By Our Reporters
Having concluded his goose has clearly been cooked, Gen Kale Kayihura has realized his salvation now will come from hiring a very strong legal team to defend him against the criminal charges the State will be formally preferring against him in the Court preferably early next week. Led by Elly Tumwine, Brig Abel Kandibo, Brig Kaka Bagyenda and his former protégé Grace Akullo, the the interrogating team is understood to have preferred murder, abuse of office, treason and forceful repatriation of refugees as some of the charges against Gen Kayihura. On Friday, Kayihura who spent the previous night at Makindye military barracks was driven to his Muyenga home which was searched. He protested mistreatment, the bias of ISO/CMI bosses and the investigations team, which consulted the President at every stage of the process, considered his wish to have his lawyers present as the search was being conducted. He was asked to name the lawyers he was comfortable representing him and he named opposition-leaning lawyer Caleb Alaka. They sent for him and he guided Kayihura throughout the search at his Muyenga house. The arrival of Alaka and Counsel Ochieng reportedly emboldened Kayihura who all of sudden hardened. He began refusing to answer certain questions saying it was his right to keep quiet. He also demanded his right to speak to and instruct his lawyers in confidence and this was granted. He engaged the two lawyers in a private chat after which he was returned to the Makindye cells where he has even been denied chance to interact with other detainees like Abdul Kitata and Nixon Agasirwe etc. They are detained on the same block. Kayihura chose Alaka because he considers him to be one of the best criminal defense lawyers we have in Uganda. In an interview with this news website, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago who was Alaka’s contemporary and desk mate at Makerere Law School confirms that indeed Alaka is a brilliant lawyer.
BESIGYE MAN?
What many will find very concerning is the fact that Alaka, who takes his legal practice to primarily be a business as opposed to being a political cause, has previously been Besigye’s lawyer. In the 2001 election petition Besigye filed against Museveni and Alaka was a key member of the Besigye legal team. He then was employed with Lukwago Alaka & Co Advocates which was one of the main law firms in filing that case. This perfectly makes him a Besigye former lawyer. Then in 2005, Besigye was dragged to Court Martial and Alaka was on his defense legal team. In fact then GCM Chairman Elly Tumwine, a passionate Besigye hater, at some point got so much annoyed and ordered the arrest of both Lukwago & Alaka. He accused them of not sufficiently respecting his court. For comments, call/text/WhatsApp us on 0703164755.
