Ugandan president lashes out at ICC over Kenyatta trial

Speaking at the east African country’s 52nd Independence Day celebrations in Kampala yesterday, President urged African leaders to reconsider their relationships with the ICC for its humiliation of African leaders, Uganda’s New Vision newspaper reported.

“The problems that occurred in Kenya in 2007 and that happen in other African countries are, first and foremost, ideological. For ICC to handle them as just legal matters is the epitome of shallowness,” Museveni said.

He was graced by the presence of fellow heads of states Salva Kiir of South Sudan, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania who he referred to as “our brothers”. He attributed the absence of President Kenyatta to being “summoned by the big boys”.

“The pushers of the hegemonic agenda have been misusing the ICC, an institution we initially supported,” he added.

He also criticised the ICC for ignoring the African Union’s (AU’s) request that the court should stop indicting sitting African heads of state.

“That group did not see much merit in the collective wisdom of the Africa leaders,” Museveni said to prolonged murmurs.

President Kenyatta, together with his deputy who was remained in the country as Acting President during Kenyatta’s trial, William Ruto are facing trial for crimes against humanity emanating from the bloody fallout from the  highly charged 2007 presidential polls in Kenya that claimed the lives of over 1000 people.

Kenyatta contends that the charges against him are politically motivated and has since received support from the African Union which (AU) wants the case dropped or shelved until he is out of office.