By our reporter
The Ministry of Defence has finally come out to clarify on the circumstances surrounding the arrest of controversial Gov’t critic cum C.E.O National Action for Awakening Uganda (NAAU) Frank Gashumba and his brother Innocent Kasumba who were arrested on Saturday and Monday respectively.
While addressing a news conference on Tuesday evening at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Mbuya, the UPDF deputy spokesperson Lt.Deo Akiiki explained that following a tip off, CMI operatives intercepted a deal in which the seasoned Human Rights Activist Gashumba was about to allegedly fleece an investor of huge sums of money!
“Under the cover of a company named Flagship group purported to be contracted by the Ministry of Defence for out sourcing, Gashumba and two others had invited investors to Golden Tulip hotel in Nakasero for a meeting over a deal to allegedly supply UPDF with hundreds of military trucks,”Lt.Akiiki told journalists.
According to the Ministry of Defence and UPDF spokesperson, a one Nasser Mukungu was arrested by JATT operatives at the scene whereas a one Innocent Kasumba also known as Simon Mutabaazi escaped the arrest.
Lt.Akiiki explained that on Saturday, Kasumba, who happens to be a brother to Frank Gashumba was intercepted and arrested and a search was conducted at his house discovering a number of items. Among the items he was found with included two passports with separate identities.
The UPDF spokesperson said that as luck would have it, Gashumba showed up at CMI together with his lawyer in a bid to seek release for his brother he too was arrested.
On arrest, CMI operatives asked him to lead them to his house where a number of documents were recovered. Among the items shown to journalists that had been found in Gashumba’s house and his office included passports with his photos but in separate names.
In one passport he was identified as Gashumba Franco Malimungu whereas the other one was in the names of Ssenyondo Frank Dissans.
“We also found him with marijuana and cocaine in his possession, a number of stamps belonging to the ministries of defence and agriculture, stamps from Stanbic bank and office of the South Sudan president among others,”Lt.Akiiki said.
At around 6:30pm, a white double cabin vehicle with Ministry of Defence number plates arrived at Mbuya with bare footed Gashumba and his brother Innocent on hand cuffs amid tight security being guarded by two muscular UPDF officers holding guns and were led to the press board room of the ministry of defense where they were paraded before the press.
This reporter couldn’t get the accused’s side as they were not allowed to talk to talk to the press.
