Vituko Mitaani

The Government yesterday went on the record, denying that there are plans to have President Museveni’s son, Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, replace him as leader of the country.

“I assure the House that there is no such a Muhoozi project in the army,” Defence minister Crispus Kiyonga told Parliament.The government’s denials were part of its official reaction to Gen. David Sejjusa aka Tinyefuza’s claims that some government officials opposed to the “project” had been singled out for assassination.

Daily Monitor this week published details of a letter Gen. Sejjusa, the coordinator of intelligence agencies, wrote to the Internal Security Organisation boss, asking that the assassination claims be investigated.

In an interview with this newspaper, Gen. Sejusa admitted authoring the letter.

But addressing MPs yesterday, Dr Kiyonga said the letter bearing Gen. Sejusa’s instructions has never reached the director general of the Internal Security Organisation.

The defence minister also denied that there is any criminal conspiracy by senior military officers to either frame or assassinate colleagues.

“And ordinarily, Gen. Sejusa is the coordinator of both external and internal security organisations and if there’s such a serious matter Gen. Sejusa should have addressed it himself or met the Commander-in-Chief,” Dr Kiyonga said.

The minister’s statement, which was unsigned, said Gen Sejusa had abused the laws that govern the army and that the matter would be dealt with by his Commander-in-Chief, President Museveni.

Dr Kiyonga’s statement drew mixed reactions from MPs, with some fearing that the country could be on the brink of a coup given the serious allegations which have been made about senior military officials.

Army MP, Gen. Elly Tumwine, later gave a lengthy lecture on the UPDF and its good intentions for the country, which he concluded by blaming Gen. Sejusa.

“This matter should not cause undue excitement. It is not the first time in the history of UPDF, in the history of this Parliament and in normal life in society that somebody wakes up not feeling well,” Gen. Tumwine said.

Other MPs, however, observed that Gen. Sejusa, who is one of the 10 army representatives in the House, could be the only top military man courageous enough to speak his mind on such a sensitive issue.

MPs speak
Mr Wafula Oguttu (Bukhooli Central) said: “We have had disagreements in the Ugandan army before and it ended up in a coup. We had disagreements in the UNLA, and it ended up in a coup. So, we should not downplay these simmering disagreements. If everything is fine, why are soldiers deserting?” he asked.

Both the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, himself reported to be among the targets for alleged assassination, and police chief Lt. Gen. Kayihura have since issued strong rebuttals to Gen. Sejusa.

Dr Kiyonga confirmed that Gen. Sejusa is out of the country but could not say when is expected to return.