The International Criminal Court (ICC) has acknowledged receiving a petition by Members of Parliament from Kasese, filed on the behalf by lawyer Samuel Muyizzi of Alaka and Company Advocates, to investigate President Yoweri Museveni, Division 2 Commander Brigadier Peter Elwelu and the Police Director of Operations Asuman Mugenyi, for their culpability in the Kasese attacks in which about 100 people were killed.
The killings in their region followed clashes between security forces and traditional guards of Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere and, according to the six MPs, they want the ICC, the international judicial body charged with investigating and prosecuting genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, to among others investigate and hold Museveni and his two security bosses accountable for ‘impunity’.
The petitioners include Kasese Woman MP Winnie Kiiza, who is also the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in parliament; Busongora North county MP William Nzoghu; Kasese Municipality MP Robert Centenary; Bukonzo West MP Atkins Katushabe and his Bukonzo East counterpart Harold Muhindo.
“We want these 3 people be brought to book for the acts of impunity on the people of Kasese. We therefore invite the ICC to make investigations to these atrocities,” LoP Kiiza was quoted as saying, adding: “We believe these were crimes against humanity that the ICC should look into.”
And, in a letter dated January 3, the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP)/ICC Head of Information and Evidence Unit Mark P. Dillon, acknowledged receipt of Muyizzi’s letter, indicating however, that no investigation has commenced.
‘Please note this acknowledgement letter does not mean an investigation has been opened, nor that an investigation will be opened by the Office of the Prosecutor,’ Mr Dillon’s letter to lawyer Muyizzi referenced OTP/ CR/442/16, reads in part.
According to Mr Dillon, a decision will be reached and communicated to counsel Muyizzi in due course.
By press time the EagleOnline was unable to get counsel Muyizzi on phone, but Caleb Alaka, the Senior Partner at Alaka and Company Advocates, acknowledged his firm was handling the matter.
“Yes, it is counsel Muyizzi following up on that matter,” Alaka said on phone.
