Government traded Mugumya for M23 rebels, says FDC

Sam Mugumya has spent two years in DR Congo jail. File photo

Kampala. Opposition Forum for Democratic Change, on Friday accused government of colluding with neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of trading prisoners for “selfish political reasons”.

FDC deputy secretary general (In-charge of administration) Harold Kaija says they have information that a “prisoner trade-off” was made between President Museveni and DRC President Joseph Kabila when the former visited the country recently. It is for this reason that Mr Kaija says Mr Sam Mugumya, a former aide to Opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, and four other FDC members have been listed among 215 suspected ADF members set for trial in Beni, North Kivu in DRC.
Mr Kaija says President Museveni made demands relating to Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) while President Kabila made demands relating to M23 rebels in Uganda.
“They are putting them under a group they have never subscribed to. That is intended to blackmail our colleagues and even convict them for offences they don’t know,” Mr Kaija said.

Mr Mugumya and four others including Mr Aggrey Kamukama, Mr Steven Mugisha, Mr Nathan Bright and Mr Joseph Kamugisha have been jailed at Ndolo Military Prison for more than two years. They were arrested at the border between DRC and Uganda in October 2014 for illegal entry.

Deputy secretary General of FDC Harold Kaija (C) addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi on Friday. They opposed the trial of their colleague Mr Sam Mugya and others in the General Court Martial in Congo. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA

The deputy executive director, Uganda Media Centre, Col (rtd) Shaban Bantariza, has dismissed the FDC allegations as baseless saying Uganda could not, under any circumstances, betray its citizens.

“FDC has a conceptual and philosophical problem. Uganda government cannot trade-off its people for whatever reason. If FDC can do that when they are in power, the NRM government will not under any circumstances,” he said.