Uganda arrests army general weeks before elections

Uganda’s military said on Sunday it had arrested a general who has been a long time critic of president Yoweri Museveni.

General David Sejusa was arrested for allegedly engaging in partisan politics and had made statements asking Ugandans to boycott the February 18 presidential election because he believed it to be a sham.

Uganda military arrests ex-General David Sejusa a critic of H.E. KagutaMuseveni; army says he'll face court martial pic.twitter.com/bWPrqkc0KB

— David Mbewa (MbewaDavid) February 1, 2016

According to the government spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo, Sejusa called President Yoweri Museveni a dictator.

Ronald Kakurungu, the army spokesperson, told a local television station that Sejusa had been taken into custody in the capital Kampala early on Sunday.

“Today the deputy army commander…went to (Sejusa’s) home and arrested him and took him to Makindye,“Kakurungu said, referring to the military facility on the outskirts of Kampala.

The spokesman said Sejusa would be charged before a court martial on Tuesday but he did not elaborate on the charges.

#ICYMI: General #Sejusa arrested, faces General Court Martial tomorrow https://t.co/l5PG2gVMT8 #Uganda #Army #UPDF pic.twitter.com/Qxbhklu80Z

— Louis Jadwong (@Jadwong) February 1, 2016

Sejusa’s lawyer, Michael Mabikke, said he had been denied access to his client.

In 2013, Sejusa sought asylum in Britain after making allegations of a plot to kill officials seen as opposing Museveni’s plan to hand power to his son, Kainerugaba Muhoozi, a brigadier in the Ugandan military.

Uganda’s veteran ruler Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his 30-year rule and is likely to face his biggest challenge yet, in the upcoming elections.

The elections pit him against long time opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his ally turned rival Amama Mbabazi.