Besigye Treason Suspect Flees

DENNIS Murindwa, a self-proclaimed Reform Agenda activist, has disappeared from his home in Ntinda, The New Vision learnt yesterday.Emmy Allio and Juliet Nankinga report that Murindwa , a social sciences student at Makerere University, is a cousin to self-exiled Col. Kizza Besigye, the head of the Reform Agenda and runner-up in the 2001 presidential polls.Military intelligence chief Lt. Col. Noble Mayombo yesterday said Murindwa had fled but blamed the judicial system for it.“We were not trailing Murindwa. If we wanted we would have re-arrested him outside the court gates last Friday. We were expecting him in court on May 16 when he was expected to answer treason charges as per the terms of his release,” Mayombo said.The Buganda Road Court chief magistrate, Frank Othembi, on May 3 ordered the release of Murindwa from Kampala Central Police Station cells, saying the detention was unlawful. Murindwa’s wife, Doreen, yesterday told The New Vision at her home in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb, that her husband told her on Monday that he was visiting his doctor. She said he last spoke to her on telephone, telling her that he was proceeding to a friend’s place to rest.Doreen said, “He said he would call me to pick him up. I am still waiting for his call.” Mayombo said Uganda does not have an electronic chain system like in America for detaining or confining suspects. He said, “He was a free man as soon as the magistrate declared him free. As far as we are concerned, he is due in court on May 16.”Mayombo showed The New Vision a seven-page document of Uganda People’s Redemption Army (UPRA) military code. He said, “In the past the Reform Agenda people asked for evidence, to prove they are behind rebel groups, but now we have the evidence including suspects in government custody.”He said, “The best way to end extra-judicial conduct of security agencies is for all state departments to do their part. This way, you can guarantee the human rights of suspects.”On the Murindwa case, he blamed the absence of the Director of Public Prosecutions who was supposed to sanction the treason charge.Mayombo said whereas James Opoka of the Reform Agenda has links with Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander Kwoyelo, Murindwa was recruiting for UPRA led by colonels Samson Mande and Anthony Kyakabale.He said Murindwa’s co-accused in the treason case will appear in court today. They are Fred Biryomumaiso alias Basigi, Baguma alias Albaba, 40, Ali Faraj, 37, and Moses Byamukama alias Levi Kato, 25.Mayombo said he had documents and tape recordings of Murindwa’s activities. He said the peace-loving public should beware of the Reform Agenda claims.“This group blamed CMI for the detaining in unknown places of Besigye, Kyakabale, Mande and others. The truth was that these people fled. We know where they are,” he said. Mrs Murindwa said on Monday Police and Military personnel stormed their home looking for him in vain.She said since Friday unknown people have been trailing their movements and vehicle UAD 198Z double cabin, had been packed at their home throughout the day and night.Murindwa was arrested by security personnel on April 28 in Kamwokya, Kampala, on allegations that he was recruiting rebels.She said about 10 people stormed their house, searched everywhere including the ceiling, refrigerators and the surroundings.“We fear for our lives because we do not know where he is or whether he was taken by security personnel,” Doreen said, as her two children stood by.She said her husband had been around since he was released.Ends