Sebaggala Wanted Jail

By John Kakande NASSER Sebaggala, the special campaigner for Col. Dr Kizza Besigye, has said he wanted to be remanded in Luzira Prison for at least two weeks, but was convinced by his supporters to apply for bail. Sebaggala, addressing a press conference in Kampala yesterday, maintained that he would ensure that foreigners do not vote in the March 7 presidential polls. He said his main goal was not to get appointed in Besigye's government but to remove what he described as the "Museveni dynasty." He said he would run for the presidency in 2006. Sebaggala said the Museveni camp was training a group of youth to discredit Besigye. But Ofwono Opondo, the deputy publicity secretary of Museveni' National Task Force, refuted the allegations. Sebaggala and Lubaga South Member of Parliament Ken Lukyamuzi, were arrested on Monday and charged with inciting violence, an offence that carries a two-year jail sentence. Sebaggala was further charged with inciting people against paying graduated tax. "My supporters prevailed upon me, but I personally wanted to stay in jail for at least two weeks. I would have swept the polls," Sebaggala said. He said if he were jailed, it would have given his supporters courage so they would not fear arrest or intimidation. He denied that he had incited people not to pay graduated tax. He said he had only explained to them that his candidate, Besigye, would scrap the tax if elected president. "We have not stopped people from paying the tax but we have told them that we shall scrap it. Museveni has also said people aged 60 years and above will be exempted and the youth would pay sh3,000. What has he been doing all this time?" Sebaggala asked. He attacked President Yoweri Museveni saying he had usurped the role of the Inspector General of Police, John Kisembo. "Museveni said Sebaggala would be arrested and he was arrested," he said. He said Museveni also played a role in his arrest and conviction in the USA. Sebaggala reiterated his position that there must be safeguards to stop foreigners from voting. "If the Government has no guilty conscience, why is it concerned? If I went to the US, I would not be allowed to vote. If Museveni went to Kenya or Tanzania or Rwanda, he would not be allowed to vote," he said. "We respect the foreigners, but they should not vote. I will ensure no foreigner votes," he added. He said he had to contend with a similar problem during the mayoral race. He said their supporters were being subjected to intimidation. He said while some army officers were campaigning for Museveni, those suspected to be Besigye's supporters were being rounded up on trumped-up charges. Sebaggala said the Museveni camp had stolen 10,000 T-shirts which they were planning to use in a smear campaign against Besigye. He said several youth were being trained for the job. But Ofwono refuted the allegation. "I am not aware that our people have taken their T-shirts. Have their clearing agents reported the matter to the Police? We do not need to steal the T-shirts, we can print them," Ofwono said. He said Mengo ministers were saying there ia a plot to frame them. "Mrs. Ssebugwawo has been standing in Lubaga North and losing. Robert Sebunya has stood in elections and lost. They are not a threat at all. People have been rejecting them. Ssemogerere lost in Buganda in 1996," Ofwono said. Ends