Abel Bizimana asked President Museveni to pardon the former IGP Kayihura and set him free, saying they had done a lot to mobilize for the party in their district.
Former Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura is set to be released from prison after President Museveni agreed Monday to take action on public demand for his pardon.
- Gen Kayihura was fired in April 2018.
- Museveni was tasked with answering questions related to Kayihura’s arrest.
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After 13 years as police chief, Gen Kayihura was fired in April 2018, following President Museveni’s citation of his tenure being infiltrated by criminals, a term used to refer to bean weevil (Kawukumi).
From 2010 to 2018, Kayihura faced court charges related to cases of failing to protect munitions by supplying weapons to unauthorized persons, including members of the Boda Boda 2010 led by convict Abdallah Kitatta.
The former police chief is also accused of aiding and abetting the abduction and deporting Rwandan expatriates and refugees and Ugandan citizens to Rwanda between 2012 and 2016.
However, during a meeting with NRM party leaders in Kisoro on Monday, 4 January 2021, Museveni was tasked with answering questions related to Kayihura’s arrest.
Abel Bizimana asked President Museveni to pardon the former IGP Kayihura and set him free, claiming he did a great deal to mobilize for the party in their district.
“You are the most merciful president we have ever heard and you have forgiven many people. We beg you forgive Gen.Kayihura for anything he may have wronged you,” Bizimana, along with two other leaders, knelt before the President and raised their plea.
In response, Museveni promised to personally pursue Kayihura’s problems and raise the charges against him before the Court Martial to see what they could do.
“You have told me that Kale Kayihura is a good mobiliser in this area and has done a lot for the party and that you want him pardoned. Since you have asked me to pardon him like I have always done to other people, I will talk to the military prosecution to see what to do with the charges. I will personally follow it up.”
Museveni assured his constituents in Kisoro that “Since the leaders of Kisoro sitting here have asked me to pardon that great NRM mobiliser, I will personally put the request to the military prosecution.”