Salim Saleh

Salim Saleh
Salim Saleh
Born	Caleb Akandwanaho; 14 January 1960 (age 64); Military officer
Years active	1976 – Present

Salim Saleh (born Caleb Akandwanaho; 14 January 1960) is a retired Ugandan

UN Security Council for plundering natural resources in Democratic Republic of the Congo

.

Military career

In 1976, aged 16, he left

Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA), who together with Tanzanian armed forces captured Kampala in April 1979 – sending Idi Amin into exile. Saleh was later made a platoon commander of a UNLA unit in Moroto District. Following the bitterly contested December 1980 elections, Museveni declared an armed rebellion against the UNLA and the government of Milton Obote

.

Salim Saleh joined his brother's

Museveni becoming President. NRA became the national army, with Salim Saleh as a commanding officer, General Elly Tumwine as the Army Commander, and Museveni as the Commander-in-chief

.

Saleh proceeded to command an

army division against rebel groups that were remnants of the UNLA, including Uganda People's Democratic Army

(UPDA), in northern parts of the country. He was instrumental in working out a peace deal with the UPDA.

Saleh succeeded Elly Tumwine as Army Commander in 1987, and held the post until 1989 when, following accusations of corruption, he was sacked from the army by his brother. He later became the senior presidential advisor on defence and security (1996–1998), and the commander of the army's Reserve Force (1990–2001), involved in resettling army veterans of the bush war.

Saleh recalled RPF leaders to Uganda, over the death of the leader of the RPF Fred Rwigyema He arrested Peter Bayingana, who had taken de facto command of the RPF, and Chris Bunyenyezi. Both were executed.

Controversies

While still in the army, Salim Saleh ventured into private business and philanthropy, setting up a string of businesses ranging from real estate to aviation, and becoming one of Uganda's wealthiest businessmen, but also getting involved in several corruption scandals.

Uganda Commercial Bank

In 1998, Salim Saleh resigned from his post as presidential advisor, following allegations that Greenland Investments, a company in which he was a major stakeholder, had used the Malaysian company, Westmont, to illegally purchase shares in Uganda's largest bank, the now defunct Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB).^[2]^[3] His brother, President Museveni, later said he'd sacked Salim Saleh, not for his involvement in the scandal, but for "indiscipline and drunkenness" in the army.

Junk helicopters

In 1998, Salim Saleh's company purchased helicopters for the army, for which he received a commission of $800,000. The helicopters turned out to be junk.^[4]

Involvement in Congo (DRC)

Salim Saleh was specifically implicated in a

UN Security Council report for being involved in the illegal exploitation of natural resources from Congo (DRC) during the Second Congo War^[5]

. The government of Uganda dismissed the report, and no punitive actions were taken against those involved.[6]

Latest developments

In 2005, Salim Saleh, then a

A-level certificate, the minimum requirement to become a member of Parliament of Uganda. Following the elections, he was appointed Minister of State for Microfinance.^[8]

References

^ "Uganda: Our Politicians: Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho", New Vision (published online by AllAfrica), 5 June 2006
^ "The role of the International Community", Human Rights Watch
^ "UPDF Regional Issues", Horn of Africa: The Monthly Review, 11-12/98
^ "Uganda: Museveni's New-Look Cabinet Shows He's in Charge", The East African (published online by AllAfrica), 30 May 2006
^ "Final Report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo", UN Security Council – S/2002/1146 (excerpts), 16 October 2002
^ "Museveni to blame for DR Congo scandal Archived 7 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine", Daily Monitor, 25 December 2005
^ Salim Saleh Promoted to General^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Keep out of trouble, Museveni warns Saleh Archived 19 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine", New Vision, 9 June 2006

External links

Military offices
Preceded by General Elly Tumwine	Commander of the National Resistance Army 1987–1989	Succeeded by Major General Mugisha Muntu
Preceded by NA	Commander of the Reserve Forces 1990 – 2001 2006–2008	Succeeded by Lieutenant General Ivan Koreta
Government offices
Preceded by NA	Minister of State for Microfinance 2006–2008	Succeeded by Ruth Nankabirwa

[frelimo-1] "Uganda: Our Politicians: Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho", New Vision (published online by AllAfrica), 5 June 2006

[hrw-2] "The role of the International Community", Human Rights Watch

[westmont-3] "UPDF Regional Issues", Horn of Africa: The Monthly Review, 11-12/98

[junk-4] "Uganda: Museveni's New-Look Cabinet Shows He's in Charge", The East African (published online by AllAfrica), 30 May 2006

[UNsec-5] "Final Report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo", UN Security Council – S/2002/1146 (excerpts), 16 October 2002

[ugprsd-6] "Museveni to blame for DR Congo scandal Archived 7 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine", Daily Monitor, 25 December 2005

[7] Salim Saleh Promoted to General^{[permanent dead link]}

[8] "Keep out of trouble, Museveni warns Saleh Archived 19 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine", New Vision, 9 June 2006

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[8]