Mateke Leads Pro-Kayihura Demo In Kisoro Ahead Of Court Appearance

By Serestino Tusingwire

With four days before the Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura appears in court over police brutality, residents of Kisoro district led by the State Minister for Regional Cooperation, Philemon Mateke have protested against his prosecution.

Kisoro resident say they want the charges against Kayihura who hails from the same district dropped as soon as possible.

According to them, whatever Gen Kayihura is doing, he does it on behalf of the State and therefore the State should be sued in case anybody is aggrieved with the actions of the police.

“We want the President to save Kayihura from being prosecuted because all that he is doing is on behalf of government and if anyone is aggrieved of his actions, he/she should sue the government not him as an individual,” Expedito Byensi, a former Kisoro District speaker said.

Mateke, who is also the NRM party chairman for Kisoro District, claimed the charges against Gen Kayihura are aimed at weakening the ruling NRM government and causing anarchy so that the Opposition can qualify their claims of a failed state.

He asked the DPP to throw out the case against Kayihura, saying the charges are aimed at intimidating and scaring the police force from doing its duty of keeping law and order.

“The police under Gen. Kayihura are doing a commendable job in keeping law and order, so I don’t see any case against him,” Mateke said.

Gen. Kayihura and seven other errant police officers are set to appear before Makindye magistrate’s court on 29^th August, 2016 to answer charges of brutalizing Besigye’s supporters early last month.