As the cabinet retreat at Kyankwanzi neared it’s end, President Yoweri Museveni called a team of Investigative Men and Women. They sat among participants of that retreat including Ministers and Permanent Secretaries.
The team included those from the Criminal Investigations Department, Inspector General of Government and his own heads of Investigative Units in State House.
His words were not many according to Inspectors. The Commander-in-Chief first asked them whether they had any hurdles in executing his resolve to arrest all thugs in government and Parliament. He said all this as he gestured with his finger, pointing at the group of participants in the room.
Inspectors said his men told him that they were indeed moving on but it seems some of them were facing hurdles in dealing with some top officials.
The General from Rwakitura didn’t even wait for them to make any further comments but instead unveiled his package of the day!
“I have called you here to tell you one thing. NO ONE, and I repeat, NO ONE among these people here, should call you to say that he or she has spoken to me. I have not talked to anyone. They don’t even speak to me (anyhow). Whether, it is (name withheld), if he’s involved, arrest all. Arrest whoever you’re satisfied that he or she a thief. Make your proper investigation, arrange your files and arrest. I don’t expect anyone to intimidate you or to say that I (President) said this or that. Arrest and charge them” an inspector privy to this directive’s details of that meeting stated.
In fact, Inspectors said Museveni even promised to make it official by talking to the nation to reassure the masses of his desire to fill all prisons with thugs in government. This is the reason over the weekend, he called an impromptu National Address where he repeated his stance to deal with thieves. Museveni promised that by the time Luzira prison gets filled up, the goons in government would have lost appetite to steal public funds.
We’re informed that arising from that interaction with him, this is why security moved very fast to arrest now jailed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry Geraldine Ssali whom investigators had initially summoned but gave her police bond.
Inspectors added that on the other hand, Museveni’s much-desired No-Bail policy to corrupt officials is also tactfully being piloted though unofficially. This is why PS Ssali and her partners in alleged stealing of Cooperatives Funds who include legislators were remanded but without an express date of their return to court being expressly mentioned.
The same action was made to the initial group of thieving MPs including Cissy Namujju, Akamba Paul and Yusuf Mutembuli who are still on remand having been committed to the High Court.
However, Ssali and her group appeared before a lower court and yet her charges were triable by the High Court.
It should be recalled that Museveni this month beefed up his Corruption fighting agencies by creating a new unit under State House to monitor the operations of tax body-URA. The President named David Kalemera as the head of the State House Revenue Intelligence and Strategic Operations Unit and also promised to create another one on accountants and internal audit. Inspectors said following Museveni’s word where he even said not even any of his generals (if involved) should be arrested, the Investigating teams are itching to arrest whoever is going to be found to have stolen even a kettle from the government. Watch this space!
