Unknown security operatives have picked former presidential candidate and the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue-NEED Party president, Joseph Kabuleta. The plain-clothed men reportedly grabbed Kabuleta from his party offices in Bugolobi, Kampala at around 1:00 PM Monday.
The Party Spokesperson, Moses Matovu told this news publication that the plain-clothed men pulled up the gate in a black drone. Two of the suspected security operatives entered the gate and grabbed Kabuleta from his office while three others stayed in the drone.
“They told us he was being taken to the Criminal Investigations Directorate CID. We followed him at CID but shockingly we were informed that they don’t have him. So currently we don’t know where exactly he is being held,” Matovu said.
However, video footage from the security camera at Kabuleta‘s office show about six plain-clothed men entering his office building. Four of the men approached Kabuleta who was chatting away with two other men and exchanging pleasantries.
They asked him to escort them while one filmed what was happening using his mobile phone. One of the men is seen picking Kabuleta’s mobile phone before they led him away. The arrest comes shortly after Kabuleta addressed a press conference where he spoke about the recent attacks on security installations and theft of guns in the country.
“We have security issues here, a lot of uncertainties going on here, the president should come out and address the nation on these insecurity problems that are propping up in the country instead of traveling to Vietnam, USA, claiming that he is attracting investors, who can invest here with this uncertainty around?“Kabuleta asked before his arrest.
He said the Ugandans should be told whether there is a rebel group that they should be worried about or an insurgency in the East African region.
On November 4, 2022, the CID Commandant summoned Kabuleta for questioning in vain. According to the Police summons, Kabuleta is accused of making tribal-based comments on May 30, 2022.
The Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango declined to comment on the matter and referred our reporter to Police spokesperson Fred Enanga, whose phones were unavailable.
Kabuleta’s arrest also came hours after unknown men driving a drone picked up Sheikh Ramadhan Mwanja, the former acting Amir of Jamatil Dawatil Salafiya Tablique Community shortly after stepping outside Nakasero Mosque.
The group spokesperson, Siraji Kifampa, said they were yet to establish those behind the arrest and the reasons for their action.
