{UAH} Museveni ‘assassin’ arrested, tortured

Written by Siraje Lubwama

 Created: 15 June 2016

 

Godfrey Musisi

Private Godfrey Musisi is never far from controversy and the latest incident will leave him with scars, writes SIRAJE LUBWAMA.

Seven years ago, Musisi was convicted of trying to assassinate President Museveni and sentenced to 10 years in prison by the UPDF First Division Court Martial. However, the 52-year-old former Internal Security Organization (ISO) officer was pardoned late in 2010 by President Museveni, upon which he was reinstated on his ISO job.

He later vigorously campaigned for President Museveni in the 2011 general election together with his former boss Brig Matayo Kyaligonza. However, Musisi was arrested recently by police on the night of May 26 from his home in Namugongo, Wakiso district. This time, he is accused of hiding a pistol magazine. Before Musisi's arrest, police arrested his former worker Cluster Mutebi with a pistol.

According to police, Mutebi claimed his boss, Musisi, had the magazine for the pistol. When Musisi was arrested, he said Mutebi used to make bricks at his residence but denied having the magazine for the pistol. Musisi's wife said on June 12 that when her husband was arrested and taken to Kira Road police station, the arresting police constable she could only identify as Adyebo allegedly claimed he had orders to shoot and kill Musisi but his gun jammed.

The police returned with Musisi the following day and searched the house but got nothing of value. Thereafter, Musisi was taken to Jinja Road police station. In an interview on June 8, Musisi said he was constantly tortured for eight straight days and that he fainted three times.

"Adyebo and another policeman called Mike used to flog me from the cells every morning and take me to some flats nearby where police flying squad officers operate from; they would first tie me in 'Bible reading style' where two hands are tied with metals and car tires before battering me constantly," Musisi, whose hands were swollen and oozing pus, said.

"The president I had served for 14 years in 2010 decided to pardon me after getting briefs that my conviction was fueled by a then cold war between the late Afande Noble Mayombo and another officer. In 2013, I was also arrested allegedly for planting a bomb in a neighbour's residence. I was released after investigators found me innocent. This is yet another malicious allegation, I will, God-willing, fight it also," Musisi added.

Musisi's sister, who declined to be named, was one of the few who saw him at Jinja Road police cells. "In the first days, he could not eat food; we used to feed him but when he constantly fainted and could not eat, he was transferred to CPS [Central police station] where he was threatened with death if he fails to produce at least a single bullet," she told The Observer on Friday.

"While there, he collapsed and a police nurse brought to treat him recommended him to be rushed to Mulago hospital because his condition was life-threatening," the sister added.

"I rang Gen Kyaligonza who told his senior officers and other friends to intervene. Their intervention prompted police to release him [Musisi] on bond and allowed us to take him to Mulago where, after examination, a consultant advised us to rush him to Nairobi hospital," she added.

According to the sister, Musisi was instead moved to an undisclosed hospital. With the help of his family, The Observer met Musisi at his undisclosed hospital.

Interviewed on Sunday for a comment, Police chief Gen Kale Kayihura said he is only aware of Musisi's arrest but not the torture. He promised to investigate the claims.
In a separate interview, Police Spokesman Fred Enanga denied that Musisi was tortured.

"After trying to resist arrest, Musisi, who was picked from Kololo, was chased by police…and barbed wires cracked him," he said in a bid to explain the bruises on Musisi's swollen hand.

But Musisi insists he was arrested from his residence.

ASSASSINATION CASE

Back in 2004, Musisi was arrested and accused of trying to assassinate President Museveni at the former International Conference Center complex, now Kampala Serena hotel.

In September 2005 he was arraigned before a seven-member panel at the First Division Court Martial presided by the then Maj Willy Ndinda. The case was handled by two more different chairpersons before it was disposed of in 2009.

He was charged with three counts of treason, terrorism and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline. Each of the charges carries the maximum sentence of death.

Prosecution then led by Maj Moses Wandera alleged in one count that Musisi, with an intention to maim, disfigure, kill or otherwise, aimed a pistol loaded with eight live rounds of ammunition at the president.

He was also charged with unlawfully penetrating the inner defence ring of the then Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) with a gun, an act that amounts to treason.
Prosecution presented three witnesses including Brig Elly Kayanja, who was then ISO director. In his testimony, Kayanja told court that the accused never attempted to assassinate Museveni.

"I deployed Musisi to the complex a day after the president went there. On the day of the alleged assassination, Musisi was not at the alleged scene of crime," Kayanja testified.

The other two state witnesses, the then Director of Operations Lt Herbert Mugarura and Lt Musa Makubuya, the then head of terrorism/crime, pinned Musisi. In his defense, Musisi claimed the charges were a fabrication. In its ruling, court said the state had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

slubwama@observer.ug

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Where there is a will, there is always a way.

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