Gen Kainerugaba Urges China to Take Strong Action Against Criminals who Attacked Africans

The Ugandan Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has urged authorities in China to take action against criminal elements that have been attacking Africans caught up in China following the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

Gen Kainerugaba through his twitter handle said that many people have appealed to him to say something about what has been going on in China.

"A lot of friends, comrades and associates from across East Africa have been urging me to say something about the hooliganism and racism being exhibited by a small section of criminals in China against Africans. I urge the great Chinese Communist Party to take action against these criminals," Gen Kainerugaba noted.

The General explains that "China is a historical and reliable friend of Africa ever since the great Chairman Mao led the Chinese Communist Party to victory in 1949! They helped Africa defeat the existential threat of Colonialism. So, China is most definitely a friend of Uganda and Africa. I urge the great Chinese Communist Party to take strong action against these few counter-revolutionary spoilers. I also urge my fellow East Africans not to touch the Chinese people living amongst us. Let us teach the whole world what civilization means".

Background 

Recently, Africans including Ugandans in southern China's largest city say they had become targets of suspicion and subjected to forced evictions, arbitrary quarantines and mass coronavirus testing as Beijing steps up its fight against imported infections.

China says it has largely curbed its COVID-19 outbreak but a recent cluster of cases linked to the black community in Guangzhou sparked the alleged discrimination by locals and virus prevention officials.

Local authorities in the industrial centre of 15 million said at least eight people diagnosed with the illness had spent time in the city's Yuexiu district, known as "Little Africa".

Five were Nigerian nationals who faced widespread anger after reports surfaced that they had broken a mandatory quarantine and been to eight restaurants and other public places instead of staying home.

Several Africans told international media outlets that they had been forcibly evicted from their homes and turned away by hotels.

"I've been sleeping under the bridge for four days with no food to eat... I cannot buy food anywhere, no shops or restaurants will serve me," said Tony Mathias, an exchange student from Uganda who was forced from his apartment on Monday.

"We're like beggars on the street," the 24-year-old told AFP news agency.

However, the situation has since normalized as Ugandan authorities, through diplomatic channels engaged Chinese authorities.

Last week, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Sam Kutesa said that Ugandans who are stuck in China and have overstayed their Visas are to be registered, given assistance and have their visas renewed.

This followed a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda.

Hon Kutesa said the Chinese government had agreed to provide accommodation to Ugandans who have overstayed their visas and have no place of residence and not to evict any Ugandan or have their rent contracts relocated by landlords.

He added that Ugandans who cannot afford expenses while under quarantine shall be provided with financial assistance.