Sam Mugumya will not be extradited - Govt

Sam Mugumya

What you need to know:

Mr Mugumya, a Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party member was arrested, together with Aggrey Kamukama, Steven Mugisha, Nathan Bright and Joseph Kamugisha, in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2014 and is currently held at Ndolo Military Prison

Sam Mugumya, an Opposition activist, arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo two years ago, will not be extradited back to Uganda, government has said.

Mr Mugumya, a Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party member was arrested, together with Aggrey Kamukama, Steven Mugisha, Nathan Bright and Joseph Kamugisha, in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2014 and is currently held at Ndolo Military Prison.

Government says Mugumya was engaged in subversive activities and was arrested with dollars and sensitive documents.

State minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Oryem Okello told Parliament on Thursday that due to lack of an extradition treaty between Uganda and DR Congo, the DR Congo government has declined to send him back.

Mr Oryem explained that Mugumya will stand trial in DR Congo, given that its justice system presumes one guilty until proven innocent, differing from Uganda's system. He will be accorded access to lawyers to defend him.

The minister was responding to queries recently raised by Mr Francis Mwijukye (Buhweju), on the fate of Mugumya.

Raphael Magyezi (Igara West), however tasked government to release the names of the 35 other Ugandans who are languishing in Ndolo prison and require legal aid.

Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi said the ministry and embassy officials do not visit Ugandan nationals languishing in prisons.

While the minister also presented a report on the status of embassies and high commissions abroad, several legislators lamented over the continued appointment of politicians as ambassadors.

Jack Wamanga Wamai (Mbale Municipality MP), cited a recent incident in which Uganda's New York Mission Chargé d'affaires, Kintu Nyago, leaked information about South Sudan with the UN Security Council.

While the minister said Mr Nyago had been reprimanded, Mr Wamai insisted that he should have been sacked for embarrassing the country.

Mr Mafabi supported him, wondering why the President appoints political failures as ambassadors, yet there are career diplomats who are not being promoted in the ministry.

Public Service minister Muruli Mukasa commended a proposal by government to start training all Foreign Service officers, promising support through the Civil service College in Jinja.

The MPs also tasked the minister to provide a more comprehensive report on the status of all missions abroad.