KAMPALA – The minister of Security, Gen Elly Tumwine, has threatened to sue Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo over defamation in connection to accusations that the former is behind the blocking of Lwemiyaga cattle market in Sembabule District.
On Tuesday, residents of Lwemiyaga led by Mr Ssekikubo petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, accusing Gen Tumwine of conniving with the ministry of Agriculture to block their cattle market by imposing a quarantine over the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The residents claim that that minister is interested in monopolizing the cattle market in the area.
But on Wednesday, Gen Tumwine denied the allegations and accused Mr Ssekikubo of inciting the residents against him.
“This is the third time Ssekikubo is trying to break the quarantine. People were moving with vehicles without permits, some of the vehicles were arrested on the way, he is spreading the disease. He is inciting violence and causing confusion in the area, misleading the public and maligning my name which are all crimes for which he will pay. He will be charged for all these crimes,” Gen Tumwine said.
“He thinks that by inciting people, he will go untouched,” he added.
On Wednesday, residents of Lwemiyaga County told Ms Kadaga that Gen Tumwine that Lwemiyaga was initially not part of the markets that were to be closed over a quarantine. They said despite the closure of their market, others such as Kyemamba and Rumegyera have been re-opened, which defeats the purpose of the quarantine.
“Gen. Elly Tumwine the Security Minister himself freely deals in cattle and is a close confidant to Moses Ninsiima, the force behind the reopened Kyemamba market. It is in his interest that only Kyemamba remains operational for monopoly and extortion purposes,” Mr Ssekikubo said.
