Lawyers demand gov't probe on Rwenzori attacks

By Andante Okanya

KAMPALA - LAWYERS representing the recently pardoned 126 former suspects in the July 5 Rwenzori attacks, have asked government to institute a comprehensive probe to unravel the root cause of the attack.

Addressing the press on Monday in Kampala, the lawyers under consultancy firm Legal Brains Trust, stated that the culprits of the attack must be arrested.

On December 8, the state unconditionally withdrew charges against the former suspects at the Court Martial sitting in Bundibugyo.

The former suspects were on trial for murder and illegal acquisition of fire arms charges before the General Court Martial.

Led by Isaac Ssemakadde, the lawyers stated that although the government's gesture of unconditional pardon was good, many issues still remain unresolved.

"Government must give accountability to Ugandans. It should take steps to see that the perpetrators are apprehended," said Semakadde.

The suspects were arrested following the attacks on police and army barracks in Ntoroko, Kasese and Bundibugyo districts, which left over 90 people including soldiers, police officers and civilians dead.

The other lawyers were Aaron Kiiza, Arthur Ayorekire, and Sunday Apollo. The representation at the Bundibugyo Court Martial was under the code name Rwenzori Justice Mission.

Semakadde advised government to take note of the region's unpredictable relationship between the ethnic Bamba and Bakonzo.

"Government should focus on the Rwenzori region with its socio-political problems with a view of solving them. What happened is merely symptoms, which could result in genocide if not checked," Semakadde stated.

There was unrest in the western Uganda region following the attacks. (Photo credit: Ali Wasswa)

‘Hoodwinking people’

Kiiza said the pardon was a face-saving mechanism, after it failed to adduce evidence against the former suspects.

He stated that government was left with no choice but to discontinue the trial after the purported witnesses gave contradicting statements.

"Government had no chance but to withdraw charges against the 126.It claimed they were investigated but had no evidence," Kiiza said.

He claimed that the former suspects deserve to be compensated by government for the time spent in detention.

Ayorekire described governments move as "hoodwinking the people", noting that the Court Martial was impartial.

Apollo lamented that the former suspects are in a precarious situation, as there is still tension in Bundibugyo.  He said they face stigmatisation from their communities, as they return home.

"Government should intervene and protect these people. What is happening now is simply cosmetic," Apollo said.

The conference was attended by three of the former suspects Grace Biira, Yaledi Kamalha, and Elijah Kabundu, who narrated their experiences.

They asserted that they are law abiding citizens who were arrested, as they carried out their daily routine of activities.

The lawyers vowed to pursue the freedom of 53 suspects still detained.