Security operatives abduct Gulu man ‘over Kirumira’

Gulu- The family of a 27-year-old man suspected to have been kidnapped by operatives from police and the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) has demanded to know his whereabouts.

Mr Ssekyanzi Adulrahman, a businessman, reportedly went missing last Thursday after being picked by armed plain-clothed operatives from his residence in Gulu Municipality.

Ms Hadija Nagawa, his wife, said five men stormed their home in Pece Division at midday on the fateful day and demanded to have a meeting with her husband.

“The men found us at home and after a few minutes, they left with my husband. They, however, assured me that they were going to have a meeting with him (Ssekyanzi), and he would return. But since then, I have not seen him,” Ms Nagawa told Daily Monitor last week.

Ms Nagawa said she reported the matter at Gulu Central Police Station and case of kidnap was registered on the same day after waiting in vain for her husband.

“Even at the police station, the district police commander, Mr Emmanuel Mufundo, could not tell me exactly what happened to my husband or the people who picked him. He told me my husband was not in their custody and that I can continue to look for him elsewhere,” Ms Nagawa narrated.

“I am helpless at the moment; I have two babies, who are just one year while another is one month. My husband is the sole bread winner in the family, I deserve to know where he is and what crime he was arrested for,” she added.

Links to Kirumira murder
Ms Nagawa, however, said she heard rumours that her husband’s kidnap is linked to the death of former Buyende District Police Commander Muhammad Kirumira.

Kirumira was gunned down on September 8 in Bulenga in Wakiso District by gunmen riding on a motorcycle.

“It was after a few days that I began hearing people talking about the death of a policeman called Kirumira being mentioned in the kidnap of my husband. Now people I do not know have called me and demanded that I pack my belongings and go back to my mother’s home,” Ms Nagawa said.

She said unknown men also called her on phone and told her to leave her husband’s business and never talk to the press.

“My husband has been living in Gulu for the last six years, he only operates his business in Gulu Town and I have not known of him being a wrong person, he has no criminal records at police,” she added.

Her mother, Ms Hawa Nakajubi, said they demand to know where her son-in-law is and the nature of offence he is alleged to have done.

When contacted, the Aswa Regional police spokesperson, Mr Patrick Okema, acknowledged that the man was picked by security operatives but added that he was not in position to comment on the matter.

“Those who picked him came from Kampala, the police spokesperson is in better place to divulge details about his arrest,”Mr Okema said.
However, when contacted, the deputy police spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango, said he did not get the information.

“Contact our spokesperson in Gulu, the alleged kidnap took place in his area,” he told this reporter in a telephone interview.

Army speaks out
Brig Richard Kareimere, the UPDF spokesperson, also declined to divulge information, saying he has to first get the names of the person in question well.

“Just send me the names of the person alleged to have been picked, just send the names… I will get back to you,” he said.

However, a highly placed police detective in the region, who spoke on condition of anonymity since he is not authorised to speak on behalf of the police, said the suspect was picked in connection with Kirumira’s murder.

He said Ssekyanzi was arrested by CMI operatives along with nine other suspects who were picked from their hideouts in Adjumani District in West Nile in an operation conducted last week.

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