Iryn narrates Japan ordeal in tears

By Josephat Sseguya

Singer Iryn Namubiru, who was given a hero's welcome on Monday upon her return from a police cell in Japan, broke down while she narrated her ordeal at Interpol headquarters in Kololo.

Iryn had been summoned by Interpol boss Asan Kasingye to elucidate further about the drugs she was arrested with two weeks ago at Narita International airport in Japan.

The singer arrived at Interpol Wednesday at 11.30am accompanied by her manager Thadeus Mubiru and promoter Balaam Barugahare. She was grilled by Asan Kasingye and James Kyomukama, the anti-narcotic Crime chief.

The CIID head of investigations into the case, Patrick Opeitum was also present. Kasingye who first barred the media from the proceedings later informed journalists that Police are probing how the drugs found on Iryn in Japan made it out of Entebbe airport.

He said everyone who has been mentioned in the case would be grilled.

These are; Alex Muyomba who purchased the items in which the drugs were found, Thadeus Mubiru Namubiru's manager and Hakim Tumwesigye, the promoter who had contracted Iryn to perform in Japan.

Iryn revealed that when Hakim's home in Japan was searched by police they found bags of maize flour, groundnut paste and ghee, just like the supplies he had asked Iryn to take him.

The singer, still looking worn down by her three-week ordeal, broke down and cried when she commented about a section of the public that claimed the whole thing was stage-managed to boost her popularity. She said she could not imagine how people could make such accusations after all the traumatising experience she went through.

She said the drugs were concealed in a yellow suitcase and sewn just underneath the bottom.

Some of the drugs were also concealed in the frames of two portraits of the Kabaka and President Museveni. The others were concealed in groundnut paste.

She however regretted her negligence saying had she been keen she would have figured out why someone would send abroad poorly drawn portraits of the high profile personalities.

Iryn had been summoned by Interpol boss Asan Kasingye (left) to elucidate further about the drugs. PHOTO/Abou Kisige

Her statement

While at police Iryn showed journalists her affidavit she made in Japan which read:

In the first week of April Dr. Hilderman rang me and said a music promoter in Japan, Kim Ueno aka Hakim Tumwesigye aka Charles Tumwesigye wanted Ugandan singers to perform at Yotsukaido Cultural Hall on May 4.

Kim sent posters advertising the concert that had my portrait, Dr. Hilderman and King Michael. However he later sent other posters with only my portrait.

On May 2 when I was leaving the country, about one hour before heading to Entebbe, my manager (Thadeus Mubiru) called me and said Kim wanted me to take him some things and that he would cover the expenses for excess luggage.

I had refused to take the suitcase because I do not take other people's luggage but my manager convinced me it was just portraits and food stuffs.

I requested him to have sniffer dogs inspect the luggage first. We met at Zaab Supermarket in Najjanankumbi where he handed me a yellow suitcase.

He opened the suitcase and I peered inside and saw maganjo maize flour,  coffee beans, a tin of Royco, groundnut paste and ghee.  

I drove to the airport and went through security checks before boarding an Emirates flight number EK730 bound for Dubai. I boarded another one, flight number EK318 to Narita in Japan.

Arrival in Japan

Kim was supposed to pick me from the airport and he was the one to receive the suitcase. On arrival I was given two slips to detail what I had in my luggage. When Kim's luggage was checked they found drugs (methamphetamine’ or ‘crystal meth’). I was arrested and recorded a statement before I was taken to Chiba.

The next 20 days, I made several other statement to customs,  police and prosecutor. I was given two government lawyers but my promoter Balaam Barugahare paid a third one who would be coordinating with my family.

The Japanese authorities informed me that Kim had for long been known to do shoddy business and that I was not his first victim.

On May 21, I was produced in court as a state witness where Kim was being charged with drug trafficking. I was released on May 24 after the Police in Japan proved that I had been set up which the French embassy communicated to a relative of mine.

- Irene Gladys Namubiru Morel -