Musinguzi Threatens To Seize Amama’s House

James Musinguzi Garuga has threatened to seize defence minister Amama Mbabazi’s country house to recover sh840m which he allegedly incurred over election petitions against him.
Alfred Wasike quotes Musinguzi as saying, “I will go for his ka-house and his ka-shop in Kihihi. He must pay me the costs I incurred in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The courts ruled that his election was a nullity or a sham due to the violence and terrorism that was meted out on the people. He owes me more than sh840m. This is not an empty threat,” Musinguzi told a press conference in Kampala yesterday. He called the press conference to explain why he pulled out of the race.
The Court of Appeal invalidated Mbabazi’s incumbency last month and ordered fresh polls.
Mbabazi was yesterday declared MP unopposed.
“He has a small house at a place called Karubeizi and a small shop in Kihihi trading centre. He has no way out,” Musinguzi said. Accompanied by his wife Peace, lawyers Muhammad Mbabazi, Peter Walubiri and Reform Agenda officials, he accused The New Vision of “biased reporting” against him.
He dismissed reports that Mbabazi compromised him to step down.
“Amama does not have the capacity to compromise me. For the sake of the safety of the people of Kinkizi West, it is better for him to be proclaimed MP unopposed. He will have become an MP not on the basis of votes obtained through a democratic election where the people of Kinkizi West have expressed their will and consent to vote but by force and terrorism by the UPDF and the Movement.”
“He will receive no single vote from the people of Kinkizi West. He will be a ruler of Kinkizi West but not a representative of the people. A true representative is democratically elected through a free and fair election where the people freely express their will and consent of who shall be their representative,” he said. He said he would stand for the seat if the people so wished. “They know the developments I have made there.”
Musinguzi said during Mbabazi’s June 2001 election, people lost eyes, others lost their manhood, pregnant women had miscarriages, others were maimed, tortured, detained and properties destroyed or robbed.
He said this was meted out by the UPDF and other security operatives who were organised by Mbabazi and his agents, to get votes. He said more than 60 incidents of violence were reported to the Police but nothing was done. Musinguzi said Mbabazi’s political assistant shot one of his agents, Bosco Twinomuhwezi, who lost an eye.
He alleged that the officer retained his job. “He is a freeman just like the UPDF, PPU and Mbabazi’s agents who perpetuated the heinous crimes against the electorate of Kinkizi West.”
Musinguzi said when the courts ordered fresh elections, Mbabazi and the Movement Secretariat “mobilised a very large force of UPDF officers and men to the constituency to start intimidating people. RDCs and DISOs from Kanungu and neighbouring districts are busy intimidating the voters and labelling me a rebel.”
He said he petitioned the Electoral Commission in vain and appealed to the High Court to postpone the nominations because the ground was not level. On Monday the court threw out his application.
“I have reflected on the events of June 2001 and the conditions that exist now in Kinkizi West, I have consulted with the people of Kinkizi West and my friends in the struggle for democracy together with my family.
“My conscience is clear. I cannot risk the lives and properties of the defenceless people to an undemocratic and violent electoral process.Terrorism inspired by Amama and the UPDF will reign against the people of Kinkizi West,” he said.
Ends