Tension: Army Officers Arrested For Plotting To Overthrow President

A plot to overthrow President Yoweri Museyeni of Uganda has been
uncovered – Dozens of military officers including some senior ones
have been arrested – The army officers are said to be linked with an
opposition politician in Uganda – An attack on a police post by gunmen
in a northern district has been repelled – The Ugandan police repelled
the attack in conjunction with the army, in a bout that lasted for
about 30 minutes Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Paddy Ankunda said
on Sunday, June 12, that more officers are being held over alleged acts of subversion. One of those in detention is a colonel with

Uganda’s air forces.

 He said the officers have suspected links to an opposition
politician, Michael Kabaziguruka, who is being questioned by the
police over similar allegations. Mr Kabaziguruka is a close ally of
opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who was charged with treason
following a disputed presidential election in February. Mr Besigye
refused to accept the official results and claimed he had won the
election. Mr Museveni has been in power since 1986. He seized power at
the end of a guerrilla war against an elected government. Since then,
many of his former colleagues, including Mr Besigye, have broken ranks
with him, accusing the president of becoming an authoritarian ruler.


  NY times reports that the charges against Besigye, a four-time
presidential challenger who once served in Mr Museveni’s government,
have been criticized by some as an attempt to intimidate the
opposition at a time when the president’s popular support is waning,
especially in urban areas.

Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi, a lawyer for Besigye, said the treason
allegations against Mr Kabaziguruka and the army officers were
“stage-managed” in an effort to keep Besigye in jail. “Their interest
is in Besigye,” Mr Rwakafuuzi said, referring to members of the
Museveni government. “There is nothing treasonable he has done.” In
the same vein, Ugandan officials say they have repelled an attack on a
police post by gunmen in a northern district amid reports of mass
arrests of soldiers accused of plotting against President Yoweri
Museveni. Ugandan police spokesman Fred Enanga said the military and
the police repulsed the attackers after a firefight that lasted 30
minutes. He said the attackers carried automatic weapons. He said two
police officers and a soldier were injured in the assault in the
remote district of Gulu.

                                BY ADMIN