DP’s Nambooze arrested Al Mahdi Ssenkabirwa Kampala
Outspoken Democratic Party publicist Betty Nambooze has been arrested in connection with the riots that rocked Kampala and some parts of Buganda last September leaving 27 people dead, Daily Monitor has learnt. Ms Nambooze, who has been bedridden for close to two months, was reportedly picked up by police from Entebbe International Airport early this morning while trying to catch a flight to South Africa to seek further treatment. According to Mr Henry Bakireke who was accompanying her, Ms Nambooze was bundled into a waiting Police car and drove to the Criminal Investigations Directorate in Kibuli ,a city suburb for interrogation. By 10am, her lawyer and Kampala MP Erias Lukwago together with relatives had gathered at CID offices to try and secure her release . Ms Nambooze has undergone two surgical operations in the last two months as a result of digestive complications. After delayed recovery, doctors at Mukono Health Centre IV who identified her illness as hydrocortomy recommended that she seeks further treatment in South Africa. According to reliable Police sources, Nambooze is likely to be charged with terrorism. The same sources told Daily Monitor that Lukwago is likely to join her as a co-accused on similar charges. Lukwago and Buganda deputy information minister Medard Lubega were last month charged with terrorism in court in connection with the same riots but were later released on bail. Lukwago was charged with inciting violence and Lubega with sedition at the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates' Court where they appeared separately. However, charges of Terrorism still await Lukwago. During the interrogation police at Kibuli had informed Lukwago that an additional charge of abetting terrorism had been added after a close analysis of his file. While touring the burnt Nateete Police Station in the aftermath of the riots President Museveni ordered for the arrest of Nambooze for allegedly organizing the riots which left at least 27 people dead and scores injured. Mr Museveni said Nambooze, a Buganda activist, was one of the ring leaders of the violent demonstrations. He blamed her and what he called other 'elements' for destabilizing the country. During a televised speech later that day the president named Nambooze as one of the detractors that the Kabaka needed to "prevail on because they were "keeping Uganda permanently on tenterhooks commonly known as obunkenke." Ms Nambooze, the head of the Buganda Civic Education Committee, has been at the forefront in mobilizing ordinary Baganda to oppose the 2007 Land Act Amendment Bill, claiming it is a scheme to grab their land. But government insists the proposed legislation is aimed at protecting tenants who are illegally evicted from their land . Last year, the government arrested Ms Nambooze, Buganda Information Minister Peter Mayiga and his deputy Medard Lubega Segoona on allegations that they were promoting sectarianism and a hate campaign against non-Baganda. The trio was hijacked for a week, drove to various districts in Western Uganda. After their release, Ms Nambooze had to undergo two medical operations as a result of the torture. She has been in and out of cells since 2003. In almost all cases, her arrest has been linked to what she describes state witch hunt because she defected to the opposition. _______________________________________________ Ugandanet mailing list [email protected] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. ---------------------------------------
