Muzoora ‘rebel’ group is ‘invisible’ – says Rwanda
By Norman S. Miwambo
4th July 2011:
Col. Edison Muzoora RIP. Is govt chasing 'invisible' rebels?
Nearly ten years since they had serious disagreements over each other’s alleged support for political dissidents that each of them accused of plotting to overthrow the sitting governments in both Uganda and Rwanda, Uganda is still practicing the politics of inviting trouble, a top Rwandan security official told this newspaper.
The Rwandese security officer, who spoke to this reporter on condition of strict anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, was responding to questions about Rwanda’s suspected involvement in helping to sneak Col. Edison Muzoora [dead or alive] into Uganda whilst they knew Uganda’s treason accusations against the former Uganda People’s Defence Forces [UPDF] Colonel.
In his response to that question and to a question on whether Rwanda was planning to attack Uganda, the Rwandese security officer said, “…we cannot comment on invisible issues. Our government has a binding agreement [with the government of Uganda]. So unlike our friends, we cannot make quarrels plainly or through the media”.
On May 27th, Col. Muzoora’s body was dumped by unknown people in the dead of the night at his country home in Bushenyi, approximately 300 kilometres southwest of the capital Kampala. The incident immediately raised suspicious eyebrows and caused headache for Uganda’s security officials who have long suspected Rwandan President Paul Kagame of having underhand involvements in Ugandan politics.
Col. Muzoora deserted the UPDF and fled the country in 2003. The government immediately accused him together with Colonels Samson Mande and Anthony Kyakabale of forming a rebel group in eastern Congo called the “People’s Redemption Army” [PRA] to overthrow president Museveni’s government. The Constitutional Court of Uganda however dismissed the treason charges against the PRA suspects and further barred government from bring new charges against the suspects based on the same facts.
Following Col. Muzoora’s mysterious death, a number of opposition politicians belonging to the main opposition party the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) have been arrested and arraigned in court on treason charges. The charges were brought after Uganda’s Coordinator of Intelligence and Security Agencies Gen David Tinyefuza told the Daily Monitor last week that the arrested FDC official would be charged with treason if sufficient evidence became available.
In our report of 27th June however, [see: Muzoora death: Suspect offered 3billion to pin Besigye] we quoted a reliable source that claimed that the government’s security Chiefs took the decision to charge the FDC officials with treason after one of them turned down a 3billion Shilling bribe to concoct evidence in court to incriminate FDC President Dr. Kizza Besigye with treason.
In the immediate aftermath of Col. Muzoora’s death, the Minister of Internal Affairs Eng. Hilary Onek told a news conference in Kampala that he had summoned the ambassador of an unnamed neighbouring country to explain the situation in which the body of Col. Muzoora ended up being dumped at the entrance to his house.
Addressing journalists in Kampala last Friday however, the Rwandan Ambassador to Uganda Maj. Gen. Frank Mugambagye said Kampala should publically name the envoy [they summoned] to clear speculations that it is the Rwandan Ambassador who has been summoned. “…I want to make it clear that I have never been summoned and there is no reason to summon me…let him explain which country is that and you will understand that it is not Rwanda”, Gen. Mugambagye said.
In a telephone interview with this newspaper, UPDF Spokesman Lt. Col Felix Kulayigye said military intelligence had established that Col Muzoora had entered the country. “…For anybody to have been with him, treated him, and hidden him means they were in caput with him. We have confirmation [that] he was in the country. He came alive and was kept in somebody’s house. Seven doctors treated him [and] one of them is the one we have in prison”, Kulaigye said.
In his reaction to the arrest of FDC party officials, FDC Secretary for Defence Maj. [Rtd] John Kazoora expressed concern that this, like the PRA case before it, could be yet another attempt by government to persecute FDC. END. Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
