DP condemns re-arrest of Kaweesi murder suspects

Waiswa (right) addressing a press conference while DP official Rogers Senyimba looks on. This was at DP offices in Kampala. Photo by Kennedy Oryema

The Democratic Party (DP) has condemned security operatives over last week's incident where four Kaweesi murder suspects were re-arrested after they had been granted bail at Nakawa court.

Security operatives re-arrested Umaru Maganda, Ahmed Senfuka, Ibrahim Lisa and Abdul Musa Ojere as they left the court premises.

These were among the seven suspects granted bail by court. They are facing charges over the murder of former AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi early this year.

The four suspects were arrested by armed men in civilian clothes. However, Police denied any involvement in the ‘dreadful arrest' of these suspects stating that it was carried out by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).

Outgoing Police spokesperson Asan Kasingye on Monday while addressing journalists at Naguru Police headquarters, said the suspects were only handed over to Police for further investigations.

He said they were re-arrested in connection with alleged rebel activities connected to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and are currently being detained at Nalufenya in Jinja.

DP says the action taken by CMI was  illegal and uncalled for, adding that those involved in need to be charged.

"Once court gives somebody freedom, you are not supposed to hold that person by the same charges because bail means that the case is pending, either to be set for hearing or for the state to finish its investigations," said Alex Waiswa the party spokesperson.  

Waiswa made these remarks during the weekly press briefing at the party headquarters in Kampala on Tuesday.   

The act by security operatives has not only been condemned by the DP, but also by human rights activists and judicial officers including the Chief Justice Bart Katureebe who also condemned the security agencies who interfere with the judicial work when magistrates grant suspects bail.

The party also expressed support to the doctors who are currently on strike over 'poor pay and poor working conditions'.

"As DP we want to categorically state that we are fully behind the strike. We support them for their cause because they have been taken for granted for a long period of time.

"We also want to reecho the strike of the prosecutors and call upon all other government workers to come and have industrial action against a regime that's only thinking about itself. When they were looking for money for the age limit consultations, sh. 13b was got in a week," Waiswa stated.

The health minister last week during a presser ordered the doctors to return to work and also ordered the resident district commissioners (RDCs) in a circular from the President's Office to carryout roll calls countrywide, something the doctors saw as a threat and vowed to carry on with the strike which has since entered the second week now.

This has paralysed health services in public health centres countrywide causing a dent in the health sector as many patients are left stranded.