Herbert Ssempogo
8 February 2008
Kampala — KAMPALA Central MP Erias Lukwago was yesterday arrested over failure to respond to court summons.
Lukwago, a member of the Democratic Party (DP), was picked by Police at about 4:00pm from Wandegeya, a city suburb, where he had gone to refuel his car, a black BMW UAE 119G. He was handcuffed whisked off to Kampala Central Police Station.
The Kampala Extra regional police spokesman, Simeo Nsubuga, said several times Court had summoned the MP, who is charged with uttering a false document on February 5, 2007, but he did not respond. Consequently Masaka Chief Magistrate's Court issued a warrant of arrest. "On Monday he will be in Masaka where he will appear before the Chief Magistrates court," Nsubuga stated.
Lukwago is accused of releasing a fake Scotland Yard report on the murder of the late Dr. Andrew Kayiira, a former rebel leader whose guerilla group, the Uganda Freedom Movement, fought alongside the National Resistance Army of Yoweri Museveni against Milton Obote's regime. The document, which the DP released during a rally in Masaka, was implicating Government forces in the murder of Kayiira. Following the release DP's version of the report, party president, Ssebaana Kizito and Kyaddondo South MP Issa Kikungwe were charged with uttering a false document, alongside Lukwago. Lukwago's co-accused have already appeared.
Last evening the DP spokesperson Betty Nambooze, who was with Lukwago at the time of arrest, said they were fuelling to go to Namasooli in Mukono district to address residents about land issues. The two have been actively opposing the Government's proposed amendments to the land law. Namboze said six vehicles, including Police vans, closed in on them at a Shell fuel station. "One of the men jumped out of a vehicle and told Lukwago that he had a warrant of arrest," Nambooze said.
Police spokesman Gabriel Tibayungwa said, "Our work is to enforce the law. People must learn to respect the law. He thought he would remain elusive but the law has caught up him," Tibayungwa said.
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