The Serumaga family has published a statement which describes in detail the events surrounding the abduction, torture and medical mistreatment of  popular Muganda journalist, Kalundi Serumaga, by Uganda’s  NRM government from September 11 through 15, 2009. According to the family statement, Robert Kalundi Serumaga was abducted by 5 armed men outside the studios of WBS TV, Spear House at about 11pm on Friday September 11, 2009. Robert had just left the studios where he had appeared on the Kibazo live discussion program. He was accompanied by his colleagues.

As they departed, Robert  was approached by the men, two of whom grabbed him by his trouser belt, and told him they were arresting him. He asked them who they were and they claimed to be responded police officers. One held up a piece of paper purposely to support their claim. They then immediately began to assault him.  Robert put up a fight until they threw him to the ground, after which they threw his telephones towards his colleagues.

Apparently, Robert fell unconscious thereafter and was dragged from the scene to De Winton Road where his attackers  bundled him in to the back seat of a waiting Toyota Mark II. He regained consciousness in the car as the men tried to undress him and remove things from his pockets.  The trip ended at the infamous Kireka JATT torture center where, next day, he was repeatedly slapped and punched by president Museveni’s operatives during questioning. In the meantime, Robert’s brother, Kizito Sserumaga searched all Police Stations in Kampala to no avail.

Kizito contacted the Irish Embassy for assistance, as Robert is a citizen of Ireland by birth. A concerted effort by the Serumaga family, involving the Irish ambassador to Uganda, TV stations and the Uganda Journalists Association, plus increasing awareness of the kidnap in the international media, convinced Mr. Museveni to produce Robert Serumaga. He was produced by the notorious CID officer, Jonah Kule on September 12, 2009. However, despite the sorry state of his health, Robert was put in a cell that day, without medical attention, where he was again physically assaulted.

Robert first got treatment on September 13, 2009, when the Police doctor, Dr Moses Byaruhanga, arrived took him to the International Medical Centre at KPC, under heavy guard. Later the Rwandese commander of Uganda police, Kale Kayihura, allowed Serumaga to be moved to Kampala International Hospital as the family wished. Earlier, Dr. Byaruhanga had insisted that Robert must only be admitted in the government’s dilapidated Mulago Hospital, where NRM opponents have been reportedly murdered by Mr. Museveni’s agents.

Contravening Mr. Museveni’s Uganda constitutional requirement that suspects be charged in court within 48 hours, Robert was produced at Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court on September 15, 2009. He was charged with 6 counts of sedition resulting from his remarks during the Kibazo program on WBS TV. He was granted bail and release shortly afterwards.

The Serumaga family also reveals that they took a photo (by cell phone) of one of Robert’s torturers when, at the International Medical Center when one of  Robert’s colleagues recognized him as one his original kidnappers. It a bizarre twist, after learning that someone in the Serumaga party had taken the photo, the police brought their video unit and filmed Serumaga and all his family and friends, in an apparent act of intimidation. The Serumaga family showed the torturer’s police commander Kale Kayihura explained that the man in question had, at the JATT torture center, inserted his thumbs and fingers in Robert’s eyes and attempted to gouge them out. He claimed not to know the man in the photo but said that he will be able to produce him if he is on the police force.

Below is a summary of specific demands that the Serumaga family statement concludes with (see more details):

1. They will not participate in investigations in the torture of Robert by the NRM government and its agents unless INTERPOL is involved.

2. They are unwilling for Robert to return to CPS or any other police station while suspected criminal elements are still employed and deployed there.

3.  They demand disciplinary action is taken against Mr Edward Ochom, of CID for attempting to send Robert to Mulago, which could compromise his safety.

4. They demand that disciplinary action is taken against the police’s Dr Moses Byaruhanga for unprofessional conduct.

5. They demand the investigation of the plainclothes policeman who filmed Robert’s children at Kibuli Police Station on September 15, 2009 and those who threatened Robert’s family on and September 12-13 outside CPS.

6. They demand the investigation of Simon Kuteesa’s role in the abduction and torture of Kalundi Robert Sserumaga.

7. They demand the immediate suspension and investigation of CID’s  Jonah Kule who was seen in deep conversation with the perpetrator who was photographed by the family.

The Serumaga family statement on the unlawful abduction and torture of their brother, son and father Robert, which they posted on the Ugandans At Heart blog is reproduced in full below:

RE: THE UNLAWFUL ARREST, TORTURE AND DETENTION OF KALUNDI ROBERT SERUMAGA ON FRIDAY 11^TH SEPTEMBER 2009 UNTIL TUESDAY 15^TH SEPTEMBER 2009

ABDUCTON

1. KALUNDI ROBERT SERUMAGA WAS ABDUCTED BY 5 armed men outside the studios of WBS television, Spear House at about 11pm on Friday 11^th September 2009. Robert had just left the studios where he had appeared on Kibazo on Friday, a discussion programme.

2. He was in the company of Kibazo, Bernard Tabaire, Charles Rwomushana and Mary Ikazi. The men approached him as their group broke up.

3. As they departed, Mr Sserumaga was approached by the men, two of whom took hold of him by the belt, and told him they were arresting him. He asked them who they were to which one responded police. He held up a piece of paper which may or may not have been an identity card, as he looked away. They then immediately began to assault him.

4. Mr Sserumaga put up a fight until they threw him to the ground. After that he threw his telephones towards his colleagues.

5. He then fell unconscious and was dragged from the scene to De Winton Road and was bundled in to the back seat of a waiting Toyota Mark II. He regained consciousness in the car as the men tried to undress him and remove things from his pockets. When he started demanding to taken to a police station, one of the men tried to cover his mouth, and another fight ensued. As he fought to resist them they punched him and gouged at his eyes with their fingers, and also bent his head backwards and choked him.

JATT/KIREKA 11^TH SEPTEMBER 2009

1. He was driven to Kireka and logged in to a book and put in a cell with 25 other men, mainly youth.

2. In the morning, a procession of guards came to the cell door and made all manner of threats to his life, and make sectarian insults to him, as well as the other prisoners. Finally the doors flew open and a tall well-built and well-dressed man in his mid-forties stood in the doorway and began to slap and punch him in the face while demanding answers.

3. This statement is supported by the medical examination carried out by Dr M. Galukande at International Medical Centre, KPC building on 13^th and International Hospital, Kisugu between 13^th and 15^th September 2009.

4. Kizito Sserumaga searched all Police Stations in Kampala from that time to 3 am to no avail.

CENTRAL POLICE STATION 12^TH SEPTEMBER 2009

1. Kizito contacted the Irish Embassy as Robert is a citizen of Ireland by birth. We went to Central Police Station (CPS) where we were told he was not there and his whereabouts were unknown. We made a public appeal via NTV outside CPS and we were surrounded by 5 armed soldiers in red berets and two plainclothes men. We immediately made another appeal at a Press Conference organized by UJA. During that conference, the Irish Embassy informed us Robert was being transported to CPS after which we went back to CPS. We found Kalundi Robert Sserumaga in the custody of Jonah Kule, O/C CID, at CPS. He was being held handcuffed with two other gentlemen, both Local Councillors from Makindye Division area. They had been tricked out of their houses at night on the pretext that there was a disturbance in the area, and then bundled in to a van at gunpoint and taken to Kireka.

2. We immediately asked that Robert be allowed medical attention. Kule insisted on waiting from instructions but that we would be able to do so. Later we were informed Robert was going to be released after i). WBS deposited a film of the Kibazo on Friday broadcast with CPS, ii) that Robert make 2 supplementary statements and iii). that he provide 3 sureties. These conditions were met. After the process of providing the sureties, Kule suddenly ordered us all out of the room, including Ernest Kalibbala the lawyer and then informed Robert that he had orders from above to return him to the cells.

3. We escorted Robert to the ground floor. After that the police physically pushed us out of the station entrance and down the stairs while brandishing sticks. Those of us already outside were threatened by the armed soldiers seated along the wall, numbering over ten and the man in plain clothes from earlier who was carrying a stick.

4. 13^th SEPTEMBER 2009 We returned to CPS where Robert was now without shoes and had still not received medical attention. He had tried to inform a woman officer -one Commissioner Ayisu- in CID that he had been assaulted at which she laughed and said it was impossible. Mr Simon Kuteesa, Head of Media crimes informed us that he does not put people in car boots. He received a telephone call in our presence and said in our hearing that the prisoner ‘did not look too bad’. The entire time, there were two mambas, outside the station, countless men in plainclothes carrying sticks and whips, people in police uniform carrying sticks.

5. In the afternoon, we telephoned John Nagenda, Media Adviser to the President. We informed him that the story had broken in the international media and that we were going to continue to campaign for Robert’s release. Mr Nagenda was at that point was aware of the abduction but not of the torture. He arranged for us to meet Major General Kale Kayihura, Inspector General of Police. Mr Kayihura informed us the Irish ambassador had spoken to him and asked us what we wanted. We said our first priority was medical attention for Robert. Secondly we were formally complaining about being physically assaulted and ejected from CPS. Mr Kayihura telephoned Mr Ochom, Director CID, CPS and instructed him to have Robert examined at a hospital of our choice and admitted at a hospital of our choice if necessary. IGP Kayihura also telephoned Mr Sorowen the officer in charge of CPS and instructed him to ensure there was no humiliation of suspects and their relatives and the public generally. IGP summoned Mr Ochom and instructed him to implement everything agreed in that meeting and to ensure Robert was taken to a hospital of his choice immediately. He called in on Johnson Karugaba of the Professional Standards Unit to investigate our complaints. We then returned to CPS.

MEDICAL ATTENTION

1. After the Police Surgeon, Dr Moses Byaruhanga arrived, we traveled to International Medical Centre at KPC, under guard. There was an attempt to make Robert travel without shoes in order to humiliate him which we resisted. The armed and uniformed policemen sitting on the back of the pick-up truck and the plainclothes policemen became angry and said they would teach M. Serumaga a lesson (‘Tujja kukulaga enkola’.)

2. Dr Moses Galukande carried out the examination and the results are consistent with Robert’s description of the assault. He diagnosed concussion as Robert could not account for some time between the first onslaught and being bundled in to the car. He recommended observation, neurological tests and rest. Immediately Dr Byaruhanga stated that he had to be referred to Mulago Hospital. He said it was the law and that Mulago was ‘the national referral hospital’. When he insisted, Mary Serumaga tried but failed to telephone IGP, Kale Kayihura. She then telephoned Mr J. Nagenda who spoke to Dr Byaruhanga and told him there was no problem with admitting Robert at International Hospital Kampala as long as he was under guard. He said Government’s only reservation was that we should not expect them to pay the bills, which we accepted. Dr Byaruhanga still insisted that he needed to speak to Mr Ochom, Director CID. We refused to board the vehicles to be taken to Mulago Hospital, a government institution which we felt to be unsafe. Robert stated if they insisted on Mulago, he would prefer to retun to the CPS cells without any treatment. After nearly an hour Mr Ochom relented and allowed us to go to IHK.

3. 13^th September 2009 Robert was admitted at IHK at approximately, nearly 48 hours after he had been very seriously assaulted.

4. Dr Galukande diagnosed concussion and recommended neurological tests. We returned to CPS to collect Robert’s bags. Again, Kule introduced another condition. He wanted, Robert to sign a charge sheet before going to hospital. He also wanted his passport. We ignored both instructions as 48 hours had elapsed and the police were merely trying to legitimize their abduction of Robert Sserumaga. Eventually Kule gave in and we proceeded to IHK.

5. Robert was admitted to IHK at about 8.30pm where he underwent tests and had some bed-rest. He was escorted by over 5 armed soldiers to Kampala Hospital for a CT scan.

FORMAL CHARGES

1. Tuesday 15^th 2009 we were informed that Robert would be collected from the hospital at 10am to go to the Police for finger-printing and formal charging. Robert refused at first to co-operate because he wanted it to be acknowledged that he was being charged after 48 hours of detention had elapsed, i.e. he had been being held illegally.

2. Robert was produced at Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court and charged with 6 counts of sedition resulting from his remarks on Kibazo. The State opposed bail and was overruled by the Magistrate on the grounds that even if Robert were a flight risk, that could be cured by his depositing his passport with the Court. Also that because the validity of the sedition laws was being challenged in the Constitutional Court and it was not possible to try Robert immediately, he would grant bail.

3. We reported to IGP’s office that we were surrounded by ‘security operatives’ outside the court building eavesdropping on our conversations and stated we were holding IGP responsible for our continued security, and left the Court.

LEGAL AND MEDICAL COSTS AND SOLIDARITY

1. We would like to express our gratitude to the members of our communities and the public for your overwhelming support. The journalism profession has been a pillar of strength and has boosted our morale with their presence and their coverage.

2. We are grateful to Open Society, Uganda Journalists’ Association, and East African Journalists’ Association all of whom have offered to pay Kalundi Robert Sserumaga’s legal costs. We are grateful for the fact that his medical costs were covered in advance and without our knowledge. P. E. N. International Clifford Derrick Committee to Protect Journalists (S. Africa) have also expressed solidarity.

INVESTIGATION IN TO THE ABDUCTION AND TORTURE

1. During the time we were waiting for Dr Galukande’s report at IM Centre, Mary Ikazi spotted a man in a lavender jacket, white cap and dark glasses. He was carrying a long thin stick or car, that were commonly used by kiboko squad members during the rioting. He was short in stature, about 5ft tall. He was peeping through the window of IMC where he had been sitting with O/C CID, J. Kule. M. Ikazi froze and told us that he was one of the men who had abducted and assaulted Robert. Mary Serumaga photographed him with a cell phone. The plainclothes policemen with whom he was standing warned him that he was being photographed at which he covered his face with his lapels, turned his back and then they all scattered. One policeman returned and took photographs of M. Serumaga and M. Ikazi. [The following Tuesday at Kibuli Police Station they filmed M. Serumaga and made close-up films of Robert's children in our view. This was an act of intimidation.]

2. 14 September 2009 at about 5.30pm we spoke to IGP Kayihura about the police brutality experienced by Robert Sserumaga. We thanked him for finally permitting the delayed medical treatment even though it required the intervention of the Ambassador of Ireland and other lovers of justice and peace before he acted. We showed him the photograph of the man who had inserted his thumbs and fingers in Robert’s eyes and attempted to gouge them out. We informed him the man had followed us to the International Medical Centre and only ran away after we had photographed him. IGP stated he did not know the man but he would investigate. At first he said he and all those in plain clothes carrying sticks were policemen, if so, he is able to produce this man.

3. We informed IGP that his instructions about the medical facility Robert should be allowed to access were countermanded by Dr M. Byaruhanga the Police Surgeon and Mr Ochom, Director CID at CPS. They preferred to discuss the matter with persons unknown to us. He seemed to express shock that such clear instructions could be changed.

4. We requested Interpol be asked to help locate the abductors, to which IGP responded he has no objection although he would prefer we work with Uganda Police in the matter. He assigned Assistant IGP, Mr J.M. Okoth Ochola, in charge of Special Duties to investigate the matter. We agreed with Mr Okoth Ochola that we would contact him after the court appearance.

5. 15^th September 2009, the same woman officer at CID who had refused to record Robert’s complaint of torture, telephoned him as he left court inviting him to make a statement.

THE WAY FORWARD

1. In view of the fact that the orders of Major General Kale Kayihura IGP are so easily countermanded by officers junior to him, receiving ‘orders from above’; that one of the offending officers (see paragraph 13 ) is now assigned to the investigating team; two officers Kule and Ayisu, have already dismissed the reports of assault as “impossible”, we decline to participate in the investigation unless Interpol is involved.

2. In any case we are unwilling for Robert to return to CPS or any other police station while suspected criminal elements are still employed and deployed there.

3. We demand disciplinary action is taken against Mr Edward Ochom, Director of CID at CPS for trying to ensure Robert was sent to Mulago where his safety would have been compromised. We demand to know from where above Kale Kayihura’s head, Mr Ochom was receiving instructions. As Director of CID at CPS where the kiboko squad move about freely and interact with senior officers and have meals in the police canteen, we hold Ochom responsible for the deployment of the kiboko squad to abduct, detain and torture Kalundi Robert Sserumaga.

4. We demand the same in regard to Dr Moses Byaruhanga who kept us at IM Centre for over 30 minutes while liaising on the telephone about sending Robert to Mulago. Although he was supposed to carry out his own examination, he did not and it appears his role was to ensure Robert was admitted to Mulago Hospital. He failed in that.

5. We demand the investigation of the plainclothes policeman who filmed Robert’s children at Kibuli Police Station on 15^th September 2009 and those who threatened Robert’s family on 12^th and 13 September outside CPS.

6. We demand the investigation of Simon Kuteesa’s role in the abduction and torture of Kalundi Robert Sserumaga. Kuteesa was instrumental in convincing us on 13^th September that Robert was going to be released for medical treatment in a few hours as long as he had three sureties and a passport. He then vanished at about 10pm before Kule said he had ‘orders from above’ to detain him further. Kuteesa has consistently acted in an unprofessional manner treating our complaints about torture as a joke. He too receives anonymous ‘orders from above’ and made a ‘phonecall assuring someone that Robert was not too badly injured even though he had no medical evidence. Simon Kuteesa is a callous and dangerous man.

7. We demand the immediate suspension and investigation of O/C CID, Jonah Kule who was seen in deep conversation with the perpetrator we managed to photograph outside IM Centre during Robert’s medical examination, Kule is in direct command of the kiboko squad and is a danger to all Ugandans.

0782199589

The End.

Kabaka’s representatives in North America have distributed  the following press release from Katikkiro JB Walusimbi.

PRESS RELEASE

In 2008 the Kingdom of Buganda decided to hold the annual Youth Day celebrations for 2009 in Bugerere County following the successful celebrations held in Kyaggwe County. The objective of the celebrations, which are presided over by Ssaabasajja Kabaka, is to rally the youth to engage in social and economically developmental activities as well as to promote our culture values.

The Kingdom regrets that this year’s celebrations have been unduly politicized.

The Kabaka’s visit to Bugerere is lawful and constitutional and the reasons being given for blocking the Kabaka and the Katikkiro from accessing Bugerere are completely unfounded.

The Kingdom recognizes the cultural and ethnic diversity of its peoples. This is clearly demonstrated in the composition of its Cabinet and Lukiiko. The Banyala are part of Buganda and our history and culture recognizes the Namuyonjo as their cultural leader. The Namuyonjo and the overwhelming majority of the Banyala enjoy their culture and voluntarily pledge their allegiance to Ssaabasajja Kabaka of Buganda

The county of Bugerere comprises several ethnic communities including the Bakenye, Basoga, Bagishu, Baluuli, Baganda, Japadhola, Iteso, Sudanese, Kuku. All ethnicities have been living harmoniously until the recent creation of the institution of the “Sabanyala”.

The Kingdom of Buganda deeply regrets the loss of life and destruction of property that followed the refusal of the Katikkiro to access Bugerere. In addition, the Kingdom regrets and abhors the closure of its radio station CBS FM, something that has heightened to the unnecessary chaos and tension.

The Kingdom of Buganda remains committed to fostering peace, justice and the harmonious co-existence of all of the peoples of Uganda. We remain very resolute in our peaceful and democratic quest for the realization of our legitimate aspirations for a federal system of governance for the whole of Uganda and the unconditional return of our expropriated properties.

The Kingdom reassures the public that Buganda remains a peace loving Kingdom that thrives on ethnic diversity and mutual respect and urges all people to remain law abiding. The Kingdom is and has always been willing to engage in principled, transparent and constructive dialogue with the Government and all other communities of Uganda to ensure our peaceful co-existence for the future. Such dialogue ought to be structured, time-bound, free of intimidation and based on mutual respect.

We are still engaged with Government to ensure that Ssaabasajja Kabaka attends the celebrations in Bugerere in a peaceful and secure environment.

AWANGAALE SSAABASAJJA.

ENG. J. B WALUSIMBI,

KATIKKIRO.

10^th September 2009.

PEOPLE’S DEVELOPMENT PARTY (PDP) MASAKA REGIONAL BRANCH STATEMENT ON THE ARBITRARY ARREST OF THE THREE SENIOR BUGANDA KINGDOM OFFICIALS The REGIONAL BRANCH members, together with The Party President and Former Presidential Candidate Dr Abed Bwanika, who have attended the special meeting of PDP Activists in Masaka Region, held here at Masaka on Tuesday the 22nd July 2008 have resolved the Following:

(i) That we view the arbitrary arrest of the three Mmengo Senior Officials as a direct attack and declaration of no confidence in the Institution of Buganda Kingdom and its entire People.

(ii) That we condemn such arbitrary arrests in the strongest terms possible. These arrests were conducted in the manner only explainable as one that amounts to kidnapping because up to now these citizens of Uganda who were arrested by unknown security agents have been denied all facilities provided to any detainee by the constitution of Uganda .

(iii) That because the three above said Buganda officials were arrested while conducting VERY LEGAL Businesses of Defending BUGANDA KINGDOM Interests embodied in the BUGANDA LAND, their arbitrary arrests amounts to intimidation by the Government to silence the People of Buganda who have stood firm and steadily against the unjust attempts to entrench unfair land laws in the Uganda Constitution. We, the Members of the People¢s Development Party (PDP)-MASAKA REGIONAL believe that such acts violate the freedom of Speech stipulated in the Uganda basic constitution laws.

(iv) We therefore, demand with immediate effect that Government unconditionally releases these Officials; compensate them for damages and apologies to the people of Buganda and the entire nation.

(v) This trend must be condemned by all peace loving Ugandans; we cannot afford to revert to the turbulent past.

This has been unanimously resolved by all PDP-Masaka Regional Branch that have attended this special PDB-Activists meeting held today Tuesday the 22nd July 2008

Issued by Dr Abed BWANIKA -PDP-President