Photo James Odong

The captain of Uganda’s national sevens team last week disappeared from his hotel in Monaco where the team was isolated after some members tested positive for coronavirus ahead of the repechage qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics.

His disappearance was discovered when the team were due to be retested at the end of their isolation periods, the Uganda Rugby Union reported.

“It has been brought to the attention of the Uganda Rugby Union Executive Committee that one of the players, James Odong, has been missing from the hotel room where they had been placed for isolation as a measure to control the spread of COVID-19,” the Uganda Rugby Union said on June 25.

“James travelled on June 16 and on arrival they had to undergo a compulsory isolation in the designated tournament hotel.

“On completion of self-isolation on June 19, they were to undergo another COVID-19 test at a venue outside the hotel.

“James Odong did not turn up for the test and when the team members returned to the hotel, he was not in his room or hotel complex.

“The incident was brought to the attention of the team manager who immediately informed the tournament organisers.
“James is in possession of all his valid travel documents with a valid visa, which expires on June 26.

“Uganda Rugby Union takes discipline very seriously and this matter is being dealt with accordingly.

“We have handed over the matter to the relevant security agencies in Monaco and will cooperate with them, the tournament organiser, the French Embassy, National Council of Sports and any other authority to assist with the conclusion of this matter.”
Two of Uganda’s athletes arriving for the Tokyo Olympics have tested positive in Japan.

The East African country is grappling with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic which has seen the country registering over 1,000 cases daily, according to several newswire services, including Xinhua. The country is currently under a partial lockdown aimed at limiting the spread of the virus.

Over the last few years there have been numerous cases of Ugandan athletes absconding when playing abroad. - Ian Brodie, Monaco Daily News

KIGALI, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi met at Rwanda's border town Rubavu on Friday to discuss bilateral relations.

Tshisekedi was received by Kagame at La Corniche One-Stop Border Post in Rubavu before the two leaders toured Rubavu to assess the damage caused by the recent earthquakes following the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo volcano in eastern DRC.

Later in the day, the two presidents held a closed door bilateral meeting in Rubavu.

Rwanda and the DRC enjoy warm bilateral relations, and the two presidents wish to strengthen bilateral cooperation, Vincent Biruta, Rwandan minister of foreign affairs, said at public broadcaster Rwanda Television during an evening news program.

The two countries are looking forward to strengthening bilateral ties in trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges, said Biruta.

According to Biruta, Rwanda and the DRC have recently witnessed an increase in cross border trade, which is key to improving social and economic development between the two neighbouring countries.

He said Rwanda and the DRC have maintained close high-level exchanges, which shows the two countries attach great importance to bilateral relations.

On Saturday, Kagame is expected to reciprocate the visit by visiting Goma town in eastern DRC where he is expected to be welcomed by Tshisekedi.

Delegations from both countries are expected to sign a number of bilateral agreements to further strengthen bilateral ties. - Xinhua

The logo of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is seen during a news conference after a plenary session at the OECD Headquarters in Paris, France, on October 18, 2019. Photo Reuters

Global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force has removed Ghana from its increased monitoring process and added other nations to the list. 

"The FATF congratulated Ghana for the significant progress it has made," the Financial Action Task Force said in a statement on Friday.

Haiti, Malta, the Philippines and South Sudan were placed on the organisation's "grey list" to monitor and counter money laundering and terrorist financing.

FATF said nations on the "grey list" are working with it to correct deficiencies in their financial systems.

Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela pledged to improve oversight on financial crimes on Wednesday. He spoke at a press conference ahead of the official FATF announcement.

FATF's mostly African list

The task force places on the grey list countries subjected to increased monitoring who have "committed to resolve swiftly the identified strategic deficiencies within agreed timeframes".

Nineteen countries — mostly in Africa and none in Europe — are currently under increased monitoring by the intergovernmental watchdog, which was created in 1989.

While describing the decision as "undeserved", Abela said Malta would remain committed to more reforms in fighting money laundering.

"While I consider this decision as one which is unjust, our country will continue to build on the many reforms we have already done", Abela said.

"Instead of complaining, we will see this challenge as an opportunity", he told journalists, pledging to respect the watchdog's decision.

Impact on Malta's foreign investment

The move comes one month after the Council of Europe's anti-money laundering body, Moneyval, cited Malta's improvement in combating money laundering based on the country's higher international compliance ratings in certain areas.

Malta had reached full compliance with 12 of FATF's 40 recommendations, Moneyval said last month, retaining "minor deficiencies" in the implementation of 28 others.

Media in Malta this week quoted senior government sources as saying that the United States, Britain and Germany were among those wanting the island to be grey-listed.

Inclusion on the list can have negative consequences for Malta's financial services, especially gaming and banking, as well as its attractiveness to foreign investment — all of which are key to the economy.

Malta has long been dogged by charges of laxity on corruption, the focus of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia's investigations before her 2017 murder. - TRT World