The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | URN | Political analyst Charles Rwomushana was picked up by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers during a live political talk show on Saturday.
Rwomushana, a regular panelist on Radio Simba 97.3 FM’s Saturday program Gasimbagane Ne Bannamawulire, which airs at 10:00 am, was arrested at around 10:30 am shortly after the show had started.
According to Catherine Nsibiha, the station’s security guard who was on duty, two Toyota Noah vehicles parked in the outer parking lot at around 10:00 am and stayed for about 20 minutes. One plain-clothed individual reportedly got out, did not sign the visitors’ book, and told her they were waiting for someone inside the offices.
She said minutes later, another group of soldiers in uniforms and others also in plain clothes forced their way into the premises and took strategic positions, while about five officers went straight to the reception area and forced the receptionist to give them access to the studios, where they grabbed Rwomushana.
“They did not sign in our visitors’ book, nor did they introduce themselves or say who they wanted. One immediately closed the gate. The others grabbed the receptionist and forced their way to the studios where they pulled him out, holding him by both sides of his trousers. I urged them not to beat him; one soldier slapped me to shut up.” Catherine said.
Christine Namubiru, the receptionist, described the scene as horrific. She said the officers put her at gunpoint the moment she tried to ask why they wanted to access the studios.
“When I asked why they wanted to go on air, one pulled me from my chair and forced me to open the door. The others ordered all my colleagues to stay where they were, while some surrounded the entire building and took Rwomushana away,” Namubiru said.
By press time, the UPDF had not issued any statement regarding Rwomushana’s arrest, while the UPDF Spokesperson Col. Chris Magezi was not responding to phone calls for a comment on the arrest.
This is the second time Rwomushana has been arrested on or off air. On the night of July 28, 2020, shortly after appearing on the Barometer talk show at NBS Television studios in Kamwokya, he was arrested by police for allegedly violating COVID-19 curfew restrictions. He was later released on a 200,000 shillings cash bail by the City Hall Court in Kampala.
Although no charges are yet to be disclosed this time, Rwomushana is among those reportedly implicated in the treason case against Dr. Kizza Besigye. He is said to have attended meetings in Brussels, Belgium, allegedly aimed at overthrowing the Government of Uganda.
According to the summary of evidence by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Thomas Jatiko, PFF’s Salaam Musumba requested a meeting with Kurdish private investigator Andrew Wilson (AW) in Brussels, where she invited several people, including Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Salaam Musumba, Ssemujju Nganda, Lubega Mukaku, and Charles Rwomushana himself, who has now become the latest to be arrested, while Nganda and Salaam remain at large.
