Col Mande Flees To U.S.

By Emmy Allio LT. Col. Samson Mande, the former military attaché to Tanzania, has fled to the United States of America. Sources said Mande fled the country on Monday with his former aide de camp, Capt. Kabali Masembe. Both officers, facing charges of terrorism, reportedly entered Rwanda through the Katuna customs post and taken a flight to the US from Kigali. The New Vision was unable to confirm from the American embassy how the officers obtained visas. Security chiefs were tight-lipped over the issue, but a source said Mande and Kabali could have disguised themselves and travelled under false identity. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Phinehas Katirima yesterday said, "I cannot comment on that (Mande's alleged trip). But what I can tell you is that the army is looking for Mande. We are asking the public to help us trace him. He is wanted to answer charges of terrorism in the military court." On Tuesday, the army refuted press reports that Mande was re-arrested and was being kept in a "safe house in Ggaba, a Kampala suburb." The reports said Mande was on Easter Monday re-arrested by plain-clothes security personnel. In April 1996, Mande was recalled from Tanzania because he allegedly failed to account for nearly US$2m (about sh.3.5b) meant for the military. Late in 1996, Mande and Kabali were arrested after six guns were recovered in his house in Mengo. The prosecution said the two and others still at large were caught on August 8, 1996 at Wakaliga, Natete in Kampala with seven illegal sub-machine guns and bullets. They were reportedly ferrying the guns in a minibus, 442 UBA. They were granted bail in 1997, but were arrested in February this year on allegations that they had jumped bail and detained in Makindye Barracks. The military court on February 12 said their re-arrest was illegal and their bail was reinstated. Investigations are complete and the prosecution was waiting for Mande who has been ill to recover. The case was to come up in court on Monday. Ends