By George Murumba

22^nd Nov 2010

Sudan's JEM Rebels

President Yoweri Museveni’s government has dismissed allegations from Sudan that it is supporting the Darfur based Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels.

Sudanese authorities accused Kampala of harbouring JEM rebels who are fighting President Omar Bashir’s government in the troubled region of Darfur.

Khartoum says since it implemented security arrangements with Chad and closed the Chadian border earlier this year, JEM rebels are sending their troops to Uganda and Southern Sudan where the government of the semi-autonomous region is also accused of backing Darfur rebels.

Ambassador James Mugume, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however dismissed any suggestion that Uganda supports the Sudanese rebels.  He also added that Uganda asked the Sudanese government without success to come to Uganda to discuss their claims.

“…Absolutely there is no truth in it.  We have asked these people to come, we are waiting for them”, Ambassador Mugume told the Chinese Xinhua news agency last Tuesday.

Ugandan ambassador to Sudan Betty Akech has been summoned twice by the Sudanese Foreign Ministry to protest Uganda’s alleged support for the Darfur rebels.  Uganda on the other hand, has accused Sudan of supporting the rebel Lord Resistance Army (LRA).

Last month, Lt. Col. Felix Kulaigye, the Defence and Army Spokesperson, said the LRA leader Joseph Kony had left Central African Republic and was currently hiding in the restive region of Darfur which borders the CAR.

“…We cannot pronounce ourselves on whether Kony receives any support from the Sudanese authorities but what we can confirm is that (the Sudanese) are aware of his presence on their territory and they’ve not done anything to chase him”, Kulayigye said.

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