Kampala: As the Movit beauty products proprietor, Simpson Birungi remains held by security agencies, a pressure group-Youth Power Research Uganda (ypru) has written to President Museveni requesting him to reign over the agencies so that they produce the detain to court for mention of his charges.
“As a platform that comprise of about 3000 youths, send our concerns to the President of Uganda, H E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni about the illegal detention of one of our celebrated indigenous cosmetics investor Simpson Birungi,” Team Leader Ben Ssebuguzi wrote on behalf of the group on June 26.2018.
The group fears that Birungi’s unexplained long stay in detention might lead to the collapse of his enterprise they say makes annual sales worth USD15 million. The youths fear they could also lose their jobs if Birungi’s business empire collapses.
The group also says there could be a ploy by some individuals to “frustrate the work of our investors through mudslinging them in a bid to destroy them and achieve their selfish goal.”
On June7, the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) arrested Birungi in connection with the murder of his former manager Stephen Asaba in 2010 and the torching of Buddo Junior School in 2008. Sources say ISO operatives arrested Birungi after receiving information that police officers previously handling the case files were compromised, leaving the Kampala beauty products mongul to carry on his business as usual.
Birungi’s connection to the Buddo inferno arises from his own misunderstanding with the then headmaster of Buddo Junior School, William Kayongo, over a piece of land.
Kayongo also headed Berkeley College School that was neighboring Movit Factory in Zzana, a city suburb.
Birungi reportedly wanted to expand his business empire by buying off the school while Kayongo wanted to keep it. Other directors of the school were willing to sell their interests in the school but the majority shareholder was Kayongo who opposed the move.
Meanwhile, High Court Judge Musa Ssekaana on June 19 directed the immediate release of Birungi but nothing was done even after 48 hours allowed to produce the suspect in court had elapsed long ago.
Last week Birungi’ s family petitioned High Court- civil division for orders that the Attorney General and Uganda police immediately produces Birungi in court.
According to the family, Birungi was arrested by security agents while answering a bond at Kibuli Police on allegations of murdering Asaba.
Asaba was murdered and his body dumped in Nakawuka in Kajjansi town council, Wakiso district in 2010.
However, analysts say Birungi may stay in detention for quite long on account of president Museveni’s declaration that capital offenders must not receive bail. They say even if he is produced in court, he will be sent back to incarceration.