UPDF speaks out on military deployment around Gen. David Sejusa's house

By Sam Ouga & David Lumu

KAMPALA - The Uganda  People's Defense Force (UPDF) on Friday spoke out on the deployment of military police at Gen. David Sejusa’s Naguru home.

Speaking on the UPDF deployment, the army spokesman Paddy Ankunda posted on Twitter: “No cause for alarm, lose no sleep. Gen Sejusa is safely under the protection of UPDF. He had expressed fears for his life.”

He said the UPDF is still assessing the situation and that a detailed communication about the siege by the military police would be given at a later stage.

“We shall give details later.”

Military police deployed at Gen. David Sejusa’s residence in Naguru, a Kampala Suburb. The deployment came on the day Gen. Sejusa was expected to meet President Yoweri Museveni at Rwakirura in Kiruhura district at 8:00pm.

President Yoweri Museveni reportedly summoned Gen. David Sejusa to Rwakitura, Kiruhura district, for a meeting. But the embattled General said he had no fuel and a vehicle to travel there, among other reasons.

Sejusa, a former coordinator of intelligence agencies and UPDF representative in Parliament, went into self-imposed exile in April 2013, after authoring a controversial letter on security. He returned last month and has since applied for retirement from the army.

Speaking during a press conference at his Naguru residence a day earlier, Gen David Sejusa said Museveni’s aides telephoned his lawyer, Ladislaus Rwakafuzi, asking him to inform his client about the scheduled meeting.

“My lawyer was informed on Wednesday that I was supposed to meet the President in Rwakitura on January 2, at 8:00pm,” Gen. Sejusa said.

Rwakafuzi who was present during the press conference said his client requested to be given more time to prepare for it.
Sejusa explained that he needed ‘more time’ because meeting a President is not like walking into a hotel to meet an ordinary person.

“I am an officer of the UPDF, but I have been away for almost two years and I cannot pretend that it is business as usual. There is a fundamental contradiction about my legal status visa-a-avi my defacto status. This must be resolved by the Government. So I would want to know in what capacity I am to meet my commander-in-chief,” he said.

Sejusa returned from self-exile in the UK mid-last month, where he had fled. He says he when he fled to the UK, he acquired a split legal status in the army.

“It seems some people do not appreciate what has happened over time, that’s why when somebody summons, he says ‘you be here at 8:00pm.’ But I have no car. I am currently using my sister’s car to travel. I have no fuel. They probably think I am still and officer who owns a vehicle,” he said.

Sejusa also said there are other security issues he wanted resolved first. He said while in exile, there were hitmen who threatened his life and he wants to find out who they are.

“These are serious security issues that must be resolved. My life was under threat. It has nothing to do with ego or indiscipline,” he said.


Also related to this story

General David Sejusa is back

Sejusa returns to city amid tight security