Gen Sejusa turns heat on army over his retirement
What you need to know:
President. The former spy chief says the President issued the directive three weeks ago and that the army should implement it
Kampala.
A day after the expiry of his application to be retired from the army, Gen David Sejusa insisted yesterday that President Museveni has ordered his retirement and that the army must let him free.
“There is no official information that I have not been released from the army. In government, there is red tape but in my possession, I have information from the Commander-in-Chief (the President), ordering that I be retired from the army,” Gen Sejusa said.
He was addressing journalists in Kampala about a new pressure group dubbed “Platform to Rescue Uganda (PRU)”.
The pressure group’s agenda, according to Gen Sejusa, is to “build capacity for all resistance forces in defence of the Constitution”
He said President Museveni had three weeks ago sent him an emissary with specific orders about his retirement.
“Whatever is remaining is for Gen Katumba (CDF) to do what he is supposed to do. May be they are still waiting to process my pension which I don’t need now because I have been surviving. The Constitution says the President is the Fountain of Honour and as far as am concerned, he cannot deny what he said.”
Waiting patiently
The former coordinator of Intelligence Agencies said it would be easy for him to announce his defiance of the army but he had credible information not to. “It could be very easy for me to announce that I have defied the army but I have communication to the contrary.”
However, UPDF spokesperson Paddy Ankunda advised Gen Sejusa to be patient instead of “saying things which have not happened”.
The Presidential Press Secretary, Mr Tamale Mirundi, also advised Gen Sejusa to follow the UPDF law.
“Museveni is not the institution of the army and Sejusa may be telling lies. Museveni respects the law and can only help Sejusa follow the law that governs the army,” said Mr Tamale.
“Sejusa is a lawyer and he should be able to tell us whether the President has the powers to release him before the proper procedure under the law is followed,” he added.
On January 7, UPDF Chief of Legal Services Ramadhan Kyamulesire wrote to Chief of Defence Forces Katumba Wamala, denying any instructions by the President about Gen Sejusa’s retirement.
This was after Gen Sejusa’s lawyers told journalists that President Museveni had accepted their client’s request to be retired from the army and ordered the Brig Kyamulesire to start the retirement process.
Following Brig Kyamulesire’s letter, Gen Katumba wrote to Sejusa’s lawyers, informing them that as chairman of the Commissions/Promotions Board, he shall wait for written or other forms of communication from the President Forces, giving guidance on the matter.
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