On September 3, 2018, former IGP Gen. Kale Kayihura appeared at Court Martial as directed by Court’s chairman Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti.
A week earlier, while granting Kayihura bail having spent 76 days in a military detention, Gen. Gutti ordered him to always appear at the Military Court every first Monday of the month. He also announced that Kayihura’s main case hearing would kick off on 4th September 2018.
The former police chief was then declared a free man (temporarily) on August 28, 2018 amid ululations from friends, relatives and security officials who had filled court to the brim.
Kayihura then jumped into a private car, a Toyota land Cruiser and chauffeured by his wife to his home in Muyenga.
A week after Kayihura re-appeared at General Court Martial in Makindye to report as directed by Gen. Gutti.
The highlight of the day was the interdicted UPDF General emerged from a new car, a Toyota Land Cruiser 2015 model bearing Ministry of Defence number plate.
As a serving soldier, Kayihura is entitled to a military vehicle, with an army number plate and 4 stars attached depicting his rank as a General.
This new development aroused fresh debate whether Kayihura would soon be deployed into the military.
Ministry Vehicle
As reported earlier by this Website, Kayihura’s bail had been executed by the members of the high command, a top decision making organ of UPDF which is attended by only high ranking soldiers (Brigadiers to Generals) chaired by the Commander in Chief (CIC) President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The High Command had decided his fate including the soldiers to bail him who are Maj. Gen James Mugira and Maj. Gen. Sam Kavuma.
A top ranking official privy to the High Command revealed that after agreeing on Kayihura’s bail, it was later understood that he didn’t have a car to use while he attends court for hearing of his case.
“The army directed National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) headed by Gen. Mugira to procure a very good car for Kayihura. That is how he got his new machine,” said an official who insisted to remain unnamed.
While commanding the police Kayihura used police car while on duty or running personal errands.
In fact, soon after he was sacked, police withdrew all the bodyguards and other police officers who had been deployed at his home and those on his lead police patrol truck.
While at farm before his arrest in June, Kayihura preferred a low life and would be chauffeured in a small car Toyota Premio.
And a time of his arrest, Kayihura had been driving this Toyota Premio.
Out of Command
A source added that deciding that his car be branded with Ministry of Defence number plate a clear indication that the four star general had been quietly kicked out of active military operation and command.
Kayihura will never be trusted with any command of the army units, this website understands.
A senior army officer who has closely worked both with the President and Kayihura when reached said that “he can only be deployed but out of command.”
Kayihura’s according to this UPDF high ranking officer violated an agreement reached by the army officers before the Commander in Chief (CIC).
“Kayihura knows very well that the President had cautioned us never to hand over any person who runs to us for rescue,” said this military officer.
Museveni always reminded his men that if at all they had been betrayed during the bush war and handed over to their enemy they would have then executed them.
Kayihura is being accused of masterminding the kidnap and forceful repatriation of Rwandan refugees who have since been handed life sentence by home government.
One of the victims is Joel Mutabazi a long serving bodyguard of President Paul Kagame.
Prosecution alleges that by omission and commission, Kayihura directed his junior officers to committee the crime.
The former IGP who commanded police for 13 years is in Kenyan capital Nairobi receiving specialized treatment as one of the conditions he applied for bail.
Upon return, there is likelihood that Military Court will drop charges as prosecution failed to gather incriminating evidence against Kayihura.
Chances are high that he will scoop an administrative slot in government.
