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Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Senior presidential advisor on political affairs, Retired Major Kakooza Mutale has condemned the raid on his farm by Uganda People’s Defense Force-UPDF soldiers.
On Tuesday night, residents of Matembe village in Kamira sub-county, Luwero district were thrown into panic when a military helicopter was seen hovering above the farm belonging to Mutale. Moments later, soldiers were seen at the farm.
On Wednesday, a senior high-ranking military officer was driven to Mutale’s farm.
According to sources, the army officer grilled Mutale on the ongoing training of 100 youths at the farm. The sources said that the officer told Mutale that the training was a security threat, and neither the Resident District Commissioner nor District Internal Officer was aware of it.
Mutale defended the training, saying the district leaders and the Office of the President were aware of the activities at the farm.
Sources say that the angry Mutale picked up his phone and called an unidentified person who immediately ordered the soldiers off the farm.
The LCI chairperson of Matembe village, Stephen Sekidaali told URN that he informed the military officer that Mutale alerted leaders in the area about the activities at the farm.
On Thursday, Mutale driving his official vehicle UG 2166C, went to the office of Luwero Resident District Commissioner Richard Bwabye, demanding to know why he disowned the training yet he officially wrote and delivered a letter informing him about it. However, Bwabye was not in office.
Mutale told URN that the raid on his farm was uncalled for and time-wasting because he can’t engage in illegal activities.
Mutale explained that the youths are being trained in modern agriculture and he has invited the Omukama of Bunyoro Solomon Gafabusa Iguru to pass them out.
“If President Yoweri Museveni visited the farm and donated 100 heads of cattle, can that now be used as a rebel training camp, where is the country going?” Mutale questioned.
Brig General Felix Kulayigye, the army spokesperson said he wasn’t aware about the presence of the army at Mutale’s farm. He however questioned why Mutale was furious if he wasn’t arrested.
Bwabye was out of the office and didn’t pick up calls to comment about the operation.
Kakooza Mutale is remembered for training and commanding Kalangala Action Plan, a paramilitary that shot to the limelight during the 2001 polls after its members were accused of electoral violence in several parts of the country.
However, the group went underground following wide condemnation from the public, opposition politicians, and civil society.
A parliamentary probe report in the 2001 polls accused Mutale and the group of being responsible for most of the violence that marred the polls.
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