Police grills Bulisa MP over violence
Jul 23, 2007
BULISA MP Steven Biraahwa was yesterday interrogated for over five hours over allegations of inciting violence in the district. <br>Accompanied by his lawyers Isaiah Byenkya and Paul Baingana and his wife Silvia, the MP arrived at the CID head office in Kibuli at 10:50am.
By Herbert Ssempogo
BULISA MP Steven Biraahwa was yesterday interrogated for over five hours over allegations of inciting violence in the district.
Accompanied by his lawyers Isaiah Byenkya and Paul Baingana and his wife Silvia, the MP arrived at the CID head office in Kibuli at 10:50am.
The group first headed to the office of the acting commissioner for crime, Elly Womanya, where they stayed for over an hour.
They proceeded to the media, political and terrorism unit, where Biraahwa recorded a charge-and-caution statement, before coming out at 4.25pm.
The trio returned to Womanya’s office but left after a few minutes.
“He came here to respond to the police summons. They needed to get his side of the story,†Byenkya said, adding that his client had to “set the record straight.â€
Biraahwa, who accused the media of wrongly portraying the incident in his district, said he was “accounting as the area MP.â€
“I am happy that I have had a discussion with the police. I am happy that my proposals have been understood,†he told the press.
He reiterated his earlier stand on the land dispute between herdsmen, commonly known as the Balaalo, and the Bagungu.
“My position is that once someone settles in a place, they should respect zoning and land use pattern,†he stressed.
Biraahwa argued that the land in question was communal and should not be used for “selfish reasons.â€
Likening himself to Saint Steven, Biraahwa said he would not give in to intimidation.
“Even if I am silenced, there are so many people going to fight for this land. What I go through is immaterial. If I am imprisoned and the people get their land, it is okay,†he said.
Friends and sympathisers, among them MPs Kizza Rwembebera (Hoima), Beatrice Mpairwe (Bulisa woman) and Hajji Ibrahim Kaddunabi (Butambala), visited Biraahwa at the Police station.
Biraahwa has the backing of the Bagungu, according to their patron Abel Kaahwa, who also turned up.
“The issue is not tribal. It is just about survival. They have taken over all the arable land. The people are starving. They should leave as soon as possible.â€
He dismissed claims that the balaalo had bought land worth over sh800m.
The land dispute recently escalated into violence as the Bagungu attacked the homesteads of the herdsmen.
Houses were torched, civilians wounded and several head of cattle hacked to death.
BULISA MP Steven Biraahwa was yesterday interrogated for over five hours over allegations of inciting violence in the district.
Accompanied by his lawyers Isaiah Byenkya and Paul Baingana and his wife Silvia, the MP arrived at the CID head office in Kibuli at 10:50am.
The group first headed to the office of the acting commissioner for crime, Elly Womanya, where they stayed for over an hour.
They proceeded to the media, political and terrorism unit, where Biraahwa recorded a charge-and-caution statement, before coming out at 4.25pm.
The trio returned to Womanya’s office but left after a few minutes.
“He came here to respond to the police summons. They needed to get his side of the story,†Byenkya said, adding that his client had to “set the record straight.â€
Biraahwa, who accused the media of wrongly portraying the incident in his district, said he was “accounting as the area MP.â€
“I am happy that I have had a discussion with the police. I am happy that my proposals have been understood,†he told the press.
He reiterated his earlier stand on the land dispute between herdsmen, commonly known as the Balaalo, and the Bagungu.
“My position is that once someone settles in a place, they should respect zoning and land use pattern,†he stressed.
Biraahwa argued that the land in question was communal and should not be used for “selfish reasons.â€
Likening himself to Saint Steven, Biraahwa said he would not give in to intimidation.
“Even if I am silenced, there are so many people going to fight for this land. What I go through is immaterial. If I am imprisoned and the people get their land, it is okay,†he said.
Friends and sympathisers, among them MPs Kizza Rwembebera (Hoima), Beatrice Mpairwe (Bulisa woman) and Hajji Ibrahim Kaddunabi (Butambala), visited Biraahwa at the Police station.
Biraahwa has the backing of the Bagungu, according to their patron Abel Kaahwa, who also turned up.
“The issue is not tribal. It is just about survival. They have taken over all the arable land. The people are starving. They should leave as soon as possible.â€
He dismissed claims that the balaalo had bought land worth over sh800m.
The land dispute recently escalated into violence as the Bagungu attacked the homesteads of the herdsmen.
Houses were torched, civilians wounded and several head of cattle hacked to death.