Last week Moses Bigirwa, the NUP coordinator for the Eastern region was arrested by security operatives next to the residence of the deputy speaker of parliament Hon Anita Annet Among around Nakasero in Kampala.
His arrest stemmed from a deal gone bad that he had negotiated to stop spreading defamatory information on social media against the deputy speaker. He had demanded that Hon Among breaks the bank.
After spending some days in detention, Bigirwa,37, was on November 11th charged with demanding money with menaces, criminal libel, and offensive communication.
Moses Bigirwa was arrested next to the residence of deputy Speaker @AnitahAmong after he had negotiated a deal to stop spreading defamatory information on social media.He demanded that she breaks the bank. pic.twitter.com/zhMOI4GXF2
— Sabiti Joseph (@SabitiJoseph) November 6, 2021
Together with his co-accused identified as Pidson Kakaire, Bigirwa was subsequently remanded to Kitalya government prisons.
Through their lawyer, Abdallah Kiwanuka, the suspects told the court they were reportedly tortured while in detention at Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and forced to make a statement.
In response, the court ordered the prison authority to conduct a medical examination on the NUP leader and his co-accused.
Since torture has become the opposition’s in-house style to blackmail in order to undermine Uganda’s criminal and judicial system, I highly doubt if these suspects were tortured.
Just three weeks ago, MP Mohamed Ssegirinya, currently admitted at Mulago National referral hospital made a similar claim to court but it later emerged that his deteriorating health status was due to inconsistent adherence to treatment.
It’s with no doubt that most opposition politicians while undergoing trial for various criminal offenses usually resort to torture claim to solicit public sympathy or incite a riot.
Back to Bigriwa’s claim, his torture requires critical investigation before possible conclusion otherwise it seems more opportunistic than said as we have seen this tactic before.
Bigirwa is just a new kid on this opposition’s rail of claim to escape from possible trial and also defraud public funds to finance sickness or ailments that never was.
MPs Betty Nambooze, Francis Zaake, Joel Ssenyonyi, and Erias Lukwago, Robert Kyagulanyi-NUP leader, and Dr Kizza Besigye are among opposition leaders known for this unjustified torture claim.
Specifically, MPs Zaake and Nambooze have been branded drama king and queen respectively for their irresponsible torture claims.
These two leaders have made it a daily habit to appear in public limping, moving on a wheelchair, or moving on scratches but while in their exciting good moods, they are as strong as Mike Tyson, retired World’s boxing champion.
The opposition members of parliament and their counterparts should know that faking torture and extortion is no vaccine from undergoing trial for their criminal activities.
The opposition members are urged to concentrate on nation-building and developmental activities as it’s in the best interest of their voters but not to engage in criminal activities.
