South Sudan's President Salva Kiir. Photo via The Tower Post

The South Sudanese government has advised its citizens in Uganda to avoid large gatherings in the wake of a terror attack that killed at least three people and wounded several others in the capital, Kampala Tuesday.

Three attackers on motorbikes blew themselves up near parliament in the centre of Uganda’s capital during rush hour in an attack later claimed by the Islamic State group.

South Sudan’s deputy Foreign Affairs minister, Deng Dau Malek said that his government regrets the incident in Uganda’s capital, equating it to the work of dark forces hell-bent on destabilizing a country.

“We have received reports corroborating the media reports of a blast which occurred this morning in Kampala, which is a regrettable incident. It is the work of the dark forces who want to destabilize the security of Uganda and put the lives and safety of people at risk. Because of this, we advised our embassy in Kampala to further advise our people in Kampala and in other urban areas to avoid going to areas where there are large crowds, large gatherings,” he explained.

Uganda’s police spokesperson, Fred Enanga was quoted saying 33 people were injured in the blast which mainly targeted government buildings and police stations.

At least 23 of those injured in the attack were police officers, media reports show.

“Two suicide bombers were clearly captured on CCTV cameras, on motorcycles, disguising as Boda Boda riders. They detonated the bombs they were carrying on themselves that killed them instantly,” Enanga told reporters in Kampala Tuesday.

The police spokesperson said the fourth suicide bomber was arrested in Bwaise after he was shot and disabled by counter-terrorism operatives.

The attacks come barely a month after the last suicide bomb attack on a Swift Safaris Bus, which took place on October 25, 2021.

According to police, the explosions carried out by suspected domestic terrorists are linked to Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). - Chol Mawel, The Tower Post

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will provide an opportunity to elevate China's role in fostering international solidarity, peace, and the green transition, a Kenyan scholar has said.

Cavince Adhere, a scholar of international relations with a focus on China-Africa relations said the sporting jamboree, whose preparations have gone overdrive will also showcase the Asian nation's soft power, ecological civilization model, and its sterling performance in the COVID-19 battle.

"By hosting the Olympics, Beijing is demonstrating its international cooperation resolve, putting forward some of the best infrastructure aimed at strengthening the spirit and outcomes of the games," Adhere remarked in a commentary published by Daily Nation, a Kenya-based newspaper on Wednesday.

While noting that Olympic Games have fostered unity and human ingenuity, Adhere said the 2022 edition in Beijing will raise the bar higher in advancing humanity's collective good.

He lauded China for the meticulous preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympics, adding that staging them against a backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic disruptions over the past two years will be a major feat.

Adhere noted that Beijing has come up with a solid plan to enhance the safety of international athletes. He commended China's decision to offer COVID-19 vaccines to participants at Beijing Winter Olympics besides promoting regular screening and other pandemic control measures.

"China's enviable track record in containing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic therefore makes Beijing one of the most qualified nations to stage the Olympic Games at this time," said Adhere.

He observed that for the first time in the history of the Olympics, the 2022 edition will be powered by green energy, hence marking a significant milestone in blending sports and climate action.

The expert stressed that Olympic Games have always served to bridge cultural, political and ideological divides adding that the Beijing edition will test China's resolve to rally nations toward unity as opposed to division.

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will take place between February 4 and 20, followed by the Winter Paralympics from March 4 to 13. Xinhua

Hakuzimana Abdoul Rashid and his lawyer Felix Rudakemwa. Photo via The Chronicles

Hakuzimana Abdoul Rashid, the political figure arrested three weeks ago accused of negating 1994 genocide against Tutsi in YouTube videos, appeared this Wednesday for his second bail hearing.

In the last hearing, Hakizinana said he had no lawyer. The session was move to today.

At Wednesday’s hearing, with attorney Felix Rudakemwa, who is Dr Leon Mugesera’s lawyer, Hakizimana informed the Nyarugenge primary court that it should rule on his illegal detention before bail hearings begin.

Prosecution is charging him with denying the genocide, negating the genocide, spreading ethnic divisions and spreading rumours. Prosecution says all these cases were committed in YouTube videos where he appeared being interviewed.

However, given space to speak, Hakizinana and his lawyer said the investigating prosecutor who interviewed him, tortured him psychologically. The investigator is said to have wondered whether Hakizinana didn’t learn from his previous 8-year jail term.

The investigator reportedly let it be known to Hakizinana that he would ensure he went to jail for a longtime by bundling together as many cases as possible.

Hakizinana told court that the investigating prosecutor instead of doing his job by conducting interview and writing down what was said, he was threatening the suspect.

It is the reason the prosecution dossier before court has no responses from the suspect Hakizinana. The suspect’s forms are empty.

However, when asked to speak, the prosecution said Hakizinana’s responses are not in the file because he refused to speak as he was before investigators.

Prosecution claims that Hakizinana, in the cited YouTube videos, repeatedly said: ‘those who are not commemorated should also be accorded commemoration’.

By this, according to prosecution, Hakizinana is suggesting there was a double genocide in Rwanda.

This charge has become common in many cases involving politicians and journalists.

The judge said he will make a ruling on November 22. - Kerry Jabo, The Chronicles