Minister Mwesigwa Rukutana's journey to jail

MBARARA- Last Saturday, social media was awash with a video clip in which Mwesigwa Rukutana was seen grabbing a gun from his bodyguard and aiming it at people who were in a car where he allegedly shot one of the occupants leaving others injured.

A few hours later, information started circulating that Rukutana with his bodyguards were arrested after they maliciously damaged a vehicle and allegedly shot one Dan Rweburungi, a resident of Kagugu parish in Rubare sub-county who was a supporter of Rukutana's opponent Naome Kabasharira who took the NRM flag for Rushenyi County.

Sources say that Rukutana was arrested by Damian Katwesime, the District Police Commander Ntungamo district who later instructed the deputy CID and SOCO to visit the scene of the crime to ascertain what had transpired. According to Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi region police spokesperson the scene was visited, photographs taken, sketch plans drawn and a motor vehicle Toyota Rav 4 which was shot at was also inspected.

Kasasira said that the scene of the crime was in an isolated place in Kagugu Parish along the road between two farms of which one is owned by Rukutana.

At about midday of Saturday, a joint security team of army and police arrested Rukutana from Ruyonza junction and his bodyguards who included Paul Egec No 62477, Police constable Faizo Kozala, RA 215020L Cpl John Bosco Okello.

Their three guns were retrieved and handed over to Regional SOCO (Scene of Crime Officer) and later Rukutana's car was towed to Ntungamo police station.

After Rukutana's arrest, he was shortly detained at Ntungamo police station before an order came to transfer him to Mbarara central police station in the afternoon.

People who visited him in detention

While in detention at Mbarara police station as some of the people could not believe that Rukutana can also be made to sleep in the coolers, several people both in the government and private sector visited him.

The first person who came to Mbarara police station was Michael Mawanda, the Member of Parliament for Igara East who was called by Rukutana informing him how he had been arrested and how he was being transported to Mbarara. Mawanda made sure that by the time Rukutana is brought to Mbarara, he was already at Mbarara police waiting for him.

Others were Maj. Gen Kahinda Otafire who had come to secure bond on Saturday but his efforts hit a snag. On Monday morning, while at Mbarara police station, Jim Muhwezi was also seen at the police where he spent much time in a closed meeting with police officers and Rukutana in the office of the OC Station Mbarara. Another person who was seen at Mbarara police station was businessman Bob Kabonero.

At around 2 pm, Jim Muhwezi moved out and a team of three doctors from Mbarara regional referral hospital were seen also entering Mbarara police station and in about 30 minutes they stepped out. Within about five minutes, Rukutana clad in a long-sleeved shirt was escorted out of Mbarara police station to a waiting police vehicle that drove him to Rwizi regional police headquarters. Among the police officers who were escorting him was Johnbosco Mutabazi the District CIID for Mbarara.

He was shortly detained at Rwizi regional Police headquarters from where he was escorted through Mbarara town to Mbarara-Masaka road and connected to Mbararabypass and preceded to Ntungamo magistrate court.

Rukutana appeared before grade one magistrate Nazifah Namayanja who later told the court that she had no jurisdiction powers to handle a capital offense and Rukutana was not allowed to take any a plea.

Namayanja later remanded him to Kyamugorani prison in Kakika, Mbarara city.