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Uganda: Defiant Tinyefuza Defends Arrests


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The Monitor (Kampala)

23 July 2008
Posted to the web 23 July 2008

Alex Atuhaire

Gen. David Tinyefuza yesterday defended the arrest and continued detention of three Buganda kingdom officials beyond the 48-hour period in which all suspects are supposed to be released or charged in court.

Speaking to Daily Monitor yesterday, more than 100 hours after the first of the three officials were arrested, Gen. Tinyefuza, who is the coordinator of Intelligence Services, said he was in full support of the Police action to arrest the officials.

He dismissed public outcry over the continued detention of the suspects by saying that investigating terrorism-related crimes was complex and that under such circumstances, "some laws can even be suspended".

The three Buganda officials, Mr Peter Mayiga, Mr Medard Lubega and Ms Betty Nambooze, were over the weekend separately arrested on charges of inciting violence, promoting war, sectarianism and terrorism.

The Police chief, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, said in a statement on Sunday that the trio was being investigated for engaging in unlawful activities related to "their possible connections with some armed groups and attempts to acquire firearms."

Mr Mayiga is Buganda's minister of information and cabinet affairs, while Mr Lubega is his deputy. Ms Nambooze heads the kingdom's Central Civic Education Committee, appointed by Kabaka Mutebi to fight the central government's proposed land law reforms through public activities.

Last week, President Museveni was quoted as saying Mengo was using Ms Nambooze to abuse her using CBS radio.

The General's comments came amid growing widespread condemnation of the arrest of the three officials, two of whom were reported to be in poor health, and amidst reports that the Police leadership might have been taken unawares by the arrests, which happened on the same day Buganda Kingdom officials held an important conference in Kampala.

"They were arrested by the Police," Gen Tinyefuza responded when asked if his office had ordered and coordinated the arrests, "But I entirely agree with the Police. I am entirely in support of what they are doing."

But information available indicates Police chief Gen. Kayihura was not aware of the arrests.

Buganda Kingdom officials have condemned the arrests as an attempt by the government to silence its officials - including the trio - who are very critical of a proposed amendment to the Land Act.

Gen. Tinyefuza who earlier, on March 11, made a strongly-worded statement before Parliament warning of what he called a "hate campaign originating and coordinated by Mengo" over the land debate, was yesterday adamant there is no big deal in arresting top officials of Buganda Kingdom.

"If you threaten the security of the country, there is no reason why you should not be arrested," he said. "Recently, ministers in government were arrested and sent to Luzira; so what is so special about ministers of Mengo being arrested? Why are they 'gandanising' these arrests?

For us we follow the law and we are protected in what we are doing. It is immaterial what those who are colleagues say. Is Mukula, Kamugisha or Kazini a Muganda? What are they talking about? You think we shall not guard people in Buganda because they are Baganda? We can't run the state like that," he said.

Former state minister for Health Mike Mukula, and former state minister for Primary Health Care Alex Kamugisha were arrested for allegedly mismanaging immunisation funds while former army commander Maj. Gen. James Kazini was convicted on charges of causing financial loss to the government among other charges.

Both Capt Mukula and Dr Kamugisha were granted bail while Gen. Kazini was freed pending hearing of his appeal.

Responding to questions whether this was a precursor to his earlier warning that Mengo would be crushed, Gen. Tinyefuza said he had no regrets crushing rebellion.

"I said we would crush rebellion. Rebellion is crime so why are they generalising crime? I look at crime as crime; I do not look at crime in tribal terms. Those who tribalise crime are misdirecting issues," he said. Gen. Tinyefuza could not indicate when the suspects would be produced in court saying; - "I am not a policeman".

But the controversial general said that investigating terrorism crimes was complex as the acts are of a trans-territorial manner. But he said if need be, some laws can be suspended if a situation warranted.

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Gen. Tinyefuza dismissed reports that the government was moving to arrest the Kabaka, dismissing Forum for Democratic Change President Kizza Besigye's revelation on a Monday press conference that the opposition party had information to that effect.

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Read comments. Write your own.

Author: josline

I really do support Gen Tinyefuza on how he responded to those officials though many political units are accusing him of what he said. Those buganda officials deserved it .President museveni gave them freedom but they tended to exceed where he thought they would stop.I think it is high time president museveni proved them wrong.This will be a lesson to most of others . Betty Namboze is country wide known for her political campeign which i think she might be thinking of standing for presidency 20011, it is time for museveni to prove her defeat before things go worse .

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