Kibalama should be freed unconditionally
People Power movement principal Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine (left), and former National Unity Platform (NUP) president general Moses Nkonge Kibalama (centre), a former Milton Obote driver, are joined by other members to unveil NUP, the new political party wing of People Power, on July 22, 2020 in Kamwokya, Kampala. PHOTO | MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI
What you need to know:
- The issue: Justice
- Our view: If anything wrong was done as Mr Kyagulanyi took over the leadership of NUP, that is should be a matter for the courts to decide. And the matter is already in court. There is, therefore, no reason for the security forces to get involved.
For a number of weeks now, there has been controversy about the freedom of Mr Moses Nkonge Kibalama, the founder of the party which became National Unity Platform (NUP), currently led by presidential hopeful Robert Kyagulanyi.
After days of dilly-dallying about the matter, the military admitted that they were holding him. The institution said he was being held for his own safety. They did not substantiate their claim.
During the period Mr Kibalama has been in the hands of the security forces, a video was released of him claiming that Mr Kyagulanyi promised him $5m as consideration for him to surrender the leadership of the party he founded to Mr Kyagulanyi a few months ago. Mr Kibalama denied this on Friday when he was cross-examined in the High Court in Kampala in a case relating to the renaming and surrender of the political party to Mr Kyagulanyi.
He also told the court that he had met Gen David Muhoozi, the Chief of Defence Forces, and discussed the matter regarding the renaming and transfer of the ownership of the party. This leaves a big question hanging in the air – what business does the head of the army have regarding who leads a political party and how or whether it changes its name?
After his appearance in court, Mr Kibalama was whisked away by men who every reasonable person will believe are the ones he said have been holding him in Mbale over the past days. He in many respects didn’t look like a free man.
Later on Friday, after appearing in court, Mr Kibalama addressed a press conference attended by carefully selected journalists to debunk some of the things that Mr Kyagulanyi had said after the court session, especially relating to whether he is free and whether was tortured in custody.
The issues surrounding Mr Kibalama and the change of name and leadership of NUP party are concerning. It is even worse that they have now drawn in the security forces. It is all politics, in our opinion, and the security forces – which are supposed to be professional and nonpartisan – have no business getting involved.
If anything wrong was done as Mr Kyagulanyi took over the leadership of NUP, that is should be a matter for the courts to decide. And the matter is already in court. There is, therefore, no reason for the security forces to get involved. Mr Kibalama should be freed unconditionally and immediately.
