Police hunting for opposition 4GC leaders

By Innocent Anguyo and Ronnie Eligu

Police are hunting for five leaders of the opposition pressure group, For God and my Country (4GC) for snubbing summons to answer claims of managing unlawful society.

4GC was outlawed by the Government early last year.

The five were ordered by The Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Directorate (CIID) to appear before Special Investigations Unit (SIU) headquarters in Kireka, Kampala at different intervals on Saturday and Sunday, but did not appear.

Police identified the five as former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Butambala county MP Muwanga Kivumbi, Masaka Municipality MP Mathias Mpuuga, JEEMA president Asuman Basalirwa and FDC women leader Ingrid Turinawe.

They are accused of managing and participating in a rally organized by the banned pressure group on Wednesday 23 January 2013 in Kampala where they reportedly incited the public to demonstrate.

The leaders had allegedly, among other comments castigated Police for denying Ugandans a right to demonstrate.

 "You are therefore, in pursuance of the provisions of Sections 27A of the Police Act required to report to the commandant SIU who will give you more details of what is expected of you," partly reads the summon letter to the leaders.

According to the Commandant of SIU Chemilo Baeta, the leaders failed to comply with the summons adding that none of them set foot at SIU headquarters as scheduled.

"They were supposed to come here and then I would call investigators from CIID headquarters in Kibuli, Kampala to question them but I didn't receive any of them," Chelimo reiterated.

 Besigye and Turinawe were summoned through the FDC secretariat as MPs Kivumbi and Mpuuga were summoned through the speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga. Basalirwa was summoned through his Party.

Addressing the press at Central Police Station in Kampala, Kampala Metropolitan spokesman disclosed that the leaders will be arrested once sighted by officers.

"Since they refused to show up, the law is going to take its course and we shall look for them," Ssenkumbi reiterated.

The Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander, Andrew Kaweesi Thursday last week revealed that the group would be asked to substantiate their 'unlawful' remarks hence the summons.