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Johnson Ondieki: Who is the General at the Center of the UN south Sudan Mission’s row with Kenya?

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The Kenyan government on Wednesday announced it is pulling out its peacekeepers from South Sudan after the sacking of its national who served as the force commander.

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The sacking of Lt Gen Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki on Tuesday followed the confirmation by a special UN investigation that the mission failed to protect civilians during the violence in Juba in July.

The special investigation found that a lack of leadership by UNMISS, spearheaded by Lt Gen Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki, resulted in a “chaotic and ineffective response” during the deadly battle between 8 and 11 July.

In a statement, the Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the dismissal, saying Lt Gen Ondieki was personally not to blame for what it called “systemic disfunctionality” within UN.

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It “revealed a high degree of disrespect for our country,” Kenya’s Foreign Ministry said.

So, who’s Lt Gen Ondiek?

According to the UN, Lt Gen Ondiek has more than 34 years of national and international military command and staff experience.

In May 2016, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Lt Gen Ondiek as Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

The appointment was marked as an addition to a list of international missions he has undertaken.

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In 2003, he was the commanding officer of the Kenyan Batallion 10 during the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone; operating from a region called Masiaka.

And between 2010 and 2011, he was the Sector Commander of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMISS) that was disbanded when South Sudan seceded from Sudan.

His appointment as the head of UN peacekeeping force in South Sudan in May 2016 placed him in the list of Kenyans who have held high-profile military positions in the UN.

Lt-Gen Ondieki became only the second Kenyan to hold such a high profile military position within the UN system, after Lt-Gen Leonard Muriuki Ngondi who, in 2012, was appointed the Force Commander for the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

Kenyan media describes him as the man behind most of the successes registered by Operation Linda Nchi before Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) joined the African Union Mission to Somalia.

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Lt-Gen Ondieki was among the military top brass that led an advance team to Somalia before KDF troops moved there for Operation Linda Nchi.

He was involved in the liberation of a number of towns from the Al-Shabaab militia, among them Afmadow, Busaar, Ras Kamboni, Elade, Fafadun, Busaar and Belesc Coqani.

When KDF captured Afmadow in May 2012, Lt-Gen Ondieki was a brigadier at a Dobley-based sector that coordinated the operation.

In recognition of his contribution to the war in Somalia, President Uhuru Kenyatta, in December 2013, appointed him to the position of Deputy Army Commander in a military shake-up following the September 21, 2013 attack on the Westgate Shopping Mall.

The 56-year-old’s fast rise within the ranks in the military system was attributed to a tribal balancing policy in the military. There are reportedly very few generals from the Gusii region in Kenya’s army.

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He holds a bachelor’s degree in peace and conflict studies from the African Nazarene University in Kenya, and is also a graduate of the War College in China, and of the Command and Staff College in the United States.

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Singer Bruno K Exposed For Neglecting His Son, Claims He Only Has One Child

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The internet has been abuzz following accusations leveled against Bruno Kiggundu, popularly known as Bruno K, over his alleged neglect of his son, Seth Kiggundu. In a tweet, a user identified as Keith alleged that Bruno K had abandoned his only son, Seth, and only pays attention to his daughter, Briella.

Keith claimed that Vanessa, his best friend, had a baby boy with Bruno K, and the singer had refused to fulfill his parental responsibilities towards Seth. He further accused Bruno of making Vanessa’s life difficult in 2022, which caused her to loathe the singer.

While it is essential to respect the baby’s privacy, it is crucial to hold public figures accountable for their actions, especially when they involve the welfare of children. The allegations against Bruno K are serious and should not be taken lightly.

Child abandonment is a severe issue that affects many children worldwide. It is a form of child neglect that can lead to adverse effects on a child’s development, including emotional and behavioral problems. Children who are abandoned by their parents may experience feelings of rejection, anger, and low self-esteem, which can lead to depression and anxiety.

As a public figure, Bruno K has a responsibility to set a good example for his fans and followers, especially young people. Neglecting one’s child is not only morally wrong but also illegal under Ugandan law. The Children’s Act of Uganda provides that every child has the right to parental care and protection, and any parent who neglects their child can be charged with child abuse.

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It is not clear whether the allegations against Bruno K are true, but if they are, he should take responsibility for his actions and do the right thing for his son. Children need both parents to grow up happy and healthy, and neglecting one’s child is unacceptable.

In conclusion, the allegations against Bruno K are serious, and if true, they represent a worrying trend of child neglect in Uganda. As a society, we must hold public figures accountable for their actions and demand that they do the right thing for their children. Let us all strive to create a safe and nurturing environment for all children, regardless of their family background.

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Speaker Rt. Hon. Anita Among Orders Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi To Stop Making Excuses For Not Establishing The Tribunal

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Speaker of parliament Rt. Hon. Anita Among has ordered the Minister of Information, Communications, Technology, and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi to stop making excuses for not establishing the tribunal which she said has been pending for a long.

The speaker’s order followed Dr. Chris Baryomunsi’s attribution of the delay to create the Uganda Communications Tribunal to the recent Cabinet decision on the rationalization of agencies.

The speaker of Parliament Among emphasized the need for the tribunal in place.

“We need a tribunal. How sure are you that we are going to rationalize [government agencies]? We want a tribunal in UCC; we cannot do ad-hoc kind of operations,” Among said.

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Act makes provision for the creation of a tribunal that is supposed to handle complaints relating to the decisions of UCC as provided under Sections 60 and 64 of the Act.

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“Work [to create a tribunal] was undertaken by my ministry but we are discussing it in the context of rationalization. The Executive is undertaking the rationalization exercise where agencies and departments are being reviewed and we couldn’t proceed to establish the tribunal. The cabinet cannot allow us to create new agencies,” Baryomunsi said. or enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.

He said this during the Wednesday, 22 March 20223 plenary sitting where he tabled the Uganda Communications (Fees and Fines) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023.
The regulations provide for fees and fines to be paid by telecommunication and broadcasting companies for spectrum or frequency access in order to improve telecommunication services.

His response was prompted by the Leader of Opposition (LOP), Hon. Mathias Mpuuga who accused the minister of ‘sleeping on the job’ by failing to fulfill the provisions of the UCC Act in regard to the creation of the communications tribunal.

“We have raised severally in our alternative policies the question of the minister failing to appoint the UCC tribunal. The minister is now the tribunal; he is acting as the complainant, prosecutor, and judge at the same time. The Ministry [of ICT] is holding media houses at ransom with no recourse to this tribunal,” Mpuuga said.

The Speaker referred the Regulations to the Committee on ICT and National Guidance for scrutiny with a strong caution to UCC not to start collecting fees until Parliament approves the regulations.
Section 93 of the UCC Act, 2013 states that, ‘the minister may, after consultation with the Commission and with the approval of Parliament, by statutory instrument, make regulations for better carrying into effect the provisions of this Act’.

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Anti-gay Bill Will Impinge Upon Universal Human Rights, Jeopardize Progress In Fight Against HIV/AIDS In Uganda-White House

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The White House and the European Union (EU) have joined the United Nations (UN) and other human rights groups in condemning the just passed Anti-homosexuality Bill.

The Bill that awaits assent from the president was passed by MPs on Tuesday night after a seven-hour heated session.

The bill introduces stricter penalties for people engaged in same-sex activities in Uganda including the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality.

It also proposes life in prison for the offense of “homosexuality” and up to 10 years in jail for attempted homosexuality.

Now White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre says the Bill is one of the most extreme laws targeting homosexuality in the world.

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She warns that this will not only impinge upon universal human rights, jeopardize progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS but will also deter tourism and damage Uganda’s international reputation.

“We have great concerns with the passage of the Anti-homosexuality Act by the parliament of Uganda and increasing violence targeting LGBTQI+ persons,” Karine said.

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