Lwemiyaga County Member of Parliament Theodore Ssekikubo yesterday handed himself over to the Police Criminal Investigations Directorate in Kampala where he was arrested and questioned for several hours.
The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, told Daily Monitor the MP was seized in connection with Monday’s shooting in Sembabule District during the chaotic National Resistance Movement party district elections in which two people were injured and a police officer manhandled.
Others questioned
Daily Monitor understands that following a preliminary inquiry by a regional CID team led by Christopher Rugumayo and other senior officers, other ruling party members are also on the police radar. Southern Regional Police spokesperson Norah Sserujongi said “five NRM chairmen, who were present during the scuffle, have recorded statements with CID”. Mr Ssekikubo drove to CID headquarters at Kibuli in a navy blue Toyota Land Cruiser at around 3 pm.
Journalists were told he answered questions from Deputy Director CID Moses Sakira until 6:40 pm. “Mr Ssekikubo is officially under arrest and he is going to be transported to Masaka District this evening (Tuesday) where he committed the crime,” the police spokesperson, Ms Judith Nabakooba, later told Daily Monitor. She said Mr Ssekikubo would record a statement at Masaka Police after which, charges would be preferred against him.
Ms Nabakooba said the Force has also suspended Sembabule District Police Commander Stephen Okwir. “He has been suspended for failing to control Monday’s situation. He had a whole unit of anti-riot police but he did not use it, ” Ms Nabakooba said. Mr Ssekikubo blamed Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kuteesa for the latest outbreak of political tensions in Sembabule barely six months to next year’s general elections due between February and March 2011.
But Minister Kuteesa last evening said “no leader can behave in such a manner”. The minister also criticised the police saying; “If they cannot protect the public in small elections of the ruling NRM party, then we fear what might happen in future. How could they fail to disarm Ssekikubo and his bodyguard?” Lt. Habib Nsamba was shot in the stomach as he reportedly tried to disarm Mr Ssekikubo’s bodyguard, while another person is said to have sustained gunshot wounds in the lower limbs.
Soldier disowned
Army Spokesperson Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye yesterday said the injured lieutenant is not a known member of the UPDF, which under Uganda’s electoral laws must not engage in partisan political activity. “Maybe he belongs to ISO (Internal Security Organisation) or any other security group but I cannot pass judgement on him because we don’t know who he is,” Lt. Col. Kulayigye said. Meanwhile, the NRM Chief Whip, Mr Daudi Migereko, said the leadership will take measures to avoid a recurrence of such acts. “We do not support violence on matters which can clearly be decided by the ballot box,” he said
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