Renegade UPDF officer Itongwa dies in LondonPublish Date: Apr 20, 2013
By Pascal Kwesiga
Renegade UPDF officer and former rebel leader, Herbert Itongwa, who went
missing in Denmark where he had sought asylum in 1997, has died in London,
his mother says.
It was reported that the army defector disappeared from Denmark after
investigations into his asylum status revealed his criminal record.
His family said he breathed his last at around 8:00pm local time (EAT) on
Friday.
His mother, Angelina Ssedyabana confirmed to New Vision on Saturday, that
his son had died. She said that she learnt about her sons death through her
daughter who lives in Denmark.
My son has died. I am in great pain because I had not seen him for many
years and I dont know how I will get the body, lamented the 70-year old on
phone.
Circumstances surrounding Itongwas death remain unclear.
I was called by my daughter who told me that her brother had died. The
phone went off as soon as she broke the news and I dont know what killed
him, the grieving mother said.
She said has been staying with Itwongwas four children at her home in
Nabweru, Wakiso district since her son, whose real names are Herbert
Kikomeko Sseddyabane, fled the country.
Captain Juma Seiko said he had informed Gen. Salim Saleh about Itongwas
death as requested by family members.
He said the former rebel leader was Salehs close friend before he left the
country.
Schizophrenic and chronic paranoia
Itongwa was part of the first slot of NRA fighters who fought a five-year
guerrilla war led by President Museveni that captured power in 1986, said
Seiko.
Itongwa who was charged with war crimes in a Danish court in 2004, led the
Uganda National Democratic Alliance rebel group allegedly responsible for
the killings of the South Western regional police commander, Erisa Karakire,
and his driver Samwiri Kakonge.
The group was also reported to have kidnapped the then health minister,
James Makumbi. The minister was later released unharmed.
The deceased was later acquitted of the double murder in Denmark.
The Court of Aalborg did not find substantial evidence that the axe carried
by Itongwa was the murder weapon that killed the police chief and his
driver. He was convicted for robbery only.
Itongwa was later diagnosed with schizophrenic and chronic paranoia by the
Medico-legal council, the Danish council that determines the mental status
of accused persons.
He was sentenced to indefinite treatment at a psychiatric hospital.
The court rejected the Prosecutions demand that Itongwa be expelled from
Denmark when he leaves the psychiatric hospital.
According to its law, the European nation does not expel persons to
countries which retain the death penalty.
Itongwa arrived in Denmark in 1997 after his rebel group, which was mainly
operating in central Uganda, was defeated.
He was given political asylum in 1999. In 2003, he was arrested in Aalborg,
140 miles northwest of Copenhagen, where he had been living.
The former army mans prosecution was in line with the Geneva Convention,
which calls for countries to prosecute war criminals.
The Danish Special International Crimes Office, responsible for prosecuting
serious crimes committed abroad by people residing in Denmark, collected
several testimonies from Uganda.
However, these were later overruled, allegedly because the witnesses were
under pressure to speak out against the rebel leader.
Information on how his body will be transported, and where he will be
buried, has not been communicated yet.
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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