Mengo officials moved to upcountry prisons

By Steven Candia And Moses Mulondo

THE three Buganda Kingdom officials, who were arrested on Friday on charges of terrorism and inciting violence, have been taken to various Police stations in western Uganda.

Meanwhile, Mengo has called an emergency cabinet meeting this morning to discuss the issue.

Information minister Charles Peter Mayiga, his deputy Medard Lubega and the Civic Education Committee chairperson Betty Nambooze, who is also the Democratic Party (DP) spokesperson, were reportedly moved to the districts of Bundibudgyo, Ibanda and Kyenjonjo on Saturday night. It was not clear whether they would be returned to the city to face trial or be charged upcountry.

Internal affairs minister Ruhakana Rugunda confirmed they had been moved to various places but declined to give details. He said their transfer was part of the investigations.

The Katikkiro (Prime Minister) of Buganda, JB Walusimbi, who the Police said would get regular updates, confirmed that they had been shifted to the three districts in Western Uganda.

“It is true that they have been taken from the city and are in those places,” he told The New Vision.
Walusimbi, who attended a meeting with security and government officials yesterday, said he was optimistic that the matter would be resolved amicably.

“These are people who matter and we shall soon resolve the impasse. I at least expect something good by tomorrow.”

Asked whether that meant the Government could drop the charges, he said: “That is what I am fronting for. I am trying to use all the connections available to have the charges dropped because they are not good for the kingdom.”

He added that he had written to the kingdom’s youth minister, urging him to prevail on the youth not to take to the streets.

Police Chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura in a statement on Saturday said the three faced charges of terrorism and attempts to acquire firearms.

“The Police arrested and detained Peter Mayiga, Medard Lubega and Betty Nambooze for engaging in unlawful activities. The investigations will cover their possible connections with some armed groups and attempts to acquire firearms,” the statement said.

The suspects also face charges of promoting sectarianism and inciting violence, “contrary to sections 41 and 83 of the Penal Code Act”.

Sources said statements uttered by the officials on CBS Radio last week prompted their arrest.

Nambooze reportedly warned in her Sunday evening programme that the non-Baganda in Buganda would have their properties burned and be evicted if the Land Bill was passed.

Nambooze has been at the forefront in mobilising public opinion against the proposed land bill aimed at protecting tenants against illegal evictions.

Deputy information minister Lubega in a separate programme allegedly called President Yoweri Museveni a mad dog, adding “and you know what happens to mad dogs”.

The arrests were met with anger at Bulange, the seat of the Buganda Kingdom.

“We wish to state unequivocally that the charges are a complete fabrication and point directly to a hidden agenda of intimidation and humiliation of the people of Buganda”, said attorney general Apollo Makubuya in a statement last night.

“These people are being charged for no reason other than that they are Baganda who are speaking out on the issues that are of concern to the people of Buganda. They are therefore nothing more than prisoners of conscience”.

Makubuya also condemned the transfer of the officials to up-country Police stations.

“The reason given for this unusually cruel and degrading action is to purportedly charge the individuals in the area where the crimes were committed”, the statement read.

“However it is clear that the true intention must be to continue to deny the detainees their rights to bail, access to next of kin, and access to legal representation.”

He called upon all Ugandans, religious bodies and civil society organisations to join the Kingdom of Buganda in “denouncing this heavy-handed and illegal action and to engage the Government to abide by the constitution”.

The arrests were also condemned by the opposition DP. At a hastily convened press conference yesterday, DP leaders called the charges fabricated aimed at intimidating both the party and the Mengo establishment.

“We are shocked that Museveni’s government could give such orders involving not only arresting but also blackmailing Kabaka’s ministers. Museveni’s true colours have begun manifesting,” MP Issa Kikungwe told journalists.

The DP officials said they were convinced the arrests were an order from the President.

“As soon as the arrests took place, I called Kayihura, CID director Okoth Ochola and other top Police officers and they were not aware of the reason for the arrests. This clearly indicates that their arrest is an order from above,” said MP Joseph Balikuddembe.

They accused the President of deviating from the cause he and the NRM had fought for. “It is unfortunate that a government claiming to have gone to the bush to fight for freedom is suppressing fundamental freedom,” Kikungwe said.

Party officials added that Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago could not join them because he had gone into hiding after CID operatives went looking for him at his residence on Saturday.

Asked for a reaction, minister Rugunda denied that the arrests were targeting a specific group or kingdom. “There are investigations going on into the activities of these three individuals and this is consistent with the rule of law”, he said.

“It is not an attempt to reverse the political aims for which the NRM went to the bush. People should wait for the results of the investigations, which are meant to unearth and establish the truth.”