The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Then Nov. 19, unknown attackers killed at least 19 people in night raids in Beni in the same North Kivu province. This area lies just over the Rwenzori Mountain from the Uganda border. Beni is the base of the UN Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUC) which has together with Rwanda Special Forces and the DRC army recently intensified attacks against armed militia groups in the region. The attackers reportedly kidnapped many people and set a Catholic church ablaze in two separate attacks that were about 35km apart.
Initial reports in the Nov.19 attack said the killers belonged to the Islamist militia group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) that has for years been based in the DRC to fight the Kampala government of President Yoweri Museveni and generally wreak havoc in eastern DRC and the Kasese region of Uganda.
According to analysts, these incidents on Rwanda’s borders with the DRC, Uganda, and Burundi point to one thing; the Great Lakes Region is a neat pile of dry grass waiting for a single match-stick to set it on fire.
Some analysts say regional leaders are building their armies and fire power for what appears to be inevitable armed clashes.
Russians versus Chinese
So far, Russia has been the biggest beneficiary in shipping arms to these countries and China is scrambling to catch up.
When some 40 African heads of state and their delegations descended on the Russian Black Sea city of Sochi this October, excitement over military cooperation and military hardware almost obscured deals in nuclear energy, oil, gas, agriculture, and diamonds.
“Give us guns; give us, we will pay later,” is how one journalist reported the excited chatter from African leaders in their pitches to Russian president Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials in sideline meetings.
Russia had laid out the military hardware favoured by African countries first as model tanks inside the chambers and as full scale tanks, helicopters, fighter jets, rocket launchers, and automatic rifles on the grounds outside.
Even Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, was photographed pensively eyeing model tanks.
Russia is the second largest supplier of arms in the world but, according to reliable reports, it leads in sales to Africa; supplying 39% of Africa’s imported arms between 2017 and 2013.
Nigeria reportedly bought 12 helicopters and signed a deal for training and other equipment, and other countries are negotiating more deals to add to the 21 military agreements signed in the last five years between Russia and Africa.
But between 2013 and 2017, Chinese arms sales increased by 38 per cent from the previous five-year period, with Africa accounting for 21 per cent of China’s arms exports, according the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The Chinese arms are picking up because they are easy to operate, effective, relatively cheap and boast similar features to the Russian weapons, according to military expert reports.
The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database shows that Uganda purchased most of its equipment from Russia, with biggest purchases happening in 2011. That is when it got the six famous SU-30mk aircraft in a US$635 million deal with accessories like guided bombs, Anti-ship missiles, and Anti-tank missiles. It also bought 32 BTR-80A Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) and 44 TS-90s tanks.
These assets have given Uganda superior airpower compared to Rwanda, DRC, Burundi, South Sudan, and Tanzania. Only Kenya boasts more air fire power. Just recently, on Nov. 7, President Museveni graduated 18 Ugandan Air Force pilot cadets at the newly upgraded Gulu Air Base. The base has new training facilities, equipment, and aircraft. The ceremony featured flight demonstrations with Cessna 172 piston trainers and L-39 jets from Bulgaria.
Rwanda has made most of its military orders from Russia, followed by Israel, Turkey and China. Rwanda’s reported latest purchase of 50 Red Arrow-9 self-propelled Anti-Tank missiles from China were received in 2018. That made Rwanda the first foreign armed forces known to be equipped with China’s ‘Red Arrow’ anti-tank missiles. In 2017 it got 30 Cobra Armoured Protected Vehicles (APV) from Turkey, and six Mi-8MT/Mi-17 helicopters from Russia.
Rwanda has Russian helicopters, Ural vehicles, small arms, and Air Defense Systems. The two agreed military and technical cooperation in 2017. But Rwanda is equally receptive to the Chinese. The military parade celebrating Rwanda’s 25th Liberation Day in August was overseen by Chinese instructors from the People’s Liberation Army Honor Guard.
The data indicates that military expenditure in Rwanda increased to US$119.50 million in 2018 from US$115.70 million in 2017. Rwanda’s highest expenditure was US$158 million in 1991. Burundi also boasts some Russian APCs got in a 2012 deal.
The mother of all question is: why should poor neighboring countries e.g.; Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda members of the EAC go int arms race? It is simply the culture of poverty and dishonesty that we spend our most valuable meager resources on self-destruction and false self-importance.
E.g., in 2011 Mr. Museveni raided the treasury and bought 6 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MK2 jet fighters worth US$740 million. 9 years down the road, the jets are parked to rust away in the tropical heat and rain. Only once in a while, but still piloted by Russians experts (pilots); they are flown around to burn tons of jet fuel/hr.
If the US$740 were put to a productive use, thousands of the 87% unemployed Ugandan youths would have been employed.
Well thought out comment.Actually I keep wondering why we have very few state partnerships.If indeed we were strategic we would be having partnerships in many areas including boarder to boarder patrols.
Sincerely I would call this irresponsible journalism. the un ending confilict in the great lakes region with Uganda at the centre should not be amplifed by any responsible citizens. If it was Bukedde newspaper with this kind of news, it would be understandable but for the Independent, you should rise above this. most people don’t underestimate the role of the mass media during tension and conflict among societies or states and like I have always said it is the arms merchants in the relative safety of the European capitals who celebrate all the way to the bank. In the remote jungles of conflict arena I know you journalist will tell the public what your funders want to hear but for the millions of souls to whom this place is home, your war drums can only presage those sinister motives of the smooth talking leaders of the nations that are involved. Bankrupt would in my words describe these leaders who think firepower is all that is requiered.
And I know for most ugandans who read the figures in this article they feel it is safe but if one looks at conflicts and their progression ,tactics play a significant role in any eventuality. It is for that reason that as a country it makes sense to have friends as neighbours or if need be to avoid conflict with neighbours at all costs .
Guns of whatever make are made for the sole purpose of killingand that is not one thing any country should be proud of. thank you
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