While still laying on the hospital bed of Lubaga hospital, Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine narrated to his wife and children about how he was brutally man handled while under police custody. "My nasal bone was broken. I was given four injections, I hope they are not toxic. However I have […]
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The chairperson for Uganda Electoral commission justice Simon Byabakama has responded to president Museveni's criticism saying they are valuable feedback that informs the electoral body on the quality of services and areas which require s attention. Speaking to women leaders at hotel African over the weekend, Museveni expressed displeasure with the Electoral Commission blaming it […]
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Last Saturday the 25th of August, the roads heading to Munyonyo were all busy as party animals and other well wishers made their way to Speak Resort Munyonyo where the Royal Ascot Goat Races returned with a big bang after 6 years without happening. Organised by Sheena Ruparelia who is daughter to billionaire Sudhir Ruparelia, […]
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In light of his intensive use of the Swahili language, Ugandan singer Jose Chameleone will be awarded at the Urithi Festival celebrations on the 1st of September at Dodoma Jamhuri Stadium by the Tanzanian president Magufuli. Jose Chameleone is expected to Arrive in Dar Es Salaam on the 31st of August then travel to Dodoma […]
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When President Yoweri Museveni ordered for the arrest of former inspector general of police Gen Kale Kayihura on June 13, he'd just been handed a report compiled by the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) about the death of Andrew Felix Kaweesi.
The report implicated Kayihura, the then Flying Squad commander Herbert Muhangi, Col Atwooki Ndahura formerly director Crime Intelligence and many other police officers who had formerly been Kayihura's blue-eyed boys.
Kayihura and the other officers were accused of planning, executing and covering up the murder of police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi. Kaweesi was sprayed in a hail of bullets on the March 17, 2017 in Kulambiro, Kisaasi a Kampala suburb.
ISO had put together a comprehensive 100-page report including statements of witnesses, expert reports on various exhibits and evidence collected by the intelligence officers under ISO director Col Kaka Bagyenda.
The full report was then handed to the president in June 2018 and after reading it, he ordered for the arrest of Kayihura and every other person who was named in the report as having been behind the murder of Kaweesi.
ISO's report indicated that Kaweesi was murdered on orders from another unnamed country. A reliable source told URN that President Museveni begun receiving information implicating Kayihura as early as August 2017 but asked ISO to compile a comprehensive report.
"The president was obviously unhappy on how the Kaweesi murder was investigated. Even after suspects were charged in court, he kept asking Kayihura to investigate the case and give results. But early this year, his words changed. He kept accusing police of working for foreign interests," the source said.
On June 8, 2018, Bagyenda confirmed to the media that ISO was investigating the murder of Kaweesi and investigations were almost complete.
Some of the evidence presented against Kayihura and his men included audio recordings of conversations between Kayihura and Muhangi.
In the recording, the voice alleged to be Kayihura asks whether the assignment is done and Muhangi confirms that it is finished. The call was allegedly made at 9:20am on March 17, 2017, the day Kaweesi was killed.
Attached to the audio was an audio analysis expert report allegedly from Makerere University. The report also had call printouts which placed Muhangi and Richard Ndaboine the then head of police Cyber Crime Unit in Kulambiro at the time of Kaweesi's murder.
The report also alleged that planning meetings were held at Kati Kati restaurant chaired by Kayihura in which 10 police officers and two civilians were in attendance a few days before Kaweesi was assassinated.
The report also had a statement from a boda-boda cyclist who had allegedly transported the shooters to Kulambiro on orders of Kayihura. The cyclist only identified as Musa was arrested in August 2017 by ISO and is claimed to have confessed to being part of the murder plot.
In the confession statement attached in the report, Musa says he was told that a senior police officer was the one who wanted Kaweesi dead and would thus protect all of them from being arrested.
Musa also alleged that he was in contact with Geoffrey Wambewo the late Kaweesi's driver who also died and that his role was to signal the shooters that Kaweesi was in the vehicle.
Another statement in the report was that of Christine Mbabazi Muhooza, a close friend of the late Kaweesi. In a statement, she indicated that she had been contacted by Kayihura and asked to spy on Kaweesi days before his death and to share the information with him.
Muhooza also said that she was privy to meetings which were being held in Lugogo planning for Kaweesi even though she did not know the plan was to murder him.
Another witness in the report was Paddy Sserunjoji alias Sobi a former armed robbery and murder convict who is indicated in the report as having got witnesses from Kulambiro who could identify the shooters.
Sobi also says some friends told him that they had been contacted by police officers for an assassination which they feared executing.
Investigations into the report
Upon receipt of the report, Museveni held a meeting with police boss Martin Okoth Ochola, director Criminal Investigations Grace Akullo, head of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence Abel Kanduho and Bagyenda.
He ordered for an investigation into allegations made in the ISO report. A team of seven people was set up comprising of five police officers and two CMI operatives. The officers included Akullo, deputy director CID Joseph Obwona, head of CID Homicide department Mande Agaba, head of CID Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) Johnson Olal and Officer in Charge CID Kira Road Police Sophie Neboshe.
Before the investigation started, the president ordered for the arrest of Kayihura on grounds that he had capacity to interfere with the investigations.
The role of the investigative committee was to verify the authenticity of the report. This included interviewing the witnesses whose statements were in the report, talking to the investigators and the intelligence personnel who worked on the report and authenticating the documentary evidence provided.
"The committee was doing due diligence to the report. Whatever they found would be the basis of whether the file moves to court for prosecution or is trashed," our source who was privy to the workings of the committee said.
He adds, "Midway the investigations, ISO contested the presence of Olal and Neboshe being part of the team and in fact were asked to keep away from part of the investigations."
Findings
Last week, the committee handed over a fully compiled 160 paged report to the President on their findings while investigating the ISO Kaweesi murder report.
During the questioning of witnesses, the committee had found that most of them had been coached and did not have any idea about the Kaweesi murder.
The first to be questioned had been the boda-boda cyclist who claimed to have transported the shooters. It was discovered that Musa had no idea where Kaweesi's assassination occurred from.
He was put in a car and asked to direct the investigators where he took the shooter. He, however, took them to a place far away and in the opposite direction to where Kaweesi was murdered from.
The committee also questioned Muhooza who retracted her statement and revealed that she had been forced by Bagyenda to pin Kayihura or else she would be arrested.
The committee also questioned the authenticity of the audio analysis report from Makerere University which proved that the voices were those of Kayihura and Muhangi. It also showed that the audio was doctored.
The committee found out that Makerere did not have any department with capability to analyse voices. The committee sent the audio to South Africa and it was declared doctored by audio experts.
The intelligence officer who is the originator of the audio recording disappeared when he heard the committee wanted to question him on the source of the audio and thus his statement is not reflected in the report.
The report, in conclusion, found that ISO's report was a sham and all the evidence had been fabricated to pin the alleged suspects.
It is after the handing over of the report that it was decided the Kayihura be tried of offences that had already been investigated by the army back when he was still IGP.
Guest writer/letters' editor For purposes of this article/letter I will quote Ms. Caroline Cummings "the comfort zone is a very nice place but nothing grows there. Take the leap today and start your business". Another quote by Winston Churchill goes "a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every […]
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By Our Reporter Bebe Cool made a fortune at his “Golden Heart” charity concert which was held at Kololo airstrip early August, it has emerged. We have learnt that the “Azina Aseka” singer made over half a billion shillings from the concert proceeds. This was revealed by the singer as he addressed media on Monday […]
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BBS TV's bubbly presenter Racheal Namwanje should by now be cursing the bad omen tormenting her living after losing her only ride to robbers. According to our sources, the former Super FM presenter’s Toyota Premio car was robbed on Friday 24th August 2018 from her apartment in Kigaga zone Natete-Rubaga Division and despite the endless […]
The post BBS TV's Racheal Namwanje’s Car Still Missing After Losing It To Thives appeared first on Chano8.
By Staff Writer Songstress and vocal queen Babaritah who is Maritini Entertainment songbird is another artiste that has got on raving with 2018 as she has released a brand new tune called Tebankadiya. Tebankadiya literally means "I cannot be left out for others" This is a love song that she has added to her endless […]
The post Babaritah Releases Brand New Tebankadiya Tune appeared first on BigEye.UG.
The Joint Operations Command (JOC) has withdrawn military personnel who'd been deployed in the city centre to contain demonstrations over the detention of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.
The personnel mainly from the Special Force Command (SFC), an elite force that guards the president, his family and VIPs and the Military Police were called in for reinforcement after supporters of Bobi Wine last week staged protests across the city over his continued incarceration and alleged torture whilst in detention.
Bobi was initially charged in an Army court in Gulu with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and remanded to Makindye military barracks.
Since Monday, the army has been patrolling the streets in different parts of the town. They had also been deployed at various police stations. Yesterday, Friday, the soldiers were withdrawn from the city centre while those in the outskirts such as Najjera, Naalya, along Northern bypass, Busega, and Makindye were maintained.
Some of the soldiers withdrawn from the city centre were taken to reinforce those in the city outskirts. Those on standby in case of any chaos are stationed at Bwaise and Kalerwe roundabout, Kisekka market, and Makindye military police headquarters.
Soldiers were captured on camera randomly beating up journalists and innocent civilians during the protests in the city prompting the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen David Muhoozi to issue a public apology.
The police spokesperson Emilian Kayima says police and sister security agencies will continue to monitor the situation.
"We have intelligence that further riots might occur as some groups of boda-boda riders in and around Kampala are being mobilised. There are equally recorded messages on social media platforms that are mobilising people to engage in crime, spreading harmful propaganda, hate speech and other forms of crime," Kayima said.
The Police's Field Force Unit which is the specialised unit for crowds and riot control has also been put on standby at various strategic locations in Kampala and surrounding districts. The biggest manpower is at Naguru, Nsambya and at Constitutional Square.
Demonstrations over Bobi's arrest and alleged torture broke out allover the country and outside including in South Africa, Kenya, Canada, Tokyo, Norway among others. Various international artists and writers have also condemned his arrest.
On Thursday charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were dropped against the MP and he was freed only to be re-arrested within 52 seconds and charged in Magistrate's court with treason.
Earlier, at least 33 others including MPs were also charged with treason in the same court and remanded until August 30.
Faded Ugandan singer Dr Bitone, well known for having a voice that bares a close resemblance to Dr Jose Chameleone has allegedly run mad again and is currently back on the streets of Kampala. Different pictures showing Dr Bitone on the streets of Kampala have surfaced ans are currently making rounds on different social media […]
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OMUYIMBI Ragga Dee (ow'ebiviiri akutte akazindaalo) katono ebyana bimuzaaze bwe byamulumbye ku siteegi ne bizina naye amazina agalimu okumusoomooza. Waliwo eyazinye ng'okutu akutadde ku fulaayi y'empale...
OBWAKABAKA bukungubagidde omugenzi Gaster Nsubuga eyaliko Minisita omubeezi ow'ebyobuwangwa, Gaster Nsubuga 81, eyavudde mu bulamu bwensi ku Lwokusatu ng'era Kabaka yasiimye asibulwe mu kitiibwa ng'omubiri...
The former police chief, Gen. Edward Kale Kayihura today morning finally appeared before Makindye Military Court after spending over two months in detention and upon his court appearance he pleaded not guilty. The former IGP was charged with three counts namely: allowing issuance of firearms to Boda 2010 between 2010 -2018, failure to protect war […]
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Tanzanian veteran singer Mr Nice got one of his worst disappointments in his life after renowned local music promoter Abtex of Abtex Promotions failed to pay his booking fees for the 'Ekyeppukulu' concert which the singer had been booked to perform at on 24th of June 2018 at Namboole Stadium. From then, there have been […]
The post "I Am Here For Lots Of Projects"-Mr Nice Denies Rumours Of Being Stuck In Kampala appeared first on Chano8.
Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court confirmed President Emmerson Mnangagwa's disputed July 30 election victory on Friday, dismissing an opposition challenge that had held up his inauguration. In a unanimous ruling of the nine judges of the country's top court, Chief Justice Luke Malaba said opposition leader Nelson Chamisa had failed to prove allegations of fraud during the […]
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EYALI omuduumizi wa Poliisi mu ggwanga Gen. Kale Kayihura olwaleero asimbiddwa mu kkooti y'amagye e Makindye mu maaso g'akulira kkooti eno Andrew Guti, ne bamusomera emisango esatu omuli omubadde okukozesa...
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF)'s total assets Under Management (AUM) hit Shs9.8 trillion as of June 2018, a 26 percent increase from 7.2 trillion the previous financial year, the Fund said as it reviewed its 2017/18 financial performance. Richard Byarugaba, the MD of NSSF, attributed the Fund’s impressive performance to a favourable investment climate […]
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On Friday the 21st of April last year, American Grammy award winning Dj Diplo of the electronic dance music trio Major Lazer excited revellers who filled Golf Course Hotel's Banquet Hall to capacity to watch him do his thing. Diplo was accompanied by his colleague MC Walshy Fire and together they put up a remarkable […]
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By Martin Zwilling Market opportunities for your new venture are now immediately worldwide, thanks to the pervasive access to the Internet and social media communication. But this doesn't mean that you can treat the world as one big homogeneous market, ignoring the vastly different geographic cultures, economic, and political realities. Scaling worldwide is like hyperlocal […]
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Social Media in a twist of events, this morning Facebook and Twitter have been filled with pictures where re-known city tycoon Bryan White is seen within vicinity with the President. Our sources reveal that Bryan White was with the President yesterday as the president inspected Karuma falls in Kiryandongo district. Many times the public has […]
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All the four positions for the National Women Council Executive have been won unopposed by the NRM Flag bearers. This comes after the failure by other political parties to field candidates during the Thursday 23 August 2018 nominations. The four flag bearers who were presented for nomination by party Secretary General, Justine Kasule Lumumba, were […]
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A Pass' recent Arua visit turned into a nightmare after his car broke down at time he was going to drive back to Kampala. The Dancehall singer was definitely forced to tow the car and the rest is now history as the car is back on the road Still about the car, on Thursday, basing […]
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Socialite Anita Kyalimpa alias Anita Fabiola is super excited upon being appointed as the host of this year’s UNNA convention and trade expo in Seattle, USA. The TV personality and ‘NBS Katch Up’ beauty queen will be the real engine of this year’s annual Ugandan North American Association Conference as they will be celebrating 30 […]
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Opponents are denied bail and stay longer in jail
Treason, over the years, has become government's preferred charge of choice against many of its harsh critics.
Though the charge usually doesn't provide an easy path to a conviction – government however, has used it to good effect to keep its opponents longer in jail and on trial.
A week after MPs were arrested in the West Nile district of Arua, and spirited off into military detention where they were tortured, lawyers and opposition leaders have denounced the treason charges levelled against them as political persecution.
They told The Observer this week that the State loves to slap trumped-up treason charges for pure political harassment. Julius Galisonga, a human rights lawyer, said that the desired objective is to keep people in prison as a punishment before conviction.
"Ordinarily with capital offences there is a period of time you must remain on remand before even the hearing of the case can start or applying for bail; this is what those who prefer such charges are after," Galisonga said.
On August 13, MPs; Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu a.k.a Bobi Wine, Francis Zaake, Gerald Karuhanga, Paul Mwiru, Kassiano Wadri and 30 others were arrested in the heat of the Arua municipality by-election.
Bobi Wine is emerging as an effective mobiliser, thrice helping to defeat President Museveni's candidates beginning with his own spectacular, landslide by-election victory in Kyadondo East.
He and the others were viciously attacked and taken by the Special Forces Command (SFC), the elite force which protects the president.
Save for Kyagulanyi who was charged in the military court martial for unlawful possession of military hardware and Zaake who is in a coma, the other 33 three appeared in the Gulu chief magistrates court. A charge of treason was read out against them. Today, August 23 Kyagulanyi was also charged with treason in the same court.
There is still lack of agreement on what triggered the mayhem but supporters of Wadri, who won this contest with Bobi Wine's support, are reported to have thrown stones at the convoy of President Museveni on the eve of poling day.
What followed after the president left town, was an indiscriminate retaliatory attack on unarmed civilians by SFC troops. Yasin Kawuma, Kyagulanyi's driver, was shot dead.
Why government likes it?
Treason charges have been preferred against many real or perceived opponents of Museveni ever since he shot his way to power in 1986.
It became a pet charge with the emergence of Col. (rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye as a formidable opponent in the last 18 years.
Besigye was first charged with treason in 2005, barely a month before the acrimonious 2006 general election. The former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) founding leader was accused together with 22 others, including his brother Musasizi Kifefe, of belonging to the shadowy People's Redemption Army (RPA).
Musasizi died in prison. Ten years later in 2016, Besigye was again arrested and remanded for close to six months for swearing himself in after the 2016 elections he claims he won.
FDC man Michael Kabaziguruka, the Nakawa MP who himself is facing two treason cases; one in the magistrate court and the other in the General Court Martial, agrees that treason charges are being abused for political reasons.
"I was arrested in 2012 and charged with treason but as we speak, I have never been committed to the High court for trial. But before they could even finish prosecuting that case, I was arrested again and this time charged in the military court martial on the same grounds. The president claimed I wanted to kill him," Kabaziguruka said.
When he was first arrested, Kabaziguruka was locked up for four months. Likewise in 2016 he was held in Kigo prison for four months until High Court judge Yasin Nyanzi granted him bail.
"The head of state said publicly that I tried to assassinate him; that the UPDF will not release me. In the military when the head of state makes such a statement you don't expect Gen Andrew Gutti [GCM chairman] to give me a fair hearing. The purpose of this charge is really to put you out of circulation and cause inconveniences," Kabaziguruka says.
Betty Nambooze Bakireke, now MP for Mukono municipality, was kidnapped in 2009 while still the head of the Buganda Kingdom's Central Civic Committee campaigning against a proposed change in the land law. Nambooze was held in several prisons across the country on charges of terrorism and treason.
"Museveni is very petty; he picks on big cases so that he can keep you in prison for years. The time you spend in police custody or on remand is a punishment in itself because he knows he has no case against you," Nambooze said.
The Mukono MP is still recovering from injuries inflicted upon her by the SFC soldiers who attacked parliament last year.
When she was produced in court, the 2009 charges had been reduced to sedition. Nambooze says that her captors told her she would only be released if she accepted to meet the president.
"What made the president drop these charges was because he was put under a lot of pressure from Mengo to release us. I have been on bail since then but I no longer report back to court and nothing has happened," Nambooze says.
"It's very shameful that courts of law have been used as tools of oppression. They use these charges to make you permanent prisoners. The aim is to hold you for a long time and restrict your movement."
Officials from the directorate of public prosecutions and attorney general's chambers couldn't be reached for a comment. Police spokesman Emilian Kayima declined an interview.
The legal opinion
Laudislaus Rwakafuzi, a human rights lawyer who has defended many against treason, agrees with Nambooze and Kabaziguruka.
"Treason is a grave offence…it is very hard to get bail hence keeping your opponents out of the way through the courts. They will tell you that it's the court that has remanded you yet actually it's the executive that has remanded you," Rwakafuzi says.
Dr Livingstone Ssewanyana, the executive director of Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, observes that because of the seriousness of the charge, it has a chilling effect on the individual and his or her entire network.
"It is intended to subdue that person such that he is no longer seen to assert him/herself," he said.
"The charge should be used sparingly. Actually, we have a Constitutional Court petition that will be heard in September challenging the powers of the DPP to charge somebody who is expressing him/herself with treason; that sort of charge amounts to abuse of office," Ssewanyana said.
He pointed out that treason cases take a lot of time before the state either loses interest or one is acquitted.
"It effectively puts the individual under the custody of the state and it's hard to get bail because with such a case you can only get a mandatory bail after 180 days. The charge doesn't only disfavour an individual but puts him/her at the whims of the state," Ssewanyana said.
All three men that the state doesn't prefer treason charges with intent to convict, but rather to secure victory over an opponent.
Galisonga adds that because the standard of proof is set at beyond reasonable doubt, requiring irrefutable evidence, 95 per cent of the treason cases either suffer a still birth or end up in acquittals.
"Treason involves actions that are not known to very many people unless one person confesses that indeed he had engaged in treasonous activities it very hard to prove," Galisonga said. The burden of proof is on the state to prove beyond reasonable doubt all the elements of the offence. The accused can even opt to keep quiet throughout the trial. He doesn't have to prove his innocence.
It is for this reason, the lawyer added, that government is now dragging people before military courts where orders from the commander in chief could override evidence.
"It is the court martial that can only convict people on such cases but their ruling would also be overturned on appeal in the civil courts,"Galisonga opines.
Rwakafuzi adds that in some of the cases he has handled, the state abandons the cases because they have no faith in the charges.
"Museveni is jittery; he doesn't want if there is another election to have this group from Kampala to go to the villages because when they go, they give the villagers hope and confidence to vote against the status quo. So, he is doing this so that nobody else tries; I can assure you if there is another by-election, very few people will go there," Rwakafuuzi says.
Kabaziguruka remembers meeting a one Africa Gabula who has been in prison for over 15 years after he was convicted of treason.
"He was lied to that they would give him a very lenient sentence if he pleads guilty. I was told he is one of the very few people who have ever been convicted of treason," Kabaziguruka said.
"The ingredients of proving such an offence were really tightened so that you don't wake up and think court will convict someone just like that."Kabaziguruka said.
What is treason?
Section 23 of the Penal Code Act, the collection of laws setting out criminal offences in Uganda and their punishment, states that a person commits treason when he/she; (a) levies war against the Republic of Uganda; (b) unlawfully causes or attempts to cause the death of the President or, with intent to maim or disfigure or disable, unlawfully wounds or does any harm to the person of the President, or aims at the person of the President any gun, offensive weapon, pistol or any description of firearm, whether it contains any explosive or destructive substance or not; (c) contrives any plot, act or matter and expresses or declares such plot, act or matter by any utterance or by any overt act in order, by force of arms, to overturn the government as by law established.
The section further states that a person also commits treason when he/she aids or abets another person in the commission of treason, or becomes an accessory before or after or conceals acts of treason.
The section describes death as the punishment.
Section 23 (2) states that any person who forms an intention to compel by force or constrain the government as by law established to change its measures or counsels or to intimidate or overawe Parliament; or instigate any person to invade the Republic of Uganda with an armed force and manifests any such intention by an overt act or by any utterance or by publishing any printing or writing, commits treason and is liable to death if convicted.
Section 23 (3,4) further note that a person also commits treason if he /she incites any person to commit an act of mutiny or any treacherous or mutinous act; incites any such person to make or endeavour to make a mutinous assembly, attempts to seduce any person serving in the armed forces or any member of the police force or prison services or any other security service, by whatever name called to withdraw from his or her duty and allegiance to the Constitution. Such persons are also liable on conviction to suffer death.
bakerbatte@observer.ug
Liberian President George Weah will tomorrow award his former football coach, Arsène Wenger, his country’s highest honour. Wenger arrived yesterday night in Liberia and will be set to become a Knight Grand Commander of the Humane Order of African Redemption, inducting him into Liberia’s Order of Distinction. President Weah was signed by Wenger from Cameroonian […]
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Dr Kizza Besigye, the former Forum for Democratic Change party president has been arrested from his home and and whisked off to Nagalama police station.
Officers from the Field Force Unit apprehended Besigye this morning when he stepped out of his home in Kasangati in Wakiso district to inquire what they were doing on his compound.
In a 'preventive arrest' move, police officers deployed early morning at homes of opposition politicians including Besigye, Ingrid Turinawe, the FDC Women League leader, Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago among others ahead of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi trial in the Army court in Gulu.
Shortly before he was arrested, Besigye told the media that Ugandans ought to 'wake up' and take on the struggle to liberate the country from what he called current dictatorship under President Yoweri Museveni. He said Ugandans are fond of leaving the struggle to the few politicians, choosing instead to comment about the political dynamics in the country from social media rather than take part in the struggle.
"Unless Museveni has capacity to barricade every home in Uganda, but whoever is not barricaded should do something...Now I have even seen some people on social media saying; 'why did you sleep in your home? You should know that it will be barricaded. You should sleep somewhere.' But, you, who's not barricaded, you should do something. This is not about anybody, struggle is for everybody that is what every Ugandan must wake up to." said Besigye.
Besigye was dragged into a waiting police known infamously known as the 'Besigye van' and driven to Naggalama police station. Besigye warned the state that arresting of a few opposition politicians will not silence the millions of disgruntled Ugandans out there.
"Cutting off 10 people cannot be cutting off 40 million people. So people wherever they they must be able to do what they can with what they have in every place where they're. The struggle cannot depend on Besigye, Lord Mayor Lukwago, Ssewanyana, Ingrid Turinawe - I don't know who and the few homes that are being barricaded," Besigye said.
Luke Oweyesigire, the Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson defended the deployment, saying they had received information that the said politicians were planning to cause violence in the city.
"We have got information that these leaders are planning to cause violence and we cannot allow this to happen again," said Oweyesigire.
Last evening, police issued a statement indicating that they had foiled a plan to set Kampala city ablaze when they impounded two trucks loaded with old car tyres.
Since the arrest and detention of Kyagulanyi in Makindye military barracks, sporadic protests broke out in the parts of the city and neighbouring districts - leading to the deaths of two people and the arrest of over 100.
Kyagulanyi was arrested in Arua following the shooting dead of his driver Yasin Kawuma. Kyagulanyi alongside 33 others were accused of stoning the convoy of President Museveni last week who was also in Arua for the by-election campaigns. He was then arrested on August 14, tried in the General Court Martial on August 14 on allegations illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. He was subsequently remanded to Makindye military barracks until August 23.
Today, the state dropped the charges of illegal possession of firearms and set him free. However within about less than a minute, Kyagulanyi was re-arrested and driven to the Chief Magistrate's court in Gulu to face charges of treason.
He was then remanded to Gulu prison until August 30. Last week, his co-accused who include three members of parliament, and about 30 civilians also appeared before the same court and were also charged with treason and remanded until August 30.
Meanwhile Kenyans today held protests in the capital, Nairobi over the continued detention of Kyagulanyi. The protests were organised by human rights activists.
The Law Society of Kenya advocacy group held a news conference demanding the politician's release.
"We hereby call on the government of the Republic of Uganda to launch a thorough independent and impartial (investigation) including appropriate forensic investigations into how Yasin Kawuma was killed with a shot to his head. There must be accountability for this death. (There must be) an immediate and unconditional release of Kyagulanyi, otherwise known as Bobi Wine, from military incarceration," said Charles Kanjama of the Law Society of Kenya.
The Law Society of Kenya called on its members to wear red ribbons in a weeklong campaign for solidarity with those in Uganda subjected to human rights violations.
"We urge the government of the Republic of Uganda to respect the rule of law and recognize that all power belongs to the people," Kanjama said. "The people of Uganda want peace and stability and the ongoing crackdown on opposition dissidents will do nothing but worsen the situation."
At Nairobi's Pawa 254 organization, musicians, artists and right activists turned up for a free concert to support the detained politician.
Al Amin Kimathi is part of the organizing team.
"We did not know the turnout would be this big," Kithmathi said. "We didn't know the kind of traction that it would gain around the country. We are happy that it is gathering that traction around the country and we hope that the message is getting home that Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is getting the message from the young people of Kenya."
Additional reporting by VOA
By Nila Faisal Eddy Kenzo is one musician who never forgets his roots and more especially the special people that paved way for his success. The 2015 BET Award winner has been left heartbroken after he witnessed his mentor Bobi Wine cry in court today, something he termed as "unacceptable". Kenzo has taken to social […]
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#CanaryReports: Immediately after prayers, supporters of Bobi Wine assemble outside chanting ‘People Power, Our Power’, a slogan used by Bobi Wine.
They are also singing ‘enkya, enkya’ - meaning ‘Tomorrow is D Day’ - Bobi Wine is expected in the Court Martial. #NBSUpdates
