We can’t release ACP Aguma now – Gen Odongo
What you need to know:
- In February 2018, the High Court in Kampala quashed Aguma’s trial in the military doctrine, and awarded him a shs200m fine for trauma and other damages.
- Mr Ogongo told Parliament that the blue-eyed-boy of Ex-Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, is wrongly under detention with his rights being infringed by the State.
The Internal Affairs Minister Gen (rtd) Jeje Odongo has said the government cannot release the former Commandant of the Police Professional Standards Unit, ACP Joel Aguma, before a comprehensive determination of his charges.
Gen Odongo said this during the House sitting on Thursday while responding to calls by Dokolo South MP Felix Okot Ogong (NRM) to have the “son of Lango” released.
“The family and our members of the Lango community are asking for the intervention of this Parliament because right now Aguma is still being illegally detained at Makindye Military Barracks. He has been detained for two years, the family cannot see him, he was the sole breadwinner and right now his children are not going to school and his sick mother, a widow is suffering,” Mr Ogong said.
“ACP Aguma was arrested on more than one charges and we are still awaiting a court process.
It would not be correct to say that we release him when some cases are still ongoing in court and would demand his presence; once these case are discharged, certainly the process of law and the court processes which will determine which way to go, will be adhered to,” Gen Odongo responded.
ACP Aguma was arrested in 2017 together with Nixon Agasirwe and six other senior police officers on charges of kidnap, illegal repatriation of Rwandan refugees and being in unlawful possession of military weapons. They are currently facing trial in the court martial.
In February 2018, the High Court in Kampala quashed Aguma’s trial in the military doctrine, and awarded him a shs200m fine for trauma and other damages.
Mr Ogongo told Parliament that the blue-eyed-boy of Ex-Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, is wrongly under detention with his rights being infringed by the State.
“We want to know the intention of the government by keeping our brother in detention up to this time with no explanation; two years down the road, we cannot access him and he is suffering may be in a safe house,” Mr Ogong said.
Gen Odongo insisted that ACP Aguma is still facing a number of charges and that they must first be settled.
