NRM youth want party intervention in Kajubi case

Jan 03, 2012

MASAKA NRM youth leaders have requested the party heads to intervene in the arrest of suspected child murderer Godfrey Kato Kajubi.


By Ali Mambule

MASAKA NRM youth leaders have requested the party heads to intervene in the arrest and prosecution of suspected child murderer Godfrey Kato Kajubi to cause his immediate release.

However, top NRM party officials have reacted and distanced themselves from the local businessman, saying that they do not know him as a party member or financier.

Lawrence Byakatonda the chairperson of Masaka NRM Pentagon youths said that the re arrest of Kajubi and failure by the NRM top leaders to intervene was a clear indication that he is being witch hunted.

“Kato Kajubi is one of the major sponsors of the NRM party especially at the times of elections. The money he has so far given to the NRM party is much more than sh100m to carry out various activities and particularly for elections,” Byakatonda said in a press conference in Masaka.

“We believe that the hatred among the NRM leaders holding high political profiles is spreading to members who are not interested in politics,” Byakatonda said adding that Kajubi who was at the center of funding the party activities in Masaka and other parts of the Country would not be subjected to such torture.

But the NRM party spokesperson Mary Karooro Okurut said the matter was before courts of law to decide and declined to comment.

The deputy NRM party spokesperson Ofwono Opondo said, “First of all I don’t know Kato Kajubi as a sponsor of NRM. And if he is charged with a crime, there is no way the party would intervene. Let him carry his cross.”

Kajubi was arrested in late October 2008 on allegations that he connived with traditional herbalists to behead 12-year-old Joseph Kasirye of Kayugi village in Mukungwe Sub County Masaka district.

He was however, released by the Masaka High Court presided over by Justice Moses Mukiibi but government appealed against his release and the Court of Appeal ordered for a retrial. Kajubi is remanded at Masaka central prison by a Masaka grade II magistrate.

Byakatonda who was flanked by publicity secretary Abdu Kabugo said it was high time for the NRM secretariat to intervene and ensure the release of Kajubi before he loses his property.

“We are afraid that the NRM party may find problems if it loses such people who are ready to finance it at any time they are called upon,” Byakatonda added.

Abdu Kabugo also accused some members of the party of working for the downfall of their colleagues.
 
“If they have grudges with Kato Kajubi, they should not reach the extent of locking him in prison. Let them find other avenues of cornering him but when they have given him chance to run his businesses,” Kabugo said.

 

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