New witness testifies in Besigye trial
Apr 20, 2006
Jennipher Aryem, the controversial witness in Col. Kizza Besigye treason case, must be hospitalised for an operation over a serious infection, the court heard yesterday.
By Anne Mugisa, Hillary Kiirya and Hillary Nsambu
Jennipher Aryem, the controversial witness in Col. Kizza Besigye treason case, must be hospitalised for an operation over a serious infection, the court heard yesterday.
Aryem, who appeared in court yesterday, has fluid in both ears with the left one most affected, a Mulago Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat specialist said in a report.
The report indicated that the infection was so serious that Aryem might be fitted with a hearing aid after the operation. It is not clear when Aryem might be able to testify again.
Aryem failed to come to court the previous day, prompting Justice Vincent Kagaba to order the prosecution to produce her yesterday. Defence lawyers had said Aryem was pretending to be sick.
Defence lawyer John Matovu said Aryem had fled the country, fearing to testify. However, Aryem yesterday said she had severe pain in the ears, especially the left one. She said she could not hear clearly.
She said the doctor assured her that once the fluid was removed, she would be fine.
Kagaba allowed her to get treatment and contact the prosecution when she was able to testify again.
Another witness, a brother of one of LRA rebel’s top commanders, said he represented the LRA in one of Besigye’s meetings in Kampala, plotting to overthrow the Government.
George Abedo, 43, who called himself a peasant from Lacor, Gulu, said his brother, LRA commander Thomas Kwoyello, asked him to attend the meeting.
He said before the meeting he was introduced to Aryem, who has also said she connected Besigye to the rebel commanders. He said Aryem said she was from Kampala and wanted him to assist her get in touch with the LRA.
He said he was introduced at the Kampala meeting, which he said Besigye chaired, as an LRA visitor. He said Besigye urged the meeting participants to fight to overthrow the Government.
Abedo said Byaruhanga, Ssalambwa, Migadde, Patrick, one Mutyaba, Obote and James Opoka were present.
He said before he became a rebel, Kwoyello was abducted by the LRA in 1991. He said the next time he saw his brother in 2000, he was a rebel commander.
He said Kwoyello that time sent their cousins, LRA rebel collaborators, to collect him to meet him in the bush. He named the collaborators as Bosco Otti, Bosco Atube and Moses Akena.
He said Aryem told him then that she was LRA commander Onen Kamdulu’s sister. From then they would go to the bush together to meet Kwoyello. He said this time they went with Bosco Otti, Bosco Atube and Moses Akena. He said Kwoyello refused to discuss with Aryem, because of her gender, and told them to bring a man for discussion.
He said they returned and parted ways at Pabo internally displaced people’s camps. He said Aryem returned another time with Ssalambwa and two other men and they travelled to the bush to meet Kwoyello.
He said Kwoyello discussed with Ssalambwa before they returned to Pabo where Ssalambwa and Aryem boarded a vehicle to Gulu enroute to Kampala.
Abedo said next, in June 2001, Aryem, Ssalambwa, Migadde and Patrick met Kamdulu and Kwoyello in separate meetings in Gulu.
He said this time Kwoyello directed him to travel with Aryem, Ssalambwa, Migadde and Patrick to Kampala to a meeting of the Reform Agenda, headed by Besigye.
Ends
Jennipher Aryem, the controversial witness in Col. Kizza Besigye treason case, must be hospitalised for an operation over a serious infection, the court heard yesterday.
Aryem, who appeared in court yesterday, has fluid in both ears with the left one most affected, a Mulago Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat specialist said in a report.
The report indicated that the infection was so serious that Aryem might be fitted with a hearing aid after the operation. It is not clear when Aryem might be able to testify again.
Aryem failed to come to court the previous day, prompting Justice Vincent Kagaba to order the prosecution to produce her yesterday. Defence lawyers had said Aryem was pretending to be sick.
Defence lawyer John Matovu said Aryem had fled the country, fearing to testify. However, Aryem yesterday said she had severe pain in the ears, especially the left one. She said she could not hear clearly.
She said the doctor assured her that once the fluid was removed, she would be fine.
Kagaba allowed her to get treatment and contact the prosecution when she was able to testify again.
Another witness, a brother of one of LRA rebel’s top commanders, said he represented the LRA in one of Besigye’s meetings in Kampala, plotting to overthrow the Government.
George Abedo, 43, who called himself a peasant from Lacor, Gulu, said his brother, LRA commander Thomas Kwoyello, asked him to attend the meeting.
He said before the meeting he was introduced to Aryem, who has also said she connected Besigye to the rebel commanders. He said Aryem said she was from Kampala and wanted him to assist her get in touch with the LRA.
He said he was introduced at the Kampala meeting, which he said Besigye chaired, as an LRA visitor. He said Besigye urged the meeting participants to fight to overthrow the Government.
Abedo said Byaruhanga, Ssalambwa, Migadde, Patrick, one Mutyaba, Obote and James Opoka were present.
He said before he became a rebel, Kwoyello was abducted by the LRA in 1991. He said the next time he saw his brother in 2000, he was a rebel commander.
He said Kwoyello that time sent their cousins, LRA rebel collaborators, to collect him to meet him in the bush. He named the collaborators as Bosco Otti, Bosco Atube and Moses Akena.
He said Aryem told him then that she was LRA commander Onen Kamdulu’s sister. From then they would go to the bush together to meet Kwoyello. He said this time they went with Bosco Otti, Bosco Atube and Moses Akena. He said Kwoyello refused to discuss with Aryem, because of her gender, and told them to bring a man for discussion.
He said they returned and parted ways at Pabo internally displaced people’s camps. He said Aryem returned another time with Ssalambwa and two other men and they travelled to the bush to meet Kwoyello.
He said Kwoyello discussed with Ssalambwa before they returned to Pabo where Ssalambwa and Aryem boarded a vehicle to Gulu enroute to Kampala.
Abedo said next, in June 2001, Aryem, Ssalambwa, Migadde and Patrick met Kamdulu and Kwoyello in separate meetings in Gulu.
He said this time Kwoyello directed him to travel with Aryem, Ssalambwa, Migadde and Patrick to Kampala to a meeting of the Reform Agenda, headed by Besigye.
Ends