Ex-Katikkiro must face the law, says NRM MP
By Dennis Kizito – 12th-18th July 2010
An NRM party MP has said his government will not, and must not relent in its efforts to prosecute former Buganda Katikkiro [Prime Minister] Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere for allegedly contravening the country’s social security law. This radical NRM ideologue turned MP who was once a key figure in Museveni’s defunct Uganda Patriotic Movement [UPM] party of the 1980s, said in an email to Uganda Correspondent that “…we did not spill blood in Luwero to allow impunity in Uganda. We restored the rule of law to this country and no one should be above it; not even a former Katikkiro”.
This MP’s reaction comes in the wake of allegations in the Ugandan media that former Buganda Katikkiro Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere could be facing imminent arrest for allegedly failing to remit his employees’ NSSF contributions. The Daily Monitor reported that police confirmed that Mulwanyamuli is being investigated for allegedly contravening the country’s social security law.
Addressing a press conference at Christ the King Church in Kampala, Ssemwogerere told the gathered press corps that “…the reason I have called you here is to tell you that security agents have been hunting for me”. He added that “Plain-clothed security operatives and some police officers have been to my hotel, they have been to my country home, they went to my farm and I think they are trying to create charges against me”.
The Southern Regional Police Commander Fred Ssekiwere on the other hand, said that “…those who searched his hotel were NSSF officials who were looking for defaulters. The police officers that were seen there were just providing back-up support and escort services to NSSF officials. That is the truth on the ground.”
For his part, NSSF’s Public Relations manager Victor Karamagi confirmed that a warrant of arrest had been issued by the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Masaka following Mulwanyamuli’s failure to remit NSSF contributions for his employees despite several reminders.
The ex-Katikkiro however seemed to suspect foul political play to be behind the NRM government’s sudden interest in pursuing him through the judicial system. At the same press conference, Mr Ssemwogerere said, “…someone will ask: why now? Even if I had a case why did they wait after I decided to join the IPC? I am inclined to conclude that the reason for hunting me is not because I have broken the law but because of my political views. The leaders of this country felt uncomfortable ever since I decided to join forces of change”.
Mr. Sam Akaki, FDC’s International Envoy to the UK & EU, said “I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Mulwanyamuli is in the end proved to be right on his suspicion of foul political play by the NRM government. The evidence is quite simply compelling. The NRM government has over the years shown that it is prepared to use the country’s laws to fight its political battles. Just look back at the bogus rape charge that was preferred against opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye; look at how Brig. Henry Tumukunde was treated while the likes Kakooza Mutale and Lt. Ramathan Magara walked free and you will see a clear pattern of using the law as a tool of political oppression emerging”.
Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere and Mr. Dan Mulika, both former Katikkiros in Kabaka [King] Ronald Mutebi’s Buganda Kingdom government, declared a few weeks ago that they were jumping off the political fence to join the Inter Party Cooperation [IPC]; an alliance of five Ugandan opposition parties that have come together in an effort to unseat Museveni’s government at the next elections scheduled for February 2011.
