Man sues govt over Gen Sejusa
What you need to know:
On December 10, 2014 Police raided Mr Matovu’s home in Lweza Zone A, Makindye Division, arrested him and transferred him to Kajjansi Police Station for interrogation over his alleged links with Gen David Sejusa, who was still living in exile at the time. Gen Sejusa returned from exile on December 14 last year and is now living as a free man
Kampala.
A city business man, who was arrested last year and detained by security operatives for allegedly working with former self-exiled renegade Gen David Sejusa, has taken the government to court, seeking compensation of Shs46 billion for malicious detention.
Mr Francis Matovu’s lawyers, Mr David Mushabe and Mr Mike Mabikke, on Tuesday filed the mandatory statutory notice to the Attorney General informing the government of the intended suit for malicious prosecution and damage to his property by security agents.
The law requires that anyone suing the government gives the Attorney General 45 days of notice.
“He lost a deal worth $34 million (about Shs93.5 billion) in which he was entitled to a 10 per cent commission but his business partners pulled out after learning of the accusations of rebel activities by government against him,” Mr Mabikke said, explaining how the legal team had arrived to the Shs46 billion sum.
“The intended plaintiff avers and contends that his prosecution before Nakawa Chief Magistrate court was malicious as the State had no evidence to support the flimsy and fabricated allegations framed against him,” Mr Matovu’s lawyers state in the statement of the suit.
The case against Mr Matovu was dismissed by court for lack of prosecution.
Mr Matovu says the charges the State had brought against him ruined his reputation and business opportunities.
“Charges were put on me that I am a rebel, they destroyed my business and contacts. I also want to see that all those arrested on trumped-up criminal charges get justice,” Mr Matovu said.
He claims to have lost two vehicles worth Shs400 million and another worth Shs250m, plus businesses worth billions of shillings after his business partners shunned him.
The background
On December 10, 2014 Police raided Mr Matovu’s home in Lweza Zone A, Makindye Division, arrested him and transferred him to Kajjansi Police Station for interrogation over his alleged links with Gen David Sejusa, who was still living in exile at the time. Gen Sejusa returned from exile on December 14 last year and is now living as a free man.
Mr Matovu (pictured) was later transferred to Katwe Police Station. He has twice been arrested and interrogated by military intelligence personnel on allegations of sending money to Gen Sejusa while he was still in exile in London.
