Tumukunde, Bobi Wine face arrest - CID

SECURITY

KAMPALA - Presidential aspirants Lt. Gen. (rtd) Henry Tumukunde and National Unity Platform (NUP) party/People Power movement leader Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, face arrest after snubbing police summons for a second time.

The Police's Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) has been probing Tumukunde over his alleged unauthorised meetings with army veterans, and Kyagulanyi for cases relating to disobedience of lawful orders and engaging in a negligent act likely to spread an infectious disease.

CID spokesperson Charles Mansio Twiine said Tumukunde on several occasions met veterans at a residence on Plot 12 Hill Drive in Kololo, Kampala and in other locations across the country.

Police's efforts to interrogate the former security minister hit a snag after he failed to show up and instead sent lawyers to represent him.

CID director AIGP Grace Akullo and the deputy director of crime intelligence Charles Asaba, together with of detectives, met the general's lawyers for over 30 minutes at the security facility headquarters in Kibuli, Kampala.

Tumukunde was represented by lawyers Roberts Kagoro and Anthony Wameli, and others.

Twiine said: "General Tumukunde has not complied with the Police summons. Instead, he sent lawyers to represent him."

According to Twiine, the general was summoned to appear before CID detectives on August 19, but did not make an appearance. According to Twiine, police summons are just courtesy extended to people perceived to be high profile by virtue of their status.

The probe followed intelligence reports that Tumukunde has been meeting army veterans in Kololo and other locations across the country - an act that contravenes the UPDF Act, which recognizes army reservists and therefore form part of the army.

According to Twiine, the Act further states that reservists are supposed to be non-partisan.

"Police is cognizant that such people are voters but any engagement pursuant of votes must pass through established command and file," he said.

Tumukunde did not appear as agreed and instead "sent" a group of four lawyers that claimed to represent him.

"The directorate [CID] hasn't received any communication that they [lawyers] were representing the general [Tumukunde]," Twiine said.

He added: "The lawyers said that their client won't come/appear. They came with a document detailing why he [Tumukunde] will not appear and handed it over the CID boss [Akullo)]." However, Twiine did not reveal the details from the document.

"We are still waiting for him today. If he does not turn up by close of business [Tuesday] other lawful actions could be taken," Twiine had said earlier.

"Tumukunde is not immune to other lawful Police actions, including arrest."

When contacted Tumukunde's lawyer Kagoro said: "The letter that CID received shows who sent us."

President's clearance

Sources said meeting the Reserve Force members requires clearance from the army top leadership since the force falls under the army, headed by the Commander-in-Chief, President Yoweri Museveni.

Last week, CID issued fresh summons to Tumukunde, asking him to appear before detectives at the Kibuli-based security facility to elaborate on the alleged meetings.

Tumukunde's aide Jackson Sunny Ssekadde said his boss had not met the army veterans as it is being alleged, but added that Tumukunde needs no permission to meet veterans since he is one of them.

More aspirants probed

A fortnight ago, detectives from the CID grilled Parliament aspirants, Dickson Kateshumbwa (Sheema Municipality) and Dr. Francis Ayume (Koboko Municipality). Others summoned included (Kyadondo East) and Idah Nantaba (Kayunga district).

Kyagulanyi and Nantaba were ordered to appear at regional Police stations for questioning. The Police summoned them over cases relating to disobedience of lawful orders, inciting violence and engaging in a negligent act likely to spread an infectious disease.

Kyagulanyi is alleged to have committed the offences on July 18 in Mbale.

Detectives attached to the Police's political crimes desk spent the day at Kasangati Police Station waiting for Kyagulanyi but in vain.

When asked about Kyagulanyi, the CID publicist (Twiine) said: "He did not appear. We are going to use other alternative lawful methods."