Attorney General not aware of opposition arrests
SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 11 OCTOBER 2012
IN SUMMARY
Despite media reports indicating that several opposition activists across the country were detained either before or on Independence Day, Mr Nyombi says he is not aware of the development.
Attorney General Peter Nyombi said yesterday that he was not aware that police are holding scores of opposition supporters who were arrested ahead of Tuesday’s independence celebrations.
Mr Nyombi’s denial of a matter which has received wide media coverage, with comments from the police, followed complaints by the leading opposition party that at least 30 of its members were being held without charge.
“I am not aware of such a development if at all,” Mr Nyombi said. “But let us assume they have been arrested; I believe they have lawyers who should know what to do.”
“I am not aware of such a development if at all,” Mr Nyombi said. “But let us assume they have been arrested; I believe they have lawyers who should know what to do.”
Forum for Democratic Change spokesperson Wafula Oguttu said his party was trying to secure the release of people arrested in Kampala (12), Mbarara (20), Soroti (three) and Kyenjojo (three). Thirty-two of these had not been taken to court more than 48 hours after their arrest.
Mr Asuman Basalirwa, one of the party lawyers, said they were preparing an application to court to order the release of those (four) detained at the Central Police Station and the Special Investigations Unit in Kireka, a city suburb.
Police Spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said she had not been briefed about the developments, referring inquiries to Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi, who could only talk about the suspects in the city.
Mr Ssenkumbi said he thought the suspects had been released.
Mr Basalirwa added that when he visited the suspects at Kireka, he was told that they would only be released on the orders of Metropolitan Police Commander Andrew Kaweesi.
Mr Basalirwa added that when he visited the suspects at Kireka, he was told that they would only be released on the orders of Metropolitan Police Commander Andrew Kaweesi.
Mr Kaweesi neither answered calls nor responded to text messages.
Police on Tuesday prevented alleged demonstrations across the country as the nation celebrated 50 years of independence.
Police on Tuesday prevented alleged demonstrations across the country as the nation celebrated 50 years of independence.
Dr Besigye, Masaka Municipality MP Mathias Mpuuga (coordinator of walk protests) and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago were confined to their homes over possible protests in the city.
Besigye threat
Dr Besigye had threatened to evade the tight police cordon at his home, which he denounced as illegal, and show up in the city centre. He twice last week slipped past the cordon and appeared in the city centre. Police arrested some of his supporters.
Dr Besigye had threatened to evade the tight police cordon at his home, which he denounced as illegal, and show up in the city centre. He twice last week slipped past the cordon and appeared in the city centre. Police arrested some of his supporters.
Mr Sam Mugumya and Mr Francis Mwijukye had been remanded in Kasese, but were yesterday released on bail. Another eight, according to Mr Basalirwa, were arrested at Bebe Bar in Kasangati while watching or waiting for a televised football match on October 3 and are being held at the Special Investigations Unit in Kireka.
They reportedly include Mr Fred Ndawula, Mr Samuel Mawanda, Mr Simon Nyombi, Mr Richard Kato and Mr Sulaiman Kasule, who Mr Basalirwa said was “badly beaten and could have suffered internal bleeding.”
The others are Mr Michael Muyanja, Mr Ronald Kyeswa and Mr Ramathan Ssebuuma.
The others are Mr Michael Muyanja, Mr Ronald Kyeswa and Mr Ramathan Ssebuuma.
Mr Basalirwa said access to the detainees had been restricted and he had to use “personal ingenuity” to see them. He added that they only found out about the detentions when Kawempe Mayor Mubarak Munyagwa was detained in the same cell.
In Mbarara, police said 12 were arrested on Independence Day to add to others who had already been arrested and charged. Suspects, reportedly including Mr James Arinaitwe, Mr Richard Katsigazi, Mr Michael Mayanja, Mr Yasin Matsiko, Mr Moses Muwonge and Mr Hitler Kamanyisa, have been charged with incitement of violence.
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