At about 7pm on Thursday, a joint team of military and police
operatives laid siege to the office of the former Security Minister, Lt
Gen Henry Tumukunde, in Kololo, Kampala. They forced the gate open and
accessed the premises where Lt Gen Tumukunde was with his aides and the
Tororo North Member of Parliament, Ms Annett Nyakecho. The team was led
by Director of the Police Criminal Investigations Directorate, Ms Grace
Akullo, and Mr Elly Womanya, the head of Special Investigations Division
of the police.
They inform Gen Tumukunde that they had come to search the premises but he said it was late to do so.
“I thought you were a lawyer, Akullo! Do they carry out search on people at this time?” he asks.
One of the unidentified detectives then tells him: “The laws keep changing. You might have forgotten.”
Gen Tumukunde then replies: “Any amendments [to the law]?”
The
arresting team later tells him that he had also made treasonous
utterances. In response, he asks them if the utterances would be found
in his office.
Akullo responds: “It is an investigation procure, sir”.
He then asks them if he was under arrest and Womanya says that he was under arrest for uttering treasonous statements.
But Gen Tumukunde insists that they must bring paper work to show the charges and why he was being arrested.
He tells them that he had been a colleague in security and know the procedure of carrying out the arrests.
But Ms Akullo says there was no need to explain because Womanya has clearly told him why he was being arrested.
“The procedure is clear. You tell someone why he is being arrested and
after the arresting officer has identified himself. For paper, that will
come later,” Womanya interjects.
Gen Tumukunde responds: “Anyway, I
know you have been trying to arrest me and I know you have been
designing it. Anyone who has a different view, you must arrest him. But
at least, bring documentation.
He again asks them if they had a
search warrant. They shows it to him but because of darkness he asks for
phone flashlight to read the search warrant. They show him the
document. He is then led into a police vehicle and taken to Kibuli for
questioning.
Tumukunde’s aides, MP Nyakecho forced to spend night in office
At
least 15 people who were found at the office of the former Security
minister Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde during his arrest, spent a night locked
inside the office premises.
Most of them were his aides and private guards who replaced the UPDF guards that were withdrawn three weeks ago.
Among
them was Tororo North MP Annett Nyakecho, who told Saturday Monitor
that they spent the night in the cold without water and food. “We cannot
get out because they said whoever tries to get out will be dealt with.
They mounted cameras on top of a police truck to monitor what is
happening inside,” she said.
Another group of detectives also surrounded his home in Kololo and his family members were not allowed to get out.
Ms
Nyakecho has been close to Lt Gen Tumukunde since he announced that he
would stand for President in 2021. The premises remained closed until
10.30am when the operatives started the search.
On Tuesday, after
meeting the police leadership over his planned consultations of his
supporters in preparation for 2021 elections, Gen Tumukunde described Ms
Nyakecho as one of the principal persons that will help him canvass
votes.
Police statement
We would like to
inform the public that on March 12, 2020, at around 7pm, a joint
security task team led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations,
arrested Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde for alleged treason. His premises at
Kololo were secured for further search this morning, for any additional
evidence of material value.
The arrest follows his utterances in a
series of radio and television interviews, which seek to foster hatred
that might lead to inter-community violence, fomenting and glorifying
violence in general. He in addition, calls on the support of a
neighboring country to support him in removing the current leadership
with or without the ballot.
He is therefore, being charged under
Sections 23 (2) b and 23 (3) b, of the Penal code Act, which deals with
instigating persons to invade the Republic of Uganda and inciting any
persons to make a mutinous assembly.
As always our number one
priority is the safety and security of all Ugandans. And we would like
to thank our task teams for their swift action, upon recognising the
impact of the inflammatory and provocative rhetoric by the suspect on
members of the armed forces and the wider public.
This should also
act as a deterrent to others who would like to promote views that seek
to naturalise violence in our country, Uganda. CP Fred Enanga, PRO
