Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2002 1:56 AM
Subject: Lt.Col.Nelson Ssemwezi & 3 UPDF Majors held in Gulu over Kony
3 UPDF majors held over Kony
By Chris Obore
Three UPDF majors, a captain and four lieutenants have been arrested and
detained in Gulu.
They are accused of allegedly failing to repulse Joseph Kony's rebels
whenever they attack units under their command, military sources say.
The officers could face expulsion from the army if their lawyers do not
argue their cases to the satisfaction of the High Command.
President Yoweri Museveni, the commander-in-chief, has reportedly taken 'a
no compromise' stand against soldiers accused of failure to contain Kony's
Lord's Resistance Army rebels.
According to sources, the detained officers are Maj. Musana, Maj. Kamya,
Maj. Okello and Capt. Baguma. The identities of the lieutenants are yet to
be established.
Army spokesman Maj. Shaban Bantariza confirmed the arrest of the officers.
"Yes, certainly the army is the complainant," Bantariza said on phone
Thursday. "We are the ones who arrested them."
Relatives of the detained officers say they have been denied a fair hearing.
"They were produced in court martial but no charges were read to them," said
a relative who declined to be named. "They are not even allowed to talk to
us [relatives]."
The three majors are reportedly detained in the same cell with Lt. Col.
Nelson Ssemwezi, who is also allegedly accused of failure to carry out his
duties against LRA rebels.
Maj. Bantariza said no officer has been denied a fair hearing.
"Whether they are unfairly locked up, I don't know," he said. "But since
there is rule of law, let them hire civilian lawyers to argue their cases."
The wife of Lt. Col. Ssemwezi said that her husband has been unfairly
treated and that since he was arrested in May, he has not been allowed to
even withdraw money from the bank to assist his family.
She said that her husband now suffers from a heart problem and doctors have
referred him to see a cardiologist in Mulago Hospital but he has been denied
the visit.
Bantariza denied allegations that Ssemwezi is detained because he has
personal differences with Army Commander Maj. Gen. James Kazini.
"The army commander will be forced to prove why he has locked up Ssemwezi.
Let them get lawyers," he said.
The Mulindwas communication group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"
