No one is intimidating Gen. Tinyefuza - UPDF

Vision Reporter   

The army has scoffed at claims of intimidation by Gen David Sejusa a.k.a David Tinyefuza currently in United Kingdom.

Minister of Defence Crispus Kiyonga today also made a statement to parliament. (BELOW)

The Coordinator of Intelligence services Sejusa who has stirred the wrath of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces leadership travelled to London on April 30, days before his latest press statement that cited intrigue in the UPDF.

Sources within the military intelligence have since revealed that his outbursts through the press were “an attempt to divert ongoing investigations that he is well aware of.”  

It is believed that part of the probe is linked to the arrest of his aide Capt. Patrick Semujju recently charged with treason.

UPDF spokesman Lt. Col Paddy Akunda Wednesday quoting sources  close  Sejusa said that the embattled  General had cried foul describing the statement by the Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Aronda Nyakairima as intimidating and threatening.

“No one is intimidating him. He can come back whenever he feels like,” Akunda said.

He did not reveal Sejusa’s mission in UK, who cleared his travel or when he is scheduled to return. He however revealed that the Commander in Chief of Armed Forces President Yoweri Museveni will decide the General’s fate.

New Vision sources within the military intelligence on Tuesday said that Sejusa is to be charged over subversive activities including propaganda.

On Tuesday  the CDF  reacting to Sejusa’s  outbursts  said that the “UPDF takes exception to the fact that the spirit of the General ‘s letter simply champions the agenda of the radical and anarchic political opposition hence rendering him partisan contrary to Article 208 of the Constitution of Uganda.”

The CDF who described Gen. Sejusa’s   claims as false and misleading,  assured UPDF shall also remain loyal to the people, the Commander- in -Chief and the Constitution of Uganda.

Gen Aronda also said that the statement contravened the law and contradicted that of President issued to the media earlier.

Warning that  any serving officer who goes against the law that he or she will be dealt with , Gen. Aronda  added, “the UPDF takes exception to the fact that the spirit of the General ‘s letter simply champions the agenda of the radical and anarchic political opposition hence rendering him partisan contrary the Constitution of Uganda.

Military intelligence has since early this year picked information on Gen. Sejusa’s suspicious activities. These include harmful army propaganda plus political and military mobilization.

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE TO PARLIAMENT ON SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS ABOUT SECURITY MADE IN THE PRESS

THURSDAY 9TH MAY 2013

 Right Hon Speaker and Hon. Member of Parliament

You will have seen headlines in our local press making serious allengations of a security nature. It has been alleged that a criminal plan had been hatched to:

(A) frame certain senior officers of Government and the army in order to make it appear that these officers had committed serious and capital offenses.

(B) to assassinate certain people percieved to be opposed to the so called Muhoozi project.

This information has no doubt caused concern across the breadth of our population.

The reports in the press are attributed to Gen David Sejjusa. General Sejjusa is a four star General, a historical Member of the UPDF and a Honourable Member of this House.

He knows only too well the laws of the country and the law that governs the force in which he continues to serve. It is therefore unfortunate the he should make such serious and false allegations in the manner he has done.

I would like to assure this August House and the country at large that there has not been and there will never be such criminal act as senior members of Government and the army  conspiring to frame their colleagues or indeed any one in the population. There is no plan that we are aware of to assassinate certain people.

The UPDF and the NRM have clear track record. Such underhand and criminal methods have never neen the way these institutions work.

The army is cohesive, united and under effective command and control. And the population and leaders should remain assured that the country is safe and stable.

Within the context of the Constitution and the Laws that govern this country, the President and Commander in Cheif is taking appropirate measures to respond to the acts of indiscipline that have been portrayed to the population through the press and other means.

 ******

Below is Gen Aronda’s full statement:

GEN SEJUSA OUT OF ORDER SAYS UPDF

Following statements attributed to Gen Sejusa a.k.a David Tinyefuza  in the Daily Monitor  news paper of 7th May 2013, I wish to put the record straight as follows:

In his document he claims that through the Director General Internal Security Organization (DGISO) he delivered a message to H.E The President in which he highlighted Intelligence concerns about likely consequences of what the public has dubbed the “Muhoozi project”.  In the document he states that the   issue is becoming divisive and creating fertile ground for causing intrigue especially in the UPDF. The General further states that the so called “Mbuya Barracks attack” was conducted by some senior officers in the UPDF.

As the Chief of Defence Forces of the UPDF, I am not aware of such concerns neither does the Intelligence Community.  The statement therefore is not only false but misleading.  First of all it is out of procedure for the Coordinator of Intelligence to communicate to his appointing authority who is the President and Commander-In-Chief through his subordinate.  

I wish to point out that obviously with such a statement the author is operating outside the law, and his statements are aimed at tarnishing the good image of the UPDF  and create the impression that it is not cohesive which is totally false.
Similar arguments have in the recent past been raised by some members of the radical political opposition and in particular Dr. Kiiza Besigye with clear intention to divide the UPDF.

The President and the Commander- In - Chief has had the occasion to give a clear response to those falsehoods and educate the public about the historical role of the Special Forces in UPDF.

Given that Gen Sejusa is a serving officer of the UPDF he should be aware that all officers and militants of UPDF are subject to military law. They are also bound to be faithful to and bear true allegiance to the President by virtue of the Oath of Allegiance they take which is in the Fifth Schedule to the UPDF Act.   The statement he allegedly issued therefore not only contravenes the law but also contradicts that of President issued to the media earlier.

The code of conduct as clearly stated in the UPDF Act of 2005 requires proper authorization before a member of the Defence Forces makes public statements to journalists.  That authorization must always be expressly sought and obtained and cannot be implied from any circumstances.  Some officers like Gen Sejusa have on different occasions given a wrong impression to the general public that they are exempted from seeking authorization before making public statements.  This is wrong.

The General being a senior member of the UPDF should have sought to address his concerns in the right forum including the High Command to which he is a member.

The UPDF takes exception to the fact that the spirit of the General ‘s letter simply champions the agenda of the radical and anarchic political opposition hence rendering him partisan contrary to Article 208 of the Constitution of Uganda.

I would like to take this opportunity to reassure the general public that the UPDF is a cohesive, effective, efficient and pro-people Force.   The UPDF shall also remain loyal to the people, the Commander- in -Chief and the Constitution of Uganda.

Finally I would like to warn any serving officer who goes against the law that he or she will be dealt with accordingly.
                                                                       
ARONDA NYAKAIRIMA cgsc (MP)

CHIEF OF DEFENCE FORCES