Vituko Mitaani

Relatives of four Internal Security Organisation operatives who have been working in the office of the Coordinator of Intelligence Services, Gen. David Sejusa, have applied for a court order to force the government to produce them in court.

The individuals were arrested on May 5 from their homes in a joint operation conducted by the police flying squad and the army.

Through their lawyers, Luzige, Lubega, Kavuma & Company Aadvocates, the relatives say they have reason to believe that their kin are being detained at the Special Investigations Unit, Kireka.

“Our application was supposed to be heard on Monday. But, unfortunately, we have been informed that they have been transferred to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence. I will talk to the judge and we also serve the army,” Mr Luzige said last evening.

The application for a writ of habeas corpus to have James Nayebare, Moses Nuwagaba, Frank Ninsima and Abel Twinamatsiko produced in court was issued to the Attorney General, Inspector General of Police and the commandant of Special Investigations Unit.

But police spokesperson Judith Nabakoba yesterday said she was not aware that the four security operatives are being held in Kireka.
“I have not been briefed.

Let me consult and find out whether these people are being detained in Kireka,” she said.

Under Ugandan law, suspects are supposed to be produced in court within 48 hours of arrest but the four operatives have, reportedly, neither been charged with any offence, nor produced in court.

The application is supported by affidavits sworn by Monica Rwaheiguru, an auntie of Nayebare and Ninsiima; Ms Shalon Nuwagaba, the wife of Nuwagaba and Ms Robina Katushabe, the wife of Twinamatsiko. All affidavits indicate that the men were first detained in a safe house in Ntinda before being transferred to Kireka.

“The applicants’ continued detention is unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful,” the petition says, “they have been deprived of their personal liberty in a manner contrary to the Constitution,”
“I have tried to access the said people at the Special Investigations Unit headquarters, Kireka and have been denied access to them,” Ms Rwaheiguru said.

Other sources told Daily Monitor that two presidential guards identified as Nayebare Rwakyozi and Geoffrey Karuhanga have also been arrested and are being detained in an unknown location. It is also not clear if their reported incarceration has anything to do with Gen. Sejusa.

UPDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda yesterday said he was not aware of the arrests but said he was going to consult Special Forces Command under Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Meanwhile, the same lawyers yesterday said that Gen. Sejusa was out of the country on official duties, and has not escaped from the country as insinuated in the media.

The government-owned New Vision newspaper yesterday reported that Gen. Sejusa, who is also a senior presidential adviser, had “disappeared”. The lawyers said they have been instructed by the General to demand an apology and compensation from the newspaper, failing which they will commence legal proceedings against the newspaper.

Contacted for comment, the Vision Group chief executive officer, Mr Robert Kabushenga, last evening said, “So what?”