Major Sabiiti Flees To Britain

By Emmy AllioFORMER army director of records Major Sabiiti Mutengesa has fled to the United Kingdom, citing threats to his life, family sources said yesterday.Sabiiti was living on Plot 110, Mutesa Road in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb. The compound of the bungalow is unswept, the balcony dusty and flowers are overgrown. Sources said Sabiiti, his wife and children fled the country nearly three weeks ago.“He told us that his relationship with the acting army commander, Maj. Gen. James Kazini, is “very bad.” He feared for his life,” a family source said.Kazini has repeatedly denied having any grudge against Sabiiti. But the army has expressed concern over Sabiiti’s whereabouts since he went missing. Major Steven Kananura succeeded Sabiiti who was posted to the Chief of Personnel and Administration (CPA) for redeployment.“Kazini is not interested in and is not after Sabiiti. That man is suffering from personal view of himself. He is fleeing from his own guilt,” army spokesman Shaban Bantariza said.Bantariza said during the recent Army Council meeting, it was found out that as director of records, Sabiiti had a lot of independence from commanders and the army authority and tended to transfer soldiers without consulting commanders.Bantariza said Sabiiti met President Yoweri Museveni to express his points. “The facts are that Kazini is innocent. Sabiiti may even not have been aware of malpractices in his office by his staff,” the army PRO said. “We know that he is not deployed but attached to CPA. He was awaiting deployment. We also know that he is absent without taking official leave. He has not told us where he is,” Bantariza said.He said, “The CPA is counting 21 days and after its expiry, Sabiiti will be declared Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) or a deserter.” He would not say when the 21 days began or when they expire.He said army rules allow a board of inquiry to be instituted to find out the whereabouts of the officer. “If his whereabouts are not established, he is subsequently boarded off and not regarded as an army officer.“When a soldier is declared a deserter, he should expect to be arrested and charged. But I am not saying that Sabiiti is a deserter. He may show up anytime,” Bantariza said.Sabiiti was suspended last year as director of records after 350 ghost soldiers were found on the payroll. However, he was cleared of any wrong-doing.Ends