Sembabule/Kampala
The campaigns for the Sembabule Woman MP seat yesterday took a dramatic turn with the arrest of the Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs, Maj. Roland Kakooza Mutale, and Rwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo.
The duo, who belong to the NRM party, were campaigning for Independent candidate Joy Kabatsi, who is making a third bid to wrest the seat from NRM flag bearer Hanifa Kawooya.
The seat fell vacant after a Supreme Court ruling stripped Ms Kawooya of her 2006 victory last November, saying there were malpractices in the 2006 electoral process.
Sources in Sembabule said the duo were arrested on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura.
The Southern Regional Police Commander, Mr Andrew Sorowen, said the arrest of Maj. Mutale, who was travelling in a convoy of four vehicles, followed an appeal from area locals.
“Residents of Rwemiyaga called the district police station because they were in fear after seeing that the group was armed,” Mr Sorowen said.
He added that Maj. Mutale had spent a night in Rwemiyaga town campaigning for Ms Kabatsi before his group proceeded to Ssembabule town, where he was arrested.
Mr Sorowen said police had also impounded two sub machine guns from Maj. Mutale, along with Mr Ssekikubo’s pistol.
“We have honourable’s pistol and two SMGs; one for Mutale and another for his escort. We shall open a file and forward it to the Director of Public Prosecution to prefer charges,” he said.
Police also impounded Ms Kabatsi’s posters that were found in the yellow bus in which the brass band was travelling.
Sources say the duo’s troubles stem from their backing of Ms Kabatsi against Ms Kawooya, who is supported by the NRM leadership, including President Yoweri Museveni.
While campaigning for Ms Kawooya early this week, Mr Museveni asked the party’s district disciplinary committee to discipline Mr Ssekikubo and other party supporters who did not tow the official party line.
But speaking to journalists at Sembabule Police Station, Mr Mutale said, “I have committed no crime to support Kabatsi because she a member of NRM, though she is contesting as an independent. Arresting me doesn’t make sense because the President is aware of my position. I have already talked to him; he is aware.”
Mr Mutale said he has always campaigned for candidates sympathetic to the NRM “because they are all our people. So this is not new for me support an independent candidate.”
As the duo was being interrogated by police, there was a heavy anti-riot police deployment in Sembabule town and roads leading to the town centre were blocked.
Earlier in the afternoon, anti-riot police tried to block Maj. Mutale at Kakindo trading centre from proceeding to Ssembabule town and in the scuffle, Mr Joseph Rutsigazi, a supporter of Ms Kabatsi, was hit by a tear gas canister. He was admitted to Ssembabule district health centre.
By press time, Maj. Mutale and Ssekikubo were still at Sembabule district waiting to record statements.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/Kakooza_Mutale_Ssekikubo_arrested_77600.shtml
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