The family of jailed Labour Minister Mwesigwa Rukutana has expressed concerns in which the State is plotting to charge their father with “attempted murder” in Ntungamo Magistrates Court.
Speaking to this website on Monday afternoon, one of Rukutana’s sons who wished not to be mentioned said “we are wondering why he is being transferred to Ntungamo yet he is jailed in Mbarara.”
Rukutana and three of his escorts are under police custody in Mbarara where they have so far spent two days after their arrest on Saturday in Ntungamo following post election violence.
President Yoweri Museveni on Monday morning clarified that Rukutana “will be prosecuted with robust charges of Attempted Murder and malicious damage.”
By the time of filing this report, Rukutana’s son confirmed that efforts were underway by the State to have his dad in Ntungamo Court by close of business.
Andrew Mwenda, a veteran journalist said, the plot is to have Rukutana remanded since Ntungamo Court doesn’t have the jurisdiction to hear his charge of “attempted murder.”
But an official in State House told this website that since the former Attorney General didn’t shoot Dan Rweiburingi as earlier alleged he is likely to walk away a free man.
“This is just a political move. He didn’t shoot. So he could be charged with threatening violence,” said an official who asked not to be quoted.
Rweiburingi, an FDC member who was injured in a scuffle on Saturday is admitted to Mbarara Hospital.
In a video obtained by this website, he tells the caretaker that he was not shot at but rather beaten.
This website understands that Rukutana could be remanded for a week before securing bail.
The Minister, in a video that broken internet grabbed a rifle from his bodyguard and attempted to shoot civilians who were in car.
These civilians were later understood to be supporters of Naome Kabasharira, Rukutana’s rival who reportedly won the election although NRM has not officially declared results.
