Hussein Bogere, Risdel Kasasira and Joseph Miti
23 July 2008
The continued detention, without trial, of the three Buganda government officials, Ms Betty Nambooze, Mr Medard Lubega and Mr Charles Peter Mayiga, has continued been widely condemned with government being asked to produce the suspects in courts of law or release them immediately.
The Greater North Parliamentary Forum (GNPF), an association that unites over 90 members of Parliament from the five northern Uganda sub regions referred to the arrests as "callous, barbaric and uncivilised" while the Jeema party said the the arrests of the three officials was high handed for which the police should apologise.
In a press statement, the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) said the detention of anybody beyond the 48-hour period is a breach of individual liberties.
"Therefore, the arrest Mr Mayiga, Mr Lubega and Ms Nambooze and their confinement longer than this mandated period is a travesty of justice," the statement read.
Mr Mayiga is Buganda government's minister of information and cabinet affairs; Mr Lubega is his deputy while Ms Nambooze heads the kingdom's Central Civic Education Committee, appointed by the Kabaka to fight the central government's proposed land law reforms through public activities.
The trio were arrested, variously in Kampala last Friday, and according to the Police, they are to be investigated for engaging in unlawful activities related to "their possible connections with some armed groups and attempts to acquire firearms". They are also being investigated for inciting violence, promoting war, sectarianism and terrorism. They are currently being held in Kibaale, Kyenjojo and Bundibugyo.
The Police have maintained that their continued movement in the various parts of the country is for purposes of investigations.
The FFHRI has therefore called on the government to respect the presumption of innocence.
"Accused persons do not lose this right unless they plead guilty or are convicted by a competent court in a public trial," the statement read.
"The human rights group has also urged government to avail the suspects' access to legal counsel, family members and medical treatment, access to courts of the trio without further delay and the right to bail when the suspects are brought to court.
While addressing a press conference at Parliament yesterday, the GNPF Chairman, Felix Okot Ogong said northern Uganda is behind the people of Buganda in this "trying moment" and pledged to give "unconditional support" to Buganda Kingdom to have its three detained officials released.
The association brings together MPs from Lango, Teso, Acholi, Karamoja and West Nile. Like the FHRI, GNPF as well as the Democratic Party to which one of the suspects belongs called for the unconditional release of the officials.
"We demand for their immediate release, dead or alive, otherwise we are going to proceed with the case to the ICC," Mr John Ssebaana told the media.
Meanwhile, a statement from Buganda Emergency Committee is claiming that Buganda kingdom is under pressure from the central government to sack some of the critical youthful minister and outspoken presenters on Buganda's Central Broadcasting Service before the three suspects are released.
Copyright © 2008 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
Read comments. Write your own.
