Kakooza Mutale, MP Sekikubo arrested
Jan 01, 2009
MAJOR Roland Kakooza Mutale, a special presidential adviser, was yesterday arrested in Sembabule district as he was campaigning for independent candidate Joy Kabatsi for district Woman MP.
By Steven Candia,
Ali Mambule and Dismus
Buregyeya in Sembabule
MAJOR Roland Kakooza Mutale, a special presidential adviser, was yesterday arrested in Sembabule district as he was campaigning for independent candidate Joy Kabatsi for district Woman MP.
Mutale, who is fabled for his controversial Kalangala Action Plan organisation, was arrested in the afternoon alongside Lwemiyaga MP Theodre Ssekikubo, one of Kabatsi’s main backers, at Kirama trading centre in Ntuusi sub-county.
Mutale is known for the aggressive manner in which he campaigned for President Yoweri Museveni in the 2001 elections.
The arrest came moments after the anti-riot Police dispersed Kabatsi’s rally, in which one of her supporters, Joseph Katsigazi, was reportedly injured by a teargas canister. He was rushed to Sembabule Health Centre.
Prior to the chaotic 2:00pm event, Mutale worked up supporters with his 40-man strong brass band in support of Kabatsi against the NRM candidate, Anifa Kawooya.
The seat fell vacant after the Supreme Court nullified the 2006 election results on grounds that the Electoral Commission did not conduct the polls in accordance with the law. The elections will take place on January 7.
Mutale arrived in the district on Wednesday and embarked on the campaign trail. His arrival reportedly jolted NRM officials in Kawooya’s camp.
The operation to disperse the rally and arrest Mutale was headed by the southern regional Police commander, Andrew Sorowen, who ordered the two to drive to Sembabule police station.
At the Police station, their vehicles were searched. Two AK 47 rifles, each with two magazines, were recovered from Mutale’s car and a pistol with a loaded magazine recovered from Ssekikubo, the Police said.
The two were briefly held at Sembaule before being transferred to the regional Police headquarters in Masaka late in the evening, where they were expected to record statements.
Sorowen was guarded about the saga and only confirmed that the two were under arrest.
Police sources said Ssekikubo was arrested over roughing up a village council chairperson and Mutale over breach of campaign guidelines.
Ssekikubo allegedly also drew a gun on the Kyakakyunda village chairman, Asuman Tukahumura, a supporter of Kawooya, following a confrontation.
In an interview outside the Police station, Mutale said his mission in Sembabule was to reconcile and bring the NRM camps closer.
Sembabule returning officer Latif Ngonzi said Mutale was campaigning in Lwemiyaga, contrary to the agreed campaign rally schedule. Kabatsi’s rally was supposed to be in Mijwala, Ngonzi said.
He explained that it was illegal for Mutale to campaign for an independent candidate using the NRM party symbol (the bus) and colours (yellow).
Prior to his arrest, Mutale, his brass band, followed by the yellow bus and plain clothes armed men, had marched through the urban centres of Lwemiyaga and Ntuusi and was heading to Sembabule town council.
The Police intercepted Mutale at Kirama trading centre and impounded the yellow bus.
The NRM national campaign deputy coordinator, Hope Mwesigye, said Mutale broke the party rules by campaigning for an independent.
The arrest of the two comes just a day after President Yoweri Museveni had in the same place campaigned for Kawooya and declared that the NRM party would not stand any more independents.
It is at the same rally that the President and chairman of the party once again called on Kabatsi to step down in favour of Kawooya in the hotly-contested byelections.
Kawooya’s earlier election triumph was nullified by court after Kabatsi petitioned over electoral irregularities.
Ali Mambule and Dismus
Buregyeya in Sembabule
MAJOR Roland Kakooza Mutale, a special presidential adviser, was yesterday arrested in Sembabule district as he was campaigning for independent candidate Joy Kabatsi for district Woman MP.
Mutale, who is fabled for his controversial Kalangala Action Plan organisation, was arrested in the afternoon alongside Lwemiyaga MP Theodre Ssekikubo, one of Kabatsi’s main backers, at Kirama trading centre in Ntuusi sub-county.
Mutale is known for the aggressive manner in which he campaigned for President Yoweri Museveni in the 2001 elections.
The arrest came moments after the anti-riot Police dispersed Kabatsi’s rally, in which one of her supporters, Joseph Katsigazi, was reportedly injured by a teargas canister. He was rushed to Sembabule Health Centre.
Prior to the chaotic 2:00pm event, Mutale worked up supporters with his 40-man strong brass band in support of Kabatsi against the NRM candidate, Anifa Kawooya.
The seat fell vacant after the Supreme Court nullified the 2006 election results on grounds that the Electoral Commission did not conduct the polls in accordance with the law. The elections will take place on January 7.
Mutale arrived in the district on Wednesday and embarked on the campaign trail. His arrival reportedly jolted NRM officials in Kawooya’s camp.
The operation to disperse the rally and arrest Mutale was headed by the southern regional Police commander, Andrew Sorowen, who ordered the two to drive to Sembabule police station.
At the Police station, their vehicles were searched. Two AK 47 rifles, each with two magazines, were recovered from Mutale’s car and a pistol with a loaded magazine recovered from Ssekikubo, the Police said.
The two were briefly held at Sembaule before being transferred to the regional Police headquarters in Masaka late in the evening, where they were expected to record statements.
Sorowen was guarded about the saga and only confirmed that the two were under arrest.
Police sources said Ssekikubo was arrested over roughing up a village council chairperson and Mutale over breach of campaign guidelines.
Ssekikubo allegedly also drew a gun on the Kyakakyunda village chairman, Asuman Tukahumura, a supporter of Kawooya, following a confrontation.
In an interview outside the Police station, Mutale said his mission in Sembabule was to reconcile and bring the NRM camps closer.
Sembabule returning officer Latif Ngonzi said Mutale was campaigning in Lwemiyaga, contrary to the agreed campaign rally schedule. Kabatsi’s rally was supposed to be in Mijwala, Ngonzi said.
He explained that it was illegal for Mutale to campaign for an independent candidate using the NRM party symbol (the bus) and colours (yellow).
Prior to his arrest, Mutale, his brass band, followed by the yellow bus and plain clothes armed men, had marched through the urban centres of Lwemiyaga and Ntuusi and was heading to Sembabule town council.
The Police intercepted Mutale at Kirama trading centre and impounded the yellow bus.
The NRM national campaign deputy coordinator, Hope Mwesigye, said Mutale broke the party rules by campaigning for an independent.
The arrest of the two comes just a day after President Yoweri Museveni had in the same place campaigned for Kawooya and declared that the NRM party would not stand any more independents.
It is at the same rally that the President and chairman of the party once again called on Kabatsi to step down in favour of Kawooya in the hotly-contested byelections.
Kawooya’s earlier election triumph was nullified by court after Kabatsi petitioned over electoral irregularities.