By our reporter
Uganda people’s defence forces (UPDF) has clashed with Internal Security Organization (ISO) over the prolonged detention without trial of Movit products’ Boss Simpson Birungi who has now spent more than two weeks in unknown safe house.
Simpson was arrested by CMI operatives on allegations of murdering his former employee Stephen Agaba and setting ablaze Buddo Junior School in 2007 where over 20 pupils lost lives.
Last week, High Court Judge Musa Ssekaana ordered Attorney General and ISO to immediately release the Movit Boss or produce him before court for trial after the security agencies kept him in un gazated place for over two weeks.
It has now been reported that UPDF wanted to comply with Court orders but ISO bosses are still stack to their guns not to commit Simpson to Court yet, because they are still getting ‘leads’.
Not wanting the Army to be seen disrespecting court orders, UPDF’s spokesperson was quick to ‘clarify’ that it’s ISO with Simpson not UPDF.
While responding to our reporter’s call, when asked as to why UPDF has disregarded a court order, the Forces’ mouth piece Brig.Richard Karemire clarified that it is ISO management to answer not UPDF.
“ISO should carry it’s only cross and deal with issues of Birungi without involving the Army. ISO is an independent security organ attached to ministry of security but not ministry of defence as UPDF. They recruit and pay their own staff, they have their own administrative mechanisms, so if there are any court orders in regard to Simpson, they should be addressed to ISO not UPDF,”Karemire said on phone.
Karemire advised the media to and other concerned parties to engage ISO not UPDF on Simpson issue to avoid confusion. “We don’t have Birungi in our custody as UPDF, Internal Security Organization should be engaged on that subject, we don’t want anybody to put Army on pressure or soil its good image into such issues they are not party to,” Karemire distanced selves.
Birungi was arrested by armed forces on June 7th while answering a bond at CID Headquarters in Kibuli on allegations of murdering his former manager Stephen Asaba who was murdered and body dumped at Nakawuka in Kajjansi Town council, Wakiso district.
Birungi’s wife Sheila Kyokusiima sued Attorney General saying that her husband was still illegally detained since the law requires suspects to be produced in court within 48hrs after arrest.
