‘I linked LRA to Besigye’
Apr 05, 2006
THE first witness in the treason trial of FDC president Col. Kizza Besigye and 22 others yesterday told court that Col. Besigye asked her to link him to LRA rebel commanders.
By Hillary Kiirya, Milton Olupot, Anne Mugisa and Hillary
THE first witness in the treason trial of FDC president Col. Kizza Besigye and 22 others yesterday told court that Col. Besigye asked her to link him to LRA rebel commanders.
Jennifer Aryemo (right), a Sacred Heart SS student abducted by LRA rebels and conscripted into their ranks, said she travelled to Gulu and established contact with LRA commander Kwoyello. She said she delivered Besigye’s message to Kwoyello for the two sides to unite and fight the Government.
She said she returned with a message for Besigye who sent her back to Gulu with another one to Maj. Ssalambwa to meet Kwoyello with a request for 300 guns to start rebellion.
Aryemo, who testified in Luo through an interpreter, said she was introduced to Besigye by Maj. Ssalambwa. She told a fully-packed court that during the meeting, Besigye revealed two things: that he was taking the Government to court over a rigged 2001 presidential election and that he was taking up arms to overthrow it.
Anne Mugisha, Byaruhanga, Ssalambwa, Besigye, herself and two other people attended the meeting, she said.
The trial, which started yesterday at the High Court, is presided over by Justice Vincent Kagaba. The accused are charged with treason and concealment of treason.
“When I met him with other people in his office at Crest House (Kampala), he told me two things. One was that he would sue the Government because the election was rigged and that he would fight against government,†Aryemo said while answering questions put to her by the deputy Director of Public Prosecution, Simon Mugenyi Byabaka, the prosecutor.
Besigye and other suspects took notes as Aryemo spoke. Dressed in a checked jacket, Besigye, who sat on the third row, was composed.
Aryemo said she was introduced to Besigye by Maj. Salambwa, who contacted her on phone. She said she knew some Reform Agenda officials like Mugisha and Byaruhanga through James Opoka.
The other 22 suspects are Capt. James Katabaazi, Godffrey Mwebembezi, Frank Atukunda, Jurua Jackson Mcpeace, Abbakar Baiga, Abugo Achikulo Amiye, James Tabuga Kabaka, Umar Kissa, Abelli Kacwano, Yahaya Amir Asega, Iddi Ahmed Yunus.
The others are George Tumwesigye, Robert Tweyambe, Peter Atwongyeire, Yusuf Mazim Adugo, John Arike, Yasin Kesia Gele, Musa Obba Zacharia, Patrick Okiring, Bruhan Driate Iwago, Samson Agupio and Joseph Musasizi Kifefe, a brother of Besigye.
Asked if Besigye revealed how he would fight the Government, Aryemo said Besigye said he would use guns.
Aryemo said Besigye wanted her to link him to LRA using a Luganda word, “waba aganyi kwata enyondoâ€. Asked if she understood what that meant, Aryemo said it was a slogan used in the 2001 campaigns that if it was too hard, use a hammer.
Asked what relationship she had with the LRA commanders, Aryemo said some were her brothers and cousins to her. She said after they were abducted, she got to know several commanders in the Onen Kamudulu group.
See verbatim in our Key documents page
THE first witness in the treason trial of FDC president Col. Kizza Besigye and 22 others yesterday told court that Col. Besigye asked her to link him to LRA rebel commanders.
Jennifer Aryemo (right), a Sacred Heart SS student abducted by LRA rebels and conscripted into their ranks, said she travelled to Gulu and established contact with LRA commander Kwoyello. She said she delivered Besigye’s message to Kwoyello for the two sides to unite and fight the Government.
She said she returned with a message for Besigye who sent her back to Gulu with another one to Maj. Ssalambwa to meet Kwoyello with a request for 300 guns to start rebellion.
Aryemo, who testified in Luo through an interpreter, said she was introduced to Besigye by Maj. Ssalambwa. She told a fully-packed court that during the meeting, Besigye revealed two things: that he was taking the Government to court over a rigged 2001 presidential election and that he was taking up arms to overthrow it.
Anne Mugisha, Byaruhanga, Ssalambwa, Besigye, herself and two other people attended the meeting, she said.
The trial, which started yesterday at the High Court, is presided over by Justice Vincent Kagaba. The accused are charged with treason and concealment of treason.
“When I met him with other people in his office at Crest House (Kampala), he told me two things. One was that he would sue the Government because the election was rigged and that he would fight against government,†Aryemo said while answering questions put to her by the deputy Director of Public Prosecution, Simon Mugenyi Byabaka, the prosecutor.
Besigye and other suspects took notes as Aryemo spoke. Dressed in a checked jacket, Besigye, who sat on the third row, was composed.
Aryemo said she was introduced to Besigye by Maj. Salambwa, who contacted her on phone. She said she knew some Reform Agenda officials like Mugisha and Byaruhanga through James Opoka.
The other 22 suspects are Capt. James Katabaazi, Godffrey Mwebembezi, Frank Atukunda, Jurua Jackson Mcpeace, Abbakar Baiga, Abugo Achikulo Amiye, James Tabuga Kabaka, Umar Kissa, Abelli Kacwano, Yahaya Amir Asega, Iddi Ahmed Yunus.
The others are George Tumwesigye, Robert Tweyambe, Peter Atwongyeire, Yusuf Mazim Adugo, John Arike, Yasin Kesia Gele, Musa Obba Zacharia, Patrick Okiring, Bruhan Driate Iwago, Samson Agupio and Joseph Musasizi Kifefe, a brother of Besigye.
Asked if Besigye revealed how he would fight the Government, Aryemo said Besigye said he would use guns.
Aryemo said Besigye wanted her to link him to LRA using a Luganda word, “waba aganyi kwata enyondoâ€. Asked if she understood what that meant, Aryemo said it was a slogan used in the 2001 campaigns that if it was too hard, use a hammer.
Asked what relationship she had with the LRA commanders, Aryemo said some were her brothers and cousins to her. She said after they were abducted, she got to know several commanders in the Onen Kamudulu group.
See verbatim in our Key documents page