Lawyers welcome President's intention to pardon Gen. Kayihura

Lawyers representing the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Gen. Kale Kayihura, Tuesday welcomed President Yoweri Museveni's pledge to talk the army court into dropping charges against the former Police boss.

On Monday, President Museveni, while addressing National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders in Kisoro, promised to consult the army court-martial and make an effort to drop charges against Kayihura.

In an exclusive interview with the New Vision, Jet Tumwebaze of the Kampala Associated Advocates, the law fi rm representing Kayihura, noted that they were pleased with the President's intention, adding that the charges against the decorated general should never have been brought in the first place.

"We welcome Museveni's gesture but the charges against our clients should have been dropped two years ago," Tumwebaze said.

He noted that when Kayihura was summoned to appear before the Chief of Defence Forces, the media and some sections of army officers claimed he was facing 19 cases, but was charged with only two.

"Even though he was charged with two offences of failing to protect war arms as well as aiding and abetting the kidnapping and repatriating Rwandan exiles and refugees, there was no iota of truth in the charges and the files are a shell. That explains why for the last two years the cases have failed to take off," Tumwebaze said.

He noted that the President was right to say he would speak to the court martial because he has now been briefed about the true events, adding that it was rather unfortunate that Kayihura and his family had been subjected to humiliation and embarrassment by the media and certain elements in society.

"Every bad dream comes to an end. There is no evidence in the files against our client and we have spoken to both the prosecution and those that investigated the files. We are happy that the President has finally seen the truth," Tumwebaze stated.

Request for pardon

Museveni, who is also the NRM presidential candidate, made the promise during a scientific campaign meeting in Kisoro district on Monday.

‘‘Like you have said, there are those who committed big offences and we forgave them. Since the seating of elders of Kisoro has requested me, I will speak to the military prosecution and tell them about your petition and make effort of my own,'' he stated.

Museveni's comments follow a request by the Kisoro district LC5 chairperson, Abel Bizimana, who asked the President to drop the charges against Kayihura, who served as Uganda's IGP from 2005 to 2018.

In an interview with the New Vision yesterday, Bizimana thanked the President for heeding their calls, noting that Kayihura's freedom would be the best New Year's gift to the people of Kisoro.

"We have been waiting for this. We had used all technicalities to express our need, but we were disappointed when he didn't come to Kisoro to campaign. I am happy that the President gracefully accepted our request. This is the gift of the year and if he does it before elections, people will be happy and Kayihura will join us in Kisoro," Bizimana said.

Court case

Kayihura was arrested in 2018 over charges of failure to protect war materials, and aiding and abetting kidnapping.

Although he was released on court bail, his case has never been concluded.

The general can only travel with permission from the military court. He is also not deployed at the moment.