MP Rukaari Petitions State House Anti-Corruption Unit Over ‘Unlawful’ Arrest
Mbarara City North MP, MP Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari has written to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit protesting the manner he was arrested and remanded to Luzira over a debt a few weeks ago.
According to Rukaari, his arrest was done in a manner which showed abuse of office and misconduct by all involved.
“As a Member of Parliament, I am a keen believer in the rule of law and transparency in the administration of justice but the demeaning events that happened on March 1, 2023, following my arrest and incarceration to Luzira prison leave a lot to be desired and deserve to be addressed as we forge our way for the future,” Rukaari says.
The legislator who also doubles as an NRM CEC Member was remanded to Luzira prison by the Commercial Division of the High Court in Kampala for defaulting on UGX 700 million debt, following a November, 17,2022 arrest warrant issued by the court’s deputy registrar.
However, in a statement by his management, Rukaari said he had been tricked into being arrested.
In his petition to the head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the MP says various government officials including one ASP Mukiibi Karim and others as well as court bailiff Moses Kirunda and Commercial Court assistant registrars Mastula Mulondo and Juliet Nakitende acted in an improper manner during the entire saga.
Rukaari further noted that the assignment of ASP Mukiibi and another from the anti-riot police in the recovery of a civil debt was done in a highhandedness, questionable and uncalled-for manner whereas the involvement of bailiff Kirunda was illegal since his suspension by the bailiffs and auctioneers association owing to murder charges against him before the General Court Martial in Makindye.
Rukaari seeks the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate whether Kirunda was eligible and competent to be involved in the matter by executing the warrant of arrest against him having earlier been suspended by the bailiff’s organization.
He also wants the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to look into the “irregular allocation and or involvement “ of the execution file to the assistant registrar Mastula Mulondo instead of assistant registrar Juliet Hatanga, the official registrar attached to the presiding judge Stephen Mubiru.
The NRM CEC member also wants the anti-corruption unit to look into whether assistant registrar Juliet Nakitende was justified to issue a second warrant of arrest against him on February 15, 2023, following the expiry of an earlier one on December 202, 2022 without a return to court.
“I have endeavoured to address my grievances to other state actors and agencies specifically, the Judicial Service Commission, to which I am copying you in for comprehension and ease of reference to the subject matter,” Rukaari says.
