The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
In March this year, a group of Rwandans also took Kayihura to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over crimes against humanity that he allegedly committed along with his men when they forcefully deported a group of Rwandan nationals back to Rwanda.
Also, over the years, several pressure groups both local and in the diaspora have petitioned the U.S. and European Union countries to put travel sanctions against senior security officers in command positions who have been at the centre of human rights violations.
The latest call for sanctions was by members of the People Power pressure group led by legislator Robert Kyagulanyi following violence around the Arua by-election of Aug.15.
Indeed, following the calls, the U.S. banned several Ugandan security officers from travelling to the U.S.
One of these officers is Brig. Sabiiti Magyenyi, the deputy IGP. Insiders say Magyenyi had been invited to travel to the U.S but was denied a visa because of his activities in Arua. Other security officers belonging to the SFC who participated in activities in Arua were also denied visas.
The sanctions on Kayihura could have been occasioned by incidents that occurred earlier while he was still police chief, insiders say.
But that the establishment was also aiding Kale to access treatment abroad now is telling especially considering that he was detained partly to limit his movements.
The Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti-led Court Martial had granted Kayihura bail on among others, a condition that he does not travel outside the country without court’s permission. Allowing him to travel and aiding him too is now seen as another positive gesture from the establishment.
Another development on Kayihura’s part is that President Museveni has given his ally, Blaise Kamugisha, the head of the National Crime Preventers Forum, an office at State House and the group also now maintains an office at Makyindye after being integrated into the security infrastructure under the Local Defence Units (LDUs).
At the height of the fallout between Kayihura and Museveni, Kamugisha was forced to flee to Kenya after a tipoff that CMI and Internal Security Organisation (ISO) operatives were looking to arrest him over allegations that crime preventers were working with Kayihura with the backing of Rwanda to organise armed rebellion against Museveni. President Museveni would later convince Kamugisha to return.
For insiders, integrating Crime Preventers into the security infrastructure could be another indicator that the president no longer sees the group as a threat or found the allegation bogus too.
Museveni’s conviction about Kayihura’s innocence is a major departure from a position the president held in June when Kayihura was arrested.
Following his arrest on June 13, Kayihura requested the Commander of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. David Muhoozi to pass on his request to meet President Museveni. But when Muhoozi passed on the information during a meeting of senior army officers with the president at State House Entebbe, Museveni declined to see Kayihura.
According to sources, Museveni told the army officers that he preferred to keep emotional distance and explained that if he met Kayihura personally, he could be swayed by kindness and emotion towards him. The president explained in June, that the charges against Kayihura were of a serious nature.
Actually, the Kayihura Incarceration is merely a political rather than legal matter, it was a political film written and directed by His Excellence the president and his political architects to show both the local political players, opponents and international community that,
1. No one is above the law in Uganda, he still retains his position as the commander in chief and control over his men in uniform regardless of the rank,
Further, wanted to show that he is a strong believer in international law and hates international law breakers therefore can deal with them roughly and toughly before the opposition shouts, ICC and donors come in to bark at his lieutenants and regime in general.
2. Kayihura ‘s incarceration in the military facility is a fact that the president aimed at initiating Kayihura into a new world, washing away the international and local sins he committed during his tenure as an I.G.P , creating local and international sympathy and show portray Kayihura as a sacrificial lamb.
Therefore, the film star, Kayihura will soon win the cases against him and re- deployed as a fresh man in strategic fatty position for regime survival.