Uganda arrested over rape in the US still in custody

A Ugandan, Dan Tumusiime, who allegedly raped his elderly master in Michigan, US in 2012, is still in custody, two months after his arrest in Mukono district.

Tumusiime was arrested and deported, pending DNA investigations. Although commonly used to establish parenthood, DNA testing is also applied in forensic science to help identify suspects or victims in a criminal investigation.

Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) spokesperson, Vincent Ssekate, said DNA results proved sexual penetration, prompting the National Central Bureau in Washington to issue an International Police (INTERPOL) red notice number 20151237704/31/08/16 to all member countries to arrest the suspect upon sight.

Security operatives led by CID detectives embarked on a manhunt for Tumussime and he was picked from a hideout in Seeta, Mukono district in May.

As CID and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) officers worked on paperwork to ensure his extradition to face trial in the US, It emerged yesterday, that the Army picked Tumusiime from Police custody in June.

ADF links

CID detectives privy to the probe, told New Vision yesterday that operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) picked Tumusiime from Jinja Road Police Station, where he had been detained pending extradition.

Authorities at Jinja Road Police Station confirmed Tumusiime's transfer to a CMI detention facility (location withheld).

"Tumusiime is being probed over Allied Democratic Front (ADF) rebel by CMI," said a CID detective, who spoke to New Vision on condition of anonymity.

Explaining the ADF links, the detective said in the early 2000's Tumusiime was granted amnesty by government before he travelled to the US in search for greener pastures.

"With the suspected ADF kingpin Jamil Mukulu in custody, Tumusiime still has a few questions to answer," said the detective. 

"Once CMI is done with him, Tumusiime will be flown to the US," said the detective.

Last week, Government sent a team from Police and the DPP in a bid to amend the charge sheet against Mukulu.

On July 6, 2015, Mukulu was repatriated on orders of principal magistrate Cyprian Mkeha, of the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's court in Dar es Salaam to stand trial in Uganda only on charges of murder of Busoga Muslim clerics.

When contacted, the DPP deputy spokesperson Irene Nakimbugwe was cagey on details.

"We cannot get evidence and display it in papers," she said via telephone yesterday, before referring New Vision to Police who are charged with investigations.

The rape case

According to Ssekate, the suspect is being held over a rape case and is currently being detained at Jinja Road Police Station in Kampala, pending return to the US to face charges.

The US has no extradition treaties with more than 100 countries, including Uganda.

However, several suspects have been extradited to the US from Ugandan prisons on mutual understanding.

In May, the US drug enforcement agents arrested Ismail Balinda, for allegedly trafficking narcotics (heroin and cocaine) to America. Balinda, 35, is the vice president of the Uganda Motocross Association.

Balinda hauled himself out of a septic tank into the hands of waiting security operatives, who arrested him in Kenya.

A copy of the summary of the case seen by New Vision indicates that while in Washtenaw County, Michigan, in March 2012, Tumusiime, an orderly at the residential centre for elderly individuals, sexually assaulted a female resident.

"Tumusiime went into a woman's room while she was sleeping. The woman woke up to find Tumusiime touching her breasts. He reportedly removed the victim's clothing, held her down and raped her. After raping the victim, Tumusiime put the victims clothes back on, and left the room. DNA evidence taken from the victim enabled authorities to identify Tumusiime" says the report.

Who is Tumusiime?

Tumusiime was born in 1977 in Butogota town, Kanungu district in western Uganda.

He holds a bachelor's degree in Industrial Fine Art from Makerere University. He is the co-founder of the Uganda Art for Peace and security firm Cube 9 Ltd.