Museveni revokes deployment of ex-chief spy to South Sudan

February 9, 2022 (JUBA) – Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has revoked the deployment of former military intelligence chief, Maj. Gen. Abel Kandiho to South Sudan and appointed Maj Gen Jack Bakasumba as his successor.

Kandiho who last month removed from his position and deployed to South Sudan as the head of peace monitoring and verification mechanisms.

“His excellency the president and commander in chief of the Ugandan defend force has appointed major general Abel Kandiho as chief of staff of joint staff of the Uganda police force, replacing  Major Gen Jack Bakasumba who has been appointed the Ugandan delegate to the South Sudan Peace Monitoring Mechanism”, Uganda’s Defense ministry tweeted on Tuesday.

In December last year, Kandiho was sanctioned by the United States administration for human rights violations against civilians in Uganda.

As such, it was largely viewed that his deployment to South Sudan would exacerbate the already strained relations between the two countries.

The U.S is one of the key peace partners and a country that played a significant role in the birth of Africa’s newest nation and thus expects South Sudanese leaders to embrace institutionalism, good governance including transparency, accountability, respect for human rights and democracy.

Some political observers linked Museveni’s change of heart to the presence of Rwandan troops in South Sudan as part of a peacekeeping force. According to media reports, Rwandan President Paul Kagame had complained that Kandiho was the mastermind behind mass arrests and detention of its citizens in Uganda.

Kadiho’s removal from his posting, they say, was one of the key demands.

(ST)