MAKINDYE – Detained former inspector of police Gen Kale Kayihura has refused to cooperate with the military and police officials interrogating him and hired two lawyers to take over the matter and demand that he is presented before a civil court, PML Daily has learnt.
Gen Kayihura was arrested last week from his farm in Kashagama, Lyantonde District, and flown to Kampala and is being questioned over several issues at Makindye Military Barracks.
However, sources privy to the investigation has told this website that he has since refused to cooperate with the investigating team, whom he accuses of being biased against him.
The interrogation panel is said to comprise Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen David Muhoozi, the Security minister, Gen Elly Tumwine, CMI commander Brig Abel Kandiho, director of Internal Security Organisation (ISO), Frank Kaka Bagyenda, Director for Counterterrorism Abbas Byakagaba and CID Director Grace Akullo.
Sources said for the first two days, he was cooperative with the investigative team but when they brought questions implicating him in the death of former police spokesman Andrew Kaweesi and espionage, he is said to have been incensed and refused to cooperate, demanding to meet his lawyers.
When contacted to substantiate the claims, army spokesman Brig Richard Karemire refused to divulge details, insisting that Gen Kayihura has a right to his lawyers and that any further statement will be issued formally on the matter when necessary.
However, security sources said Gen Kayihura has since hired lawyers of Caleb Alaka and Company Advocates and Kampala Associated Advocates (KAA to defend him, saying his rights to a fair trial are being abused.
When contacted on Sunday, Alaka and Elly Karuhanga from KAA confirmed being hired by Gen Kayihura.
Alaka added that they expect Kayihura to be presented before the General Court Martial on Monday. However, he said he was not aware of the charges that are expected to be slapped against the former police chief.
Sources said Kayihura has protested the manner in which the investigation is being handled and is reported to have told his lawyers that he does not expect a fair trial because some members of the probe team have personal vendettas against him.
Sources said earlier, the investigations team managed to extract confessions from some of the officers who are arrested alongside him, linking the former police chief to some crimes such as illegal extradition of refugees, cooperating with a foreign country, high profile murders and robbery.
Some of those arrested are Boda Boda 2010 patron Abdullah Kitatta, Senior Commissioner of Police Joel Aguma, Senior Superintendent of Police Nickson Agasirwe, Herbert Muhangi, the former police’s Flying Squad Unit commander, former cyber-crime head Richard Ndaboine, and former crime intelligence director Col Ndahura Atwooki.
The group, who are said to also be held in Makindye Military Barracks alongside Kayihura, are said to have been hoodwinked by an intelligence operative
