Sgt Simon Mawadri (L) opens the car door for former premier Amama Mbabazi. Sgt Mawadri and his colleague Sgt Ahmed Baluku, were detained immediately on arrival at Bombo General Military Headquarters on Thursday. PHOTO BY Geoffrey Sseruyange
Staff Sergeants Ahmed Baluku and Simon Mawadri, the two lead bodyguards of Mr Mbabazi, were detained immediately on arrival at Bombo General Military Headquarters on Thursday. Hours earlier on Thursday, military police, commanded by the army Chief of Staff for Land Forces, Brig Leo Kyanda, stormed Mr Mbabazi’s home in the upscale Kampala suburb of Kololo and withdrew his army guards. They were replaced by police escorts. The home of Mr Mbabazi’s long time driver, Warrant Officer II Sam Matovu, was also searched on Friday. According to family sources, military personnel went to Matovu’s home at about 2am and searched it for about four hours.
Military sources, who asked not to be named for fear of reprimand, told Saturday Monitor yesterday that Sgt Baluku, and his colleague Sgt Mawadri, were isolated from the group of the guards who had been withdrawn from Mr Mbabazi’s residence. By yesterday, the military sources said, the two guards were still being interrogated by the army’s Special Investigations Bureau. The two had for more than 10 years worked with Mr Mbabazi, hitherto referred to as ‘super minister’ in President Museveni’s government until he was sacked in a solitary Cabinet reshuffle on September 18.
Brig Kyanda told journalists that what had happened at Mr Mbabazi’s residence was routine. He said the army was there to withdraw their officers for the Very Important Persons Protection Unit (VIPPU) of the police to take over the former prime minister’s security. “This is a routine change of guards; we came to take our soldiers and VIPPU will take charge of the security of Mr Mbabazi,” Brig Kyanda said.
Mr Mbabazi has since not commented on the latest developments. He was still not available for comment yesterday, with aides saying the former prime minister was not interested in making any comment at the moment.
Amama presidency
Speculation. Prior to his sacking last Friday, there had been prevalent public speculation over Mr Mbabazi’s perceived plan to stand against President Museven in the 2016 general elections. Kyankwanzi resolution. In February this year, NRM Caucus MPs at a party retreat in Kyankwanzi passed a resolution endorsing Mr Museveni as the party’s “sole candidate” for 2016, ostensibly to prevent Mr Mbabazi’s perceived bid.
His stand. Although he signed the Kyankwanzi resolution and denied having presidential ambitions in 2016, his stand that the resolution is not binding has only helped to amplify the speculation about his bid.
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com
