Former opposition presidential candidate Warren Smith Kizza Besigye Kifefe has today viciously confronted police, resulting in a standoff that has brought activity on Kampala Road to a standstill.

Eyewitnesses say the altercation happened as Dr Besigye, who was the flag bearer for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) tried to access Uganda House, to meet his lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuzi. Uganda House is also the headquarters of the opposition Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) party.

Since November last year, during the electioneering period, Dr Besigye had had several run-ins with the police, often resulting in his arrest and detention at different security facilities around the country.

Earlier today Dr Besigye was at the Nakawa Magistrate’s Court where his treason case was adjourned to January 25, next year. But before leaving Nakawa court after the adjournment Dr Besigye had a message for court; apparently January 25 is the last day he will appear before a magistrate.

‘Next time I appear and this case is not committed to the High Court, I will not come back. This court has no powers to hear this case,” he was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, by press time Dr Besigye had been driven to Kira Road police station, but efforts to establish the charges leveled against him were futile. However, he was later reportedly taken to his home in Kasangati under heavy police escort.

Stories Continues after ad

Following his shooting on Saturday, the public has persistently demanded that justice for the late social worker Kenneth Akena Watmon, be accorded.
And weighing in on the matter today, investigations expert Fred Egesa, said if the situation is not compromised, finding Akena’s killer is apparently the simplest task for any investigator worth his salt.
“If the situation is not compromised, this matter is the simplest to deal with…,” Mr Egesa, a private investigator said today, while appearing on NBS TV talk show, Morning Breeze.

The prime suspect in the case is Mathew Kanyamunyu, who the deceased claimed had shot him moments before he passed on. Kanyamunyu denies the claim and up to date the gun used in the shooting hasn’t been found.

However, Egesa says this doesn’t matter a lot because ‘many people don’t own guns but they have them’.
“It doesn’t matter whether Kanyamunyu owns one or not. What is crucial here is, when you are found with a person with crucial injuries, you account for it. If Kanyamunyu was very genuine, he would have alerted people around him that someone has been shot,” Egesa said.

“Kanyamunyu should have run to the nearest police post. His behaviour and actions make him a key suspect. In my opinion, Kanyamumyu should be charged with murder as investigations continue,” he added.

According to Mr Egesa, despite Kanyamunyu having taken Akena to hospital, there is a ‘missing link’ between the shooting and when the deceased was taken to hospital.
“Kanyamunyu is a very smart person; interrogations should be done by a very intelligent person. If you say a woman was a target, then Kanyamunyu would’ve naturally drove off. His confidence spells a different direction,” Mr Egesa said, adding that whereas he has seen Kanyamunyu’s car, he hasn’t seen Akena’s.

“Where is it? Who drove it from the scene?” he asks.
Meanwhile, the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) has also joined in investigations regarding the incident.

Stories Continues after ad

The Uganda police has six months in which to complete investigations into the death of Kenneth Akena Watmon, who was shot dead on Saturday evening.

Akena, 30, a Community Development Officer (CDO) who worked with Aruu County, was killed after he allegedly reversed and rammed into a car belonging to a one Mathew Kanyamunyu. The incident allegedly took place near Game Stores and the Forest Mall in Lugogo.

Since the shooting on Saturday, there have been varying accounts of what could have happened, but media sources indicate the deceased made a ‘dying declaration’ to his brother John Nyeko, in which he said Kanyamunyu was the assailant.

By press time it was not possible to establish the police’s reaction to the ‘ultimatum’ or as to how far police had progressed with investigations, but in an earlier interview the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Emilian Kayima confirmed the suspect, who was arrested together with a lady friend, one Cynthia Munwangari, were in police custody at the Jinja Road Police Station.

The death of Akena has stirred emotions, with many insisting thorough investigations must be carried out to establish the killer and motive for the killing. Indeed, one of those peeved by the killing is Aruu county MP Odonga Otto, who has threatened ‘to exhume Akena’s body and take it to Kanyamunyu’s home’ should the investigations appear to be bungled.

In the recent past there have been a couple of killings allegedly carried out or abetted by ‘connected’ people, case in point being the death of Jane Katushabe, who was reportedly tortured in the presence of a senior police officer, Aaron Baguma, the former OC at Central Police Station (CPS). Ms Katushabe later died and Baguma, together with his co-accused Muhammad Sebuwufu, the owner of Pine car bond in Kampala, are facing charges linked to her murder.

Meanwhile, the burial of late Akena will take place later today at his ancestral home in Kitgum.

Stories Continues after ad

Socialite Ivan Kamyuka Kalyesubula, who was arrested last year over the stabbing to death a one John Ahimbisibwe, is currently having fun in Europe with the deceased’s ex-lover Nina Nyarwaka.

Available information indicates that Kamyuka, who was released on bail about three weeks ago, allegedly fled the country yesterday and is currently in Norway.

It ought to be remembered that Nina was the cause of the fight that led to Johnnie’s death. Both men were fighting for the same lady, who had been Johnnie’s girlfriend for a reasonable time and the two were even blessed with a kid before Kamyuka allegedly snatched her from him.

So when Johnnie met the two in Guvnor, he tried to talk to her but the encounter ended up in a bitter exchange which led to his stabbing. He was stabbed in the neck using a bottle and died on his way to hospital.

On the other hand, Kamyuka was arrested but was released on bail three weeks back.

However, his leaving the country while the case is still ongoing has left many puzzled, wondering why the court allowed him to keep his passport in the first place.

Stories Continues after ad

Outgoing Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairperson Eng. Badru Kiggundu has asked government to allow Ugandans in the diaspora to vote during general elections.

Addressing his last press conference as head of the electoral body, Eng. Kiggundu said the EC has tabled amendments to that effect.

During the conference Eng. Kiggundu outlined the achievements and challenges, among them organising free and fair elections, encountered by the IEC during his 14-year tenure and implored Ugandans to be ‘proud of what we have’.

“The Commission has been able to steer Uganda and position it as critical player in developing electoral democracy,” Eng. Kiggundu told the media at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.

Other achievements, he said, include among others the opening of regional offices and introduction of the electronic transmission of election results.

On the challenges, Eng. Kiggundu lamented about the negative perception experienced by the IEC, but expressed optimism that that would change over time. He also enumerated other challenges among them the commercialisation of politics, political intolerance and violence.

Since his appointment in 2006, Eng Kiggundu and his team have supervised three general elections; in 2006, 2011 and 2016. All three were won by incumbent President Museveni amid contestations by the opposition.

Stories Continues after ad