Vituko Mitaani

Cabinet yesterday resolved that Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga urgently presents a statement in Parliament following reports by Gen. David Sejusa that there could be a plan to assassinate top government officials opposed to the “Muhoozi Project”.

The Cabinet resolution came on the same day the Coordinator of Intelligence Services told this newspaper that a number of security personnel associated with his office have recently been detained by the police under unclear circumstances.

Gen. Sejusa demanded that the individuals are either released or presented in court. The Daily Monitor understands that Dr Kiyonga was supposed to present his statement in the House yesterday but by the time Cabinet took the decision, the day’s Order Paper was already out.

The minister’s statement, according to sources who attended the meeting, was intended to reassure the country that “all is well” and is now expected to be presented today. “It was not that people are worried, it’s just that ministers are concerned that such statements [from the Generals] can cause undue concern in the country,” a source said.

Gen. Sejusa, aka Tinyefuza, has set off alarm bells in security circles with a leaked copy of instructions he sent to the Internal Security Organisation demanding that an inquiry be conducted into claims that the police chief, Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura; the President’s son, Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and his uncle, Gen. Salim Saleh, may be privy to the alleged assassination plot.

Both the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, himself reported to be among the targets for alleged assassination, and Lt. Gen. Kayihura have since issued strong rebuttals to Gen. Sejusa. Other sources told the Daily Monitor that the ministers blamed the Generals for washing their “dirty linen” in the public.

Information Minister Mary Karooro Okurut yesterday confirmed that Dr Kiyonga had informed Cabinet that he would prepare a statement about matters to do with what some Generals have been saying in the media. “The minister informed us that he would present a statement in Parliament, otherwise, there should be no cause for alarm. Everything is under control,” Ms Okurut said.

The Daily Monitor on Tuesday exclusively published details of Gen. Sejusa’s communication to ISO, asking the agency to investigate both the assassination claims and allegations that there is a parallel scheme to frame those opposed to alleged plans to have Brig. Muhoozi take over from his father as President.

Lt. Gen. Kayihura has denounced the allegations as “crap, outrageous and annoying”. While Gen. Nyakairima has said Gen. Sejusa was “acting out of order”.

Yesterday, Gen. Sejusa blamed the police chief for the arrests of personnel working under him. “It is the same group of Nixon Ayegasire and Kale Kayihura that kidnapped these boys and kidnapped Capt. Patrick Semujju who they later chickened out and released. I demand their immediate release or they be taken to court and be charged,” he said. However, the army and police denied they are holdingoperatives officially employed by ISO.

The Daily Monitor understands that Dr Kiyonga was supposed to present his statement in the House yesterday but by the time Cabinet took the decision, the day’s Order Paper was already out.