{UAH} Pro-Mbabazi Youth Leader Arrested

By Dickens Honeywell Okello - Parliament

The Vice Chairman of the ruling NRM Youth League for Northern Uganda, Omodo Omodo has Saturday been arrested in Lira 

The seizure comes just weeks after Omondo held a press conference at Makerere Guest House where he announced the NRM youth’s support for Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi as the party’s flag bearer in the 2016 elections.

Omodo said the resolution taken by NRM at Kyankwanzi urging Museveni to stand unopposed as the party’s flag-bearer in the 2016 polls was “wrongly adopted because the parliamentary caucus has no mandate under the party constitution to approve such a sensitive issue.”

He further observed that the resolution tantamount to favouritism or nepotism by giving preferential treatment to any personal advantage contrary to the provisions of section 4 (1k) of the NRM constitution.

While the statement was later denounced by the mainstream leadership of the NRM youth League, the move angered top party leaders and Omodo has since been a subject of investigation.

He is currently detained at Lira Central Police Station after which he will be transferred to Kampala for interrogation.

Top Police officials in Lira refused to be quoted on the arrests, saying “this is a very sensitive matter.”

Mansur Suwed, the Central North Regional Police Spokesperson, did not respond to repeated calls from Chimpreports.

Mbabazi recently asked Police to immediately stop the arrest of his supporters.

Kayihura investigates

However, Police boss, Gen Kale Kayihura said the arrests were part of a wider investigation into the “criminal behaviour connected with ongoing political controversies within the NRM party.”

He added: “Indeed, Police is conducting investigation into reports that certain individuals associated with the NRM party are going around the country securing or attempting to secure signatures, using methods that amount to criminality such as using bribery or on the basis of falsehoods.”

Kayihura said the reports we are investigating are that those from whom they seek signatures are bribed with money, or misled as to the actual reasons the signatures are being sought.

“For instance, the Police received reports of a group of people moving around collecting signatures from people in Kampala, falsely claiming that the intention was to take them to the President so that the longstanding promises the President are, at last, fulfilled.  Others were paid money (actually bribed) ranging from shs 50,000 to 500,000 depending on their respective status in the NRM party.”

 

Kayihura, however, dismissed reports the suspects are being targeted due to their political inclinations. 

 

“The press continues to carry misleading stories that an ongoing investigation by the Police of certain persons associated with NRM party, who have been moving around the country collecting signatures is, in fact, harassment of supporters of Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi, the Prime Minister, and that the harassment is because of their political opinions, and inclinations.

 

We wish to clarify that this is not correct.  The Police is not targeting or harassing any such individuals, or anybody for that matter, let alone, because of their political opinions as claimed in media stories,” assured the Police boss. 

 

Police recently interrogated several supporters of Mbabazi who were mobilising signatures in different parts of the country to front him for President.

 

The move infuriated authorities, with Kampala police boss, Andrew Kaweesi, saying any individual found mobilising the signatures would face the full wrath of the law.

 

The development comes at a time when Mbabazi and Museveni are struggling for power ahead of the 2016 elections.

Mbabazi’s wife Jacqueline recently issued a media statement in which she attacked Police for being partisan.

Nevertheless, Kayihura said “our focus is investigation of reported criminal behaviour.  If they are innocent, they have nothing to fear.  They will be cleared.  If they are culpable, however, they should be prepared to face the judicial process.”

 He concluded: “We want to assure the public that, in spite of the negative and diversionary stories in the media, we shall not be deterred.  The Police will not be intimidated, or blackmailed and shy away from bringing to justice any member of public alleged to have committed an offense, their political “opinions” or inclinations notwithstanding.”

*A positive mind is a courageous mind, without doubts and fears, using the experience and wisdom to give the best of him/herself.

 

 We must dare invent the future!
The only way of limiting the usurpation of power by
 individuals, the military or otherwise, is to put the people in charge  - Capt. Thomas. Sankara {RIP} ’1949-1987

 *“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent

revolution inevitable”**…  *J.F Kennedy

 

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