Kisoro ask Museveni to pardon former IGP
Mission. The military helicopter leaves Gen Kayihura’s farm in Katebe Village, Kashagama, Lyantonde District, on Wednesday. PHOTO BY PAUL SEKANDI
What you need to know:
- Mr Expedito Byensi, the councillor for Nyakabande Sub-county where Gen Kayihura hails from, said sacking him as IGP and his subsequent arrest will divide NRM supporters in the district.
- However, the Resident District Commissioner, Hajj Shafique Ssekandi, sided with police for blocking their planned meeting.
KISORO. A section of leaders in Kisoro District have appealed to President Museveni to pardon the former Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, in case he committed any wrongs rather than humiliate him with prosecution.
The district chairman, Mr Abel Bizimana, yesterday said as NRM leaders, they are embarrassed seeing the man, who was always referred to as a party pillar in their area, being humiliated with arrest a few months after he was dismissed from his job.
“The NRM government should instead be rewarding Gen Kayihura because he protected it from the Walk-to-Work demonstrations that had threatened it, especially in Kampala. In October last year, President Museveni thanked Gen Kayihura for his exemplary leadership and few months later, dropped him from the job of IGP. Now he is being detained and embarrassed,” Mr Bizimana said.
“As the people of Kisoro where Gen Kayihura hails from, we have been left guessing whether such actions represent love for the people in the district where NRM party gets 100 per cent votes in every election,” he added.
The district chairman also blamed police in the district for dispersing people who were planning to hold a meeting to petition the President to pardon Gen Kayihura.
The meeting was scheduled to take place at the Mayors Gardens in Kisoro Town.
“He could have done wrong while executing his duties as IGP as he protected the government but it is a shame that the very system he was serving and protecting is the one that is now embarrassing him,” said Mr Izidol Tumusiime, the district secretary for health.
“We appeal to President Museveni to pardon our son Kayihura. He has been influential in building a firm foundation for NRM in Kisoro. Majority of people believed in him and that is why NRM took all the elective positions in the district,” Mr Tumusiime added.
Implication
Mr Expedito Byensi, the councillor for Nyakabande Sub-county where Gen Kayihura hails from, said sacking him as IGP and his subsequent arrest will divide NRM supporters in the district.
However, the Resident District Commissioner, Hajj Shafique Ssekandi, sided with police for blocking their planned meeting.
“Police were right to foil the planned demonstrations in Kisoro Town because the organisers did not seek permission as required by the law. People should keep calm as government sorts out Kayihura’s issues. Any person holding any illegal assembly, meeting or demonstration shall be arrested and charged,” he warned.
The Kigezi region police spokesman, Mr Elly Maate, advised Kisoro District leaders to use lawful means to present their grievances instead of violating the Public Order Management Act.
