UPDF to sue Besigye group
Dec 09, 2010
THE UPDF has given the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) two days to retract statements that the army was training a militia to disrupt next year’s elections.
By Raymond Baguma
THE UPDF has given the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) two days to retract statements that the army was training a militia to disrupt next year’s elections.
The army said failure to do so; it would drag the IPC to court. The IPC, whose presidential candidate is Dr. Kizza Besigye, includes FDC, CP, JEEMA and SDP.
The chief political commissar, Col. Phenehas Katirima, yesterday wrote a letter to the Electoral Commission, giving the IPC up to today to apologise.
Early this week, Margaret Wokuri, the director for publicity and communication at the IPC campaign bureau, alleged a Field Force Unit (FFU) had been created to help district authorities create what she called Village Crime Fighters.
Wokuri said that a 1,500-strong militia was training under the supervision of Gen. Elly Tumwine in Kapeeka; while another 8,000 militia men were training in Ngoma under the charge of Brig. Fred Mugisha.
Now in a letter copied to the UPDF Chief of Legal Services and media houses, the army wants the EC to compel Wokuri to retract her statements within two days from Thursday, or the she faces legal action.
“The UPDF finds these allegations as harmful propaganda intended to put the National army into disrepute. The UPDF as an institution and, indeed the individual officers feel deeply offended and betrayed by such allegations, in the minds of the right thinking and peace loving peoples of Uganda and the world,†Col. Katirima said.
He said that Brig. Mugisha was at all involved in any training activities and was at his command Post in Masindi district; while Gen. Tumwine is in Kampala.
He added, “The maligned officers are professional, disciplined, law abiding and of high integrity. The UPDF is well known nationally and worldwide to be professional, law abiding, pro-people and executing its constitutional mandate to the envy of many an army in the world. It does not deserve the malicious denting by Wokuri.â€
But by yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, Charles Willy Ochola the EC spokesperson said that the commission had not yet received the army’s petition but promised to look into the matter upon receiving the petition.
During a press conference Wokuri told journalists that the IPC would not stop talking about the activities of the army, and telling them to stop was a threat aimed at intimidating the political opposition.
“We stand by our attributions. Those who wish to take us to court are free to do so. We shall willingly meet them in court,†Wokuri added.
THE UPDF has given the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) two days to retract statements that the army was training a militia to disrupt next year’s elections.
The army said failure to do so; it would drag the IPC to court. The IPC, whose presidential candidate is Dr. Kizza Besigye, includes FDC, CP, JEEMA and SDP.
The chief political commissar, Col. Phenehas Katirima, yesterday wrote a letter to the Electoral Commission, giving the IPC up to today to apologise.
Early this week, Margaret Wokuri, the director for publicity and communication at the IPC campaign bureau, alleged a Field Force Unit (FFU) had been created to help district authorities create what she called Village Crime Fighters.
Wokuri said that a 1,500-strong militia was training under the supervision of Gen. Elly Tumwine in Kapeeka; while another 8,000 militia men were training in Ngoma under the charge of Brig. Fred Mugisha.
Now in a letter copied to the UPDF Chief of Legal Services and media houses, the army wants the EC to compel Wokuri to retract her statements within two days from Thursday, or the she faces legal action.
“The UPDF finds these allegations as harmful propaganda intended to put the National army into disrepute. The UPDF as an institution and, indeed the individual officers feel deeply offended and betrayed by such allegations, in the minds of the right thinking and peace loving peoples of Uganda and the world,†Col. Katirima said.
He said that Brig. Mugisha was at all involved in any training activities and was at his command Post in Masindi district; while Gen. Tumwine is in Kampala.
He added, “The maligned officers are professional, disciplined, law abiding and of high integrity. The UPDF is well known nationally and worldwide to be professional, law abiding, pro-people and executing its constitutional mandate to the envy of many an army in the world. It does not deserve the malicious denting by Wokuri.â€
But by yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, Charles Willy Ochola the EC spokesperson said that the commission had not yet received the army’s petition but promised to look into the matter upon receiving the petition.
During a press conference Wokuri told journalists that the IPC would not stop talking about the activities of the army, and telling them to stop was a threat aimed at intimidating the political opposition.
“We stand by our attributions. Those who wish to take us to court are free to do so. We shall willingly meet them in court,†Wokuri added.