting president, the ICC had despised an African Union resolution and exposed itself as being used to push “the hegmonistic post-colonial agenda targeting African leaders.”
“My view is that, at the next summit, African countries should review their membership of the ICC treaty. The ICC is turning out not be the value addition product that we had expected it to be. It is instead a biased instrument of post-colonial hegemony,” the President said.

Mr Museveni, who was addressing the nation at Uganda’s 52nd independence celebrations at Kololo, also faulted the ICC for calling the case “status conference” on the eve of the East African Community infrastructure summit at Munyonyo.

Attack on ICC
“The pushers of the hegmonistic agenda have been misusing the ICC, an institution we initially supported. The African Union Assembly of Heads of State resolved that no African sitting President should be summoned by that court. This resolution was taken to the (United Nations) Security Council where there is no permanent member from Africa,” Mr Museveni said.
“That group did not see much merit in the collective wisdom of the African leaders; and the court summoned President Kenyatta on the eve of our summit here. Was the aim of ICC to disrupt our summit? Too bad for them. Our summit went on yesterday (Wednesday).”

The President added that the problems of electoral violence in Kenya in 2007 and those that erupt in other African countries are ideological and “ICC to handle them as just legal matters is the height level of shallowness.”
President Kenyatta appeared at the ICC on Wednesday and the court adjourned his case indefinitely. Prior to flying out, he had handed over power to his deputy, Mr William Ruto, so that he appears at the ICC in his individual capacity. On return, before he regained his presidential status, he was welcomed by a huge crowd.

Presidents present
The Kololo celebrations were attended by presidents Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Salva Kiir (South Sudan), and Jakawa Kikwete of Tanzania. There were representatives from Kenya, Burundi and Ethiopia. Mr Kikwete, who spoke on behalf of other guests, said Uganda has made progress. “The people of Uganda live a better life than it was 30-40 years ago, something President Museveni and NRM fought hard for.”

There was a parade of the armed forces, and procession of various institutions that showcased their goods and services.
Mr Museveni reiterated his threat that the army and police will quash anybody who plans to disrupt peace. He also appealed to the population to engage in large scale commercial farming to eradicate poverty.
He also warned against eating monkeys and bats that can transmit the deadly Ebola and Marburg diseases.

Kampala Archbishop Emeritus Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala and philanthropist Mother Mary Kevin Kearney, who founded Nsambya Hospital, were among the recipients of the golden jubilee medals.

Medal recipients
Yasini Omari
Mother Mary Kevin Kearney
Dr Jack Jagwe
Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe
Dr Livingstone Ddungu
Prof Francis Omaswa
Prof Prancas John Ssebuwufu
John Kekinana
Mariam Luyombo
Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala
R.A Mbonye Byombi
Mbabi Katana
Nitin Madhavin
Jayant M. Madhavin
Muljibhai Madhavin
Mary Mulumba
Richard Wakwesa
S. S Gupta
T.S Chowdahary
Mzee Murari Rutenda

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