Uganda’s Defence chief demands evidence over sexual exploitation

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Katumba Wamala, on Friday asked for evidence on the recent allegations by the US that Ugandan troops in Somalia were sexually exploiting women.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), a New York based organisation, early this month issued a report which alleged that Ugandan peacekeeping troops in Somalia were sexually exploiting vulnerable women and girls.

“It has been one of the things which have engaged me very heavily with my friends in the US because it had touched their nerve,” Gen. Wamala told reporters at the military headquarters.

He has just returned from the US where he was inducted in the Hall of Fame by the US Army War College in recognition for being at the pinnacle of the Ugandan army.

He is the fourth General in Africa to be inducted through the Hall of Fame and the first in East Africa.

Wamala said that he had asked HRW before it published the report to produce evidence so that the victims could get justice but it declined, saying it has to protect its sources.

“If you are protecting the sources, how will they get justice unless I know the persons who are involved? Victims have to give evidence and appear in court,” he said.

According to Wamala, the African Union is investigating the allegations and Uganda is ready to discipline any of its officers if found guilty.

The US is one of the major facilitators of the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.

However, Uganda provides the bulk of the peace keeping troops.