[UAH] Musumba's wife speaks about family's plight - National - monitor.co.ug

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Musumba-s-wife-speaks-about-family-s-plight/-/688334/1885076/-/cuuu2/-/index.html

Ms Salaamu Musumba has criticised what she perceives as government's uninspiring approach in resolving the dispute and helping the trio. PHOTO BY Joseph Kiggundu 

"At family level, the children can still talk to their father. He has explained to them what happened, and they also told him what they read in the newspapers. We prepared these children for the worst and they are cushioned in ways many ordinary Ugandans are not. They even expect a lot worse.

I think there is a foreign policy issue at stake here; it reminds me of how Ugandan traders are harassed and tortured and the government's perennial promise that they will be helped. Anyone who has been in India will understand their passive resistance to foreigners and when you face a problem, it is difficult to expect to be helped by authorities there.

I talk to my husband every day and he sends emails. I think the media got the conversation [of what transpired in India] upside down. It should have been asking the question: Who are the biggest actors in our economy. The game of big money ($20m claim) is a dangerous game. The glee with which the media was promoting the Indian interests over ours shows we do not have a sense of national interest. It is sad.

Now I have to account for him (Mr Musumba) to his friends, constituents, district. The people keep wondering how a government can't help them.

When you hear the public utterances by [the Foreign Affairs minister], his juniors; Okello-Oryem and Asuman Kiyingi, you are left wondering how a citizen is defended in a foreign country when they get into problems. It's even worse that he has been their colleague [as the immediate past state minister for Regional Cooperation]. If they can treat him like that, how about ordinary Ugandans [who get in trouble] abroad? It's shameful."

April
• Former Minister Musumba, MP Mawanda and businessman Mathai fly out to India, and check into Trident Hotel. They have at hand an arrest warrant for Indian debtors over a Ugandan mining deal gone bad.
• Mumbai Mirror reports on April 20 that the trio was arrested the previous day and questioned by the police for allegedly trying to extort $20 million from proprietors of Videocon, an electronics company.
• The Ugandans raise counter claim, sue alleged defaulters.
•State International Affairs Minister Oryem Okello tells Parliament that the India government had restrained movement of Musumba and MP Mawanda until Kampala proves the authenticity of their diplomatic Passports.

May
• Matter goes quiet as hearing continues into case filed by the Ugandans who alleged harassment by police
June 19:
• High Court ruling expected, paving the way for return of the former minister and his colleagues

tbutagira@ug.nationmedia.com

Musumba's wife speaks about family's plight - National - monitor.co.ug
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Musumba-s-wife-speaks-about-family-s-plight/-/688334/1885076/-/cuuu2/-/index.html