Henry Gombya
There has been a lot of conspiracy theories regarding my relationship with Dr Kayiira. Most have been so hurting and painful to me and my family. Questions have been raised as to how Dr Kayiira came to stay at my house and not at anybody else’s. There has also been conspiracy theories that in someway, I was privy to Dr Kayiira’s finances and that when he came out of prison he wanted to know where his money was. These are pathetic conspiracies mostly engineered by those who are bent on seeing that the killers of Dr Kayiira are never brought to book.
Nobody should ever doubt how much I would like to see Kayiira’s killers brought to justice.. But every time the theory conspirators engage in telling the world that I had anything to do with his death, those who fall for their tricks help in making sure that attention is driven away from the killers and those who planned this assassination. I believe these killers (apart from those that have since died) are still roaming the streets of Kampala believing that they got away with murder. But let me tell them this: Whatever it takes and however long it will be, one day they will be brought to justice.
As I have already explained in newspapers worldwide, TV (BBC 2 Newsnight) and on Ugandan and foreign radios about how Kayiira was gunned down in my house, I want to use this opportunity to dioscuss some of the conspiracy theories below.
CONSPIRACY THEORY ONE:
I had been taking care of Andrew’s finances and I had fallen out with Kayiira!
This is indeed a fallacy! Andrew was Chairman of the Uganda Freedom Movement (UFM). This was a big organisation that had him at the top. It meant there were many people below him holding offices as is always the case in similar organisations. I have never been a member of the UFM so I could not have held any position in an organisation where I wasn’t even a member.. To this day, all I know about the UFM is through mostly my academic research here in the United Kingdom. At the time when Andrew was alive, I did not know much about the UFM apart from what every journalist like me knew at that time.
I believe organisations like UFM have Treasury Secretary or those that look after their finances. To this day no such official has ever come forward to claim I was handling any of their monies. Can anybody believe that any organisation wanting to fund a guerrilla movement like the UFM would have channelled their aid through a journalist filing stories for the BBC, the Nairobi Standard, New African and African Concord? Anybody knows that this, for a journalist, would have made very good copy. The fact is I have never been UFM’s financier nor has anybody ever approached me to handle its money. The last few days of Kayiira’s life were spent with friends who looked after him, bought and always paid drinks for him and fed him. While in prison, friends rallied together to collect funds to look after him and pay for his lawyers. I am happy to have been one of thiose friends who was approached for help while Andrew was in prison and I obliged without hesitation.
It should be noted here that I knew Dr Kayiira for a very short period. But our relationship was very much strengthened when he gave me protection while the NRA were shooting their way to power. We all stayed indoors most of this time particularly myself, as I was afraid to be seen on the streets. Staying in close quarters with people often brings them closer.
Therefore there is not a thread of truth that at anytime, Andrew and I had fallen out. He liked me, no doubt and I adored him, but that is where it stopped. Our association grew when he asked me to accompany him on a tour of Western Uganda when he was Energy Minister. What Andrew was doing at that time was rare as Ugandan ministers often never asked journalists to accompany them on tours. But having lived abroad for a long time and as a university professor in Boston, Massachusetts, Andrew was doing what every politician in the West does. They take prominent journalists around with them to record what they (the politicians) are doing. Are you aware how many journalists Prime Minister Gordon Brown usually travels with? Or ho0w many are now travelling with the US President here at the G20 summit? Loads!
CONSPIRACY THEORY TWO: I was working for the NRA!
How stupid! How low can anyone go in advancing such a theory? What am I doing here in Europe 23 years since leaving Uganda if I was a NRA stooge that tricked Dr Kayiira to come and stay at my house? FACT: I invited Kayiira to my house because he had saved my life when the Okello’s threatened me. He gave me 24 hour protection until the NRA captured power and secured Kampala. Finding him squeezed into a one-bed-roomed flat belonging to his cousin, I thought that since this was the very fellow who had protected me I owed it to him to take him into decent accommodation. My only regret is that I failed to return his favour. Contrary to the belief of those cowards who gunned him down, Andrew had no plans to stage a coup against Museveni. Those cowards know themselves. They are the ones who ahve kept quiet and not uttered a word about the many times, Andrew attempted to see Museveni after his release, saying that he could talk to the rebels who were causing problems in the North and that he believed he could persuade them to stop fighting. But every time he tried to make an appointment with Museveni, the door was cruelly banged shut against him.. One of your bloggers thinks I was an NRA spy because I was the one who told Museveni that the Okellos had overthrow Obote. While it is true that I did tell Museveni about Obote’s overthrow, there is no truth whatsoever that I was doing this because of being an NRA spy. FACT: I called Museveni in Gutenberg, Sweden after my bosses at the BBC in London gave me his number and asked me to call him to get a comment about the Okello coup. So calling Museveni was to do with my job as a journalist and nothing to do with the spy conspiracy.
CONSPIRACY THEORY THREE: Where did I get the wealth to live in a 14.5 million house?
I have never lived in a house this expensive and I have no idea where the figure came from. The house I was renting at Gaba was at UgShs3 million a year. I was able to afford this amount because while I may have been working for Ngabo and the Star, I was already freelancing for the BBC programme Focus On Africa, a monthly stipend with the Nairobi Standard newspaper, the weekly African Concord, then based in London, articles for the New African and Africa Now magazines. These paid me in foreign currency and I was easily able to transfer this in Uganda currency and afford such a house.
The money I was paid for my work as News Editor of The Star only paid for fuel for my car. At that time I remember I was one of only about four Ugandans journalists who made most of their earnings through foreign news organisations. We were all relatively well off compared to our fellow colleagues in Uganda.
The killing of Dr Kayiira completely turned my life around.I lost so much money in contracts I had captured with the foreign media. I have had to start my life all over again. The only positive I can take from my exiled life is the fact that I have educated myself to such a degree that I am in a very good position to understand why Africa is the way it is today. Had I been in Uganda all these past 23 years, I doubt whether I would have accumulated the kind of knowledge my poor and exiled life has enable me to achieve.
Throughout this period no one seems to have taken a step back and wondered how it feels to lose a close friend and read every day of your life conspiracy theories that you could have been part of the plot to kill him. No one has had the courage to come out and speak against these theories and no one has spared a thought about my dear wife who was the last person to see Dr Kayiira breathe his last breath. And no one seems to care what effects the killing of Dr Kayiira has had on my life and that of the immediate members of my family.
No one seems to question why some former senior ranking officers of the UFM have chosen to stay quiet and neither come out in my defence, nor speak out against me. No one has question why people like Francis Bwengye who was UFM Secretary General at first fled Uganda soon after Kayiira was killed and is now living comfortable in Kampala. No one has questioned the acceptance of ambassadorial posts by Dan Ssozi, a former close friend of Dr Kayiira. And while I have not stepped on the African continent for more than 23 years now, no one seems to question why so many have come to London and claimed asylum saying they had been Kayiira’s supporters and on getting their immigration status take the next plane back home.
When crimes are committed, the police usually look for a motive. Does anyone in their sane minds really believe that an ordinary journalist like me would have planned and carried out the killing of a leader of a guerrilla movement? I may be academically clever but I doubt whether I would have managed this assignment. It was a professional job done but professional killers. I have never been one. No one has taken much interest in comments made by a Uganda police dog handler who categorically stated that police dogs followed a scent from my house to lubiri barracks and inside, they found my wife’s handbag. Why has no onwe said anything aboyut this? What was my wife’s handbag doing at the end of the police dog scent inside Lubiri barracks? Am I wrong then in thinking that I have been purposely made a scape goat?
I hope I have given you guys something to think about and it is my prayer that you help me find who killed Kayiira. It is a job I intend to do as long as I am alive. It is a job that every peace loving Ugandan should be doing now. On his release from Luzira prison, Museveni told journalists in Kampala: “Kayiira may have been released by the courts. We in the NRA believe he was atttempting to overthrow the government. And we will follow him. If anyone is looking for a motive, shouldn’t they be starting here? And that is one reason I have refused to return to Uganda as I believe this can be done better while I am here. As long as the NRM is in power, Kayiira’s killers may never be brought to justice but as a historian I can only say that history repeats itself. The Museveni regime is here today. It will be gone tomorrow. And then, the search will resume on homeland.
This is the only and last time I will speak on this issue.
Regarding Ngabo Radio, I am happy to report that I will be presenting an English show every Saturday starting May 19, 2009. I am writing this while covering the G20 summit in the Excel Centre East London. I will be away for two weeks and will start the show on Saturday 19th. The show will be the English version of Tuula Twogere, the Luganda show I have been hosting for the last three weeks. We intend to bring on the show several important people to help us understand the problems we have in Uganda today. Ngabo Radio is for all Ugandans and not only for the Baganda. It may have started with Luganda but rest assured that we want each and every Ugandan tio feel free to participate in the shows as this is the only voice at the moment Ugandans have to voice their concerns with fear or favour, knowing that after the show, they will return to their homes without having to look over their shoulders wondering whether anyone is following them. So I urge you to join in by calling the show to say whatevere they want and let everyone know about the radio.
A luta continua!
Dr.Henry Gombya
Journalist/Ugandan residing in the UK
UAH forumist
Comments
The Baganda have a saying that literary translated means: Those who have ears should listen and those who have eyes should see.”
Henry you’ve spoken. It will be good if i got your email for further interactions.
Mr. Gombya i do praise the Lord for sparing your life. You acted so fast and so soon. I have close friends who served as “kadogo” or child sordiers who proved to me tha actually Museveni had prior arrangements to eliminate all other prominent tribal officers whom he saw as a threat to his regime. Kayiira was one of them. The other was Kawanga Ssemogerere should he have become so critical of his Governement. The other officers who was supposed to be killed was then one lady officer in the army Captain Zizinga, Serwanga Lwanga, Moses Ali and a few others. You remember some of these have died and one who survived narrowly was Captain Zizinga who like Kayiira was attacked but she already had prior knowledge of the attckers so she organised her guards to kill the would be assailants.
Later Zizinga was arrested by Elly Tumwiine. Any one who remembers this should have been more informed to see the government plan.
Lets not even think of Mr. Gombya. The plan was to get Gombay and have him killed in jail so that he can never tell what he saw in that day.
We can put all the people from the west in this boat but the campaign to eliminate you Gombya and the rest especially those who led other liberation movements aprt from NRA of Museveni are still on on his hit sqaud.
From my inside souces actually Museveni has ordered a new form of slow-killing poison from Eastern Ukraine to try to kill even those powerful voices in the Ugandan diaspora abroad. For your information one of Museveni’s sordiers was arrested in heathrow for trying to smuggle biological weapons in form of sealed Anthrax to Uganda.
Me i want still pray for you Mr. Gombya that you watch who gives you food and who comes to your home. There is a campaign actually to eliminate most famous people from the rest of Uganda especially the Baganda from the Government and the ARMY. As am writting, there is a secret plan to kill the Baganda’s Kabaka or King so that after his death, Museveni would make it hard to have another king who would oppose his regime.
Me am i have my own confidential sources but the campaign to kill the so-called “Threats” of Museveni is far from over.
We are still investigating our sources that claim that Museveni actually planned the death of the former President Yusuf Kironde Lule. As soon as we get truth on this one we shall keep you informed. But be weary of any Bahima and Banyarwanda people near you. But more so be carefull against those that want to behave like “Mr or mrs” Nice to you.
Thanks
Magara Sam
Prase God that Mr. Gombya you are still alive. Actaully we hope that Kabaka Mutebi would be careful at thise aroud him. They actually pallning to have him killed with “smart poison” and actually one of those behing is one Lt. Matsiko who works at the IT department of the Uganda’s State House being helped by Gen. David Tinyefunza. This is real and those whoe are closer to Kabaka or King Ronald Mutebi tell him to be cautious. If they fail to do this they will use one of the so-called born again Genrals like Elly Tumwiine.
Well, all of us from the rest of Uganda there is no hope that we can ever be included in our Ugandan Govenrment. Some of us like you Gombya we dont think we can ever go back to Uganda. Am from Kabale Rukiga but even this doesnt mean am a pro government man. But i had a friend of mine who is a Uganda’s Cabinet minister that if possible they will eliminate most of the prominent Baganda from the government but the State House is still planning how to do it without causing uprising like the one that too place a few months ago.
Great that Mr. Gombya you never had to leave orphans behind like Kayiira. Kayiira must have known this ealrier not to give up his UFM army. You remember that most of UFM fighters which was Kayiira’s movement, were the very ones that were packed up in the train wagons and set on fire at Mukula in Soroti District in Eastern Uganda. This very campaign was agreed upon by Museveni in a meeting with Fred Rwigyema, Elly Tumwiine and David Tinyefunza. They purposely killed Kayiira’s sordiers first before they could finally get rid of him. Those who dont know well now you know. Most of those who were killed at Mukula were former UFM sordiers. Any of them tha survived this masacre are the Baganda sordiers and others from West Nile who wre sent to Congo. You remember nonoe of those senior cadets of other tribes sent to congo never came back alive. These were not killed by Rwanda as it is alleged but insiders of Banyankole inside officers. I would caution senior army and other govenrment officials in Museveni’s Government to be careful or if they are wise they should leave and do private bussiness.
I have nothing personal against Museveni’s govenment byut this is is the reality guys, and the truth. Me the writer of tjis am a retired former “Kadogo” or child sordier am writting from facts i do get. I decided to turn into a University Lecturer but guys be careful, the days ahead are even gonna be darker in Uganda. thanks you.
Ssekabira Sam
Dr.Gombya, I am actually surprised that people still want to hold you responsible for afande Andrew Kayira’s death even when the writings are clearly on the Wall!!! Jesus, is there any reasonable person that still believes the Gombya-Kayira theorem?
Here is the truth. M7, Kagame, Sareh and Fred Rwegyema ( Emmanuel Gisa) were the master planners of Kayira death! Dr. Kizza Besigye and afande Mugisha Muntu know the inside story so well. Let me make myself clear, I am not sure Dr. Kizza Besigye and Muntu were among the planners but I am ABSOLUTELY SURE they know the inside story. Let them enlight the public! Hold them accountable to that extent – especially before you give them your vote. I mean you Bagada because Kayira was killed simply because he was a Muganda!!!
Dr. Gombya is right, afande Kayira’s pockets had become empty!!!!! He desrved sypathy from any reasonable person. I was somebody’s escort that time and so I knew a lot of what was happening in Kayira’s life!!!All he was left with was his military strategies and fame in Buganda together with his good will.
M7 knew where he wanted to lead the country to. He did not want to have any power point within his system. He feared anybody that could lead an armed struggle to sncatch power from him.
On the contrary, you guys know how willing Kayira was to share power with anybody. Kayira operated in ‘good faith’ all the time. That is why he negotiated with M7 to make a joint attack on Lubiri. M7 assured him that we too would be there with Kayira forces. Kayira guys acted in good faith and, ask any survivor of that attack, if there is one, he/she will tell you what happened to them!!!At the time M7 guys were to be in Lubiri fighting alongside Kayira forces, M7 guys were saying, ” Abagande ba Kayira barashira none” – THE KINYARWANDA for Today the Kayira Baganda will have it rough!!!!
Guys, forget about Gombya. M7 and our Kagame are very good at Finding scape goats to cover their crimes. And, as you know so well, they always get away with it, at least so far!!!!
TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST:BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO
One of these days this devil will go. And watch my words- without a hassle. Because before God all men are equal. However, the onus is upon us to take care of what happens next. This time round we shall keep the power to govern just like the Kikuyus in Kenya have done.
Please spare Gombya the blame, he is a scapegoat.
M7 and his men wanted to eliminate all threats, Kayiira was a militaristic guy and so M7 eliminated him.
Him being a Muganda and a federalist was also very scaring to M7.The Kayiira did was to ever work with M7.M7 can smile at you and then strike you within the next momemt.
I grew up in Uganda without seing any tribal tensions. At campus, I heard whispers that Banyankole will get jobs quickly. When we left campus, I found the outside environment filled with negative tribal sentiments…….
M7 hasnt united the country.I could easily be friends with Westerners in the future but I have suspicions being with them. I dont trust them, they are very untrustworthy.
One day, Baganda will have their own country and we shall be free from all this mess Banyankore have brought. They dont pay taxes and yet they are given free money to start business.
Whenever a Muganda starts a big company, those in government fail it…….,
It took 100 years for the Soviet Union to fall, M7 will also go and a new order will come at last
ON 1FIRST JANUARY ABOUT THE DEMANDING REPORT OF DR KAYIIRA’S KILLING BUT UNFORTUNATELY I WAS ARESTED AND ACCUSED OVER UNLAWFULL ASSEMBLE AN RIOT BUT OUR LAWYERS ACTED HAND IN HAND TO RELIES US BUT WE ARE SEEING IS THAT THE IS NLONGER NOTHING TO DO FOR UGANDANS NO RESPECTING CONSTITUTION NO RESPECTING PEOPLES RIGHTS AND ICREASE OF TORTURE CREATED BY GOV’T
I WAS ON 1FIRST JANUARY 2OO6 AN THE CASE WAS DISMISSED FROM THE COURT BSE GOVT HAD FAILED TO PRODUCE EVIDANCE IN THE ALL YEAR UNTILL THE CASE WA DISMISSED AND THEY NORMALLY ARRESR ME WHEN I WAS GOING TO COURT FOR FURTHER HEARING I ADVISE THE GOVT TO RESPECT PEOPLE’S RIGHT ASWELL
It the responsibility of the gov’t to force the scort land yard to release the report bse it’s the public intrest to understnd the killer dr gombya why is it that when stand and request the gov’t to release the report they arrest them and accuse them incitng violance and hows that the gov’t knows thse people who real killed DR ANDREW LUNTANKOME KAYIRA hoo time will come we wiil be free from our country and right will be respected as wexpect .sice 1979 all europe of europeans country were dectated by napoleon bonapartte it was only the brish that remaine u ndefeated and that man is nolonger still there now .he tried to rule all the world and finally he was defeated .In middle east we had saddam husein he had all weapones an he ordered his minister to kill all people in a certain village by spraying a poisonous chemical and the end of the day he was excuted by rope time we shall enjoy our freedoms and rights as well lets people not tororate to fight for them them selves.
the year is 1789 have mistaken up
Ladies and Gentlemen of the UAH!
I have with great care and steadfastness read both so-called reports of the investigation by New Scotland Yard into the murder of Dr Andrew Kayiira at my house on March 6, 1987.
My conclusion with regards to the two is this:
I am unable to determine which one of them is the true copy of the Scotland Yard Report. This is because there are several inconsistencies, innuendos, character assassinations, half-truths and worst of all, what appears to me to be like a political agenda to quickly shift the issue from who actually killed my dear friend.
After consultation with a number of my friends, I have been left with only one option. Today, I have written a letter to New Scotland Yard asking them to provide me with the actual copy of this report. In doing this, I have referred to the Freedom Of Information Act 2000 that came into force in 2005 in which anyone here has a right to demand any authority to release information held by such body or bodies.
I am attaching the said letter to the Metropolitan Police Service. The law requires that such a request must be met within 30 days. Until then therefore, I will resist from making any further comments with regards to the two reports now appearing in this forum as we have no proof that they actually originated from New Scotland Yard.
Once this information has been passed on to me, I will forward the REAL report for your perusal and act swiftly to answer whatever is contained in that report.
Thank you.
Henry D Gombya
==================
Ailsa Beaton
Director of Information
Metropolitan Police Service
New Scotland Yard
London SW1A 0BG
Re: Request for a copy of a SCOTLAND YARD REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE MURDER OF DR ANDREW LUTAKOME KAYIIRA on March 6 1987
Dear Miss Beaton
In 1987, the Uganda Government sought the help of the British Government through New Scotland Yard to assist it into the investigation of the death of a Ugandan politician, Dr Andrew Lutakome Kayiira.
This investigation was carried out by Detective Chief Superintendent K Thompson and is said to have been completed on May 7 1987 and handed to the Uganda Government. For the next 20 years, this report was not made known to the public until pressure especially from the opposition Uganda Democratic Party (DP) forced the hand of the Ugandan government to do so. But before the government could make the report known, the DP came out with a copy of what was entitled: “Scotland Yard Report The Murder (sic) of Dr Andrew Lutakome Kayiira. Soon after, the Uganda Government came out with its own version and was given a title appearing in the reference of this letter. Both these versions bear similarities but have differing conclusions. This has caused so much public concern and debate.
As the person in whose house Dr Kayiira was murdered, I have been placed under unbearable pressure to explain the two versions of the now famous Scotland Yard report on Dr Kayiira’s assassination.
It is with this in mind that I request, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, to be sent the REAL New Scotland Yard report on your investigation into this heinous crime. As both major political parties have already made public what they call the ‘real’ report, this information is now in the public domain. But it is important that the public identifies the true report from your office.
Yours Sincerely
Henry D Gombya
Ssebo Omukulu Henry D Gombya PhD
On 4th of April I posted a question to you regarding The New Scotland Yard report, regarding the brutal murder of Andrew Lutakome Kayiira, that was posted in Ugandans At Heart for your perusal, I specifically wanted to know if it was genuine and if so what were your comments about it, or if it indeed was not genuine to let us know what you think its origins were. On the 6th of April you responded the response I have attached below this writing, in which you explained how you had a problem with the posted report and you informed us that after consulting with members of your friends, you were left with one option, but to write a letter to New Scotland Yard, asking them to provide you with a true copy of the report, for that would allow you to comment on any questions/concerns any member had. On that posting you attached a letter you sent to a one Ailsa Beaton, The Director of Information Metropolitan Police Service, a letter I am as well attaching here below.
In your posting of the 6th of April you stated and I directly quote “I am attaching the said letter to the Metropolitan Police Service. The law requires that such a request must be met within 30 days. Until then therefore, I will resist from making any further comments with regards to the two reports now appearing in this forum as we have no proof that they actually originated from New Scotland Yard.” End quote. Allow me to add another direct quote “Once this information has been passed on to me, I will forward the REAL report for your perusal and act swiftly to answer whatever is contained in that report.” Again end quote. It is due to the above quotes that I kindly post this courtesy reminder that we are thirty days today, which brings the New Scotland Yard report back to the Ugandans at heart surgery room. I happen to be one of the Ugandans that have a whole questions/concerns about the death of this Ugandan and I happen to believe that your insight can greatly help many of us understand what really took place in your house leading to the death of Andrew Lutakome Kayiira. Below is the copy you sent to the Metropolitan Police Service followed soon after by a posting you made to the members of Ugandans at heart forum.
Again thank you very much for accepting to be an active member of UAH.
EM
Toronto Canada
EM:
Henry Gombya needs to address your concerns. Otherwise he will be regarded as a spineless coward.
Indeed, if he does not respond, forumite have the right to believe that indeed he was involved in the demise of Lutakome Kayiira. ( not that I really care about the fellow after all he was a guerrilla who was in cahoots with Mucebeni to create chaos in Uganda) nonetheless we are waiting for henry Gombya’s response. Indeed we know he is here peeping from his hideout and reading this comments!
Speak up man!!!!!..very many Ugandans have died because of spineless cowards like henry Gombya!!
Matek
Henry Gombya
Will you kindly narrate the ‘funguwa mulango” scare that made you open the house to the would -be Kayira murders, or whether you were gently asked/tricked to open the door by the adui.Or whether you wanted the mission accomplished and did not even bother to lock all doors of your house to provide easy access to the murderers. Mpozi where was Kayira keeping the millions they found in your house or banana plantation near by after his death? In his socks or your traveling bag?? I think you know we know you had a clue that that man was going to be killed and that we believe you are number one suspect unless you prove yourself innocent. Probably you could have written that Scotland Report better than wazungu as you had first hand information as witness and someone who had the previlege to house/host the last fresh blood from an important, but careless, Ugandan. He should not have been in a civilian’s house, at the time of the murder but somewhere in a cave,as a visitor to mosquitoes and not HENRY D.GOMBYA, the human host. Give us the report now you, live and lucky man!The month is up, we need the report you promised!!!
Did you make alarm when your house was attacked? Who came to your rescue? Gwe wakolaki ngo muntu gw’abateemu balumbye?
Speak Up, man.
Do you know which is the real version given what Dr Gombya has said? All the damn reports are fake. Doctored. Go figure why? You folks in the media are supposed to be sharper, skeptical and also reflective especially when someone says wait a minute. To me something doctored is fake is it not? Can something doctored be authentic anymore?
It does not matter who doctored it. It is turning out to be that Scotland Yard, which many UAH folks worship doctored its own report? Why? What was the motive if not to cover up for the murder? What is the problem with our elite?
WBK
Mr Kyijomanyi,
You are trying to come to terms with DP 2007 blunders in a rather shabby way.. You know that there is a report that was made public as the authentic Scotland Report. That you know very well.. This report was first published in July 1997 in Uganda Confidential: 1997, 10 years before the DP blunder of 2007 (what should ordinarily have been called the “Kayiragate Scandal” of the DP)
You can only authoritatively assert that the report published by Uganda Confidential in 1997; that same one published by New Vision in 2007 were doctored if you can present to us the undoctored version. What you people of DP did was to get the original report and considerably alter it for the sake of gaining political mileage from Dr Kayiira’s death to boost your flagging fortunes. That was the saddest day for Uganda because you then joined UPC in the ranks of the riggers. Deal with that shame, and nothing more!
That loss of integrity is what should be bothering you most instead of coming here on the forum to “kwekalakasa” like you are doing. You know that you cooked up that “Kayiira report” of yours and it put you in alot of problems with government. This should be a moment for introspection on your part but not the rationalisation that you are succumbing to now.
Where do you base to say that Scotland Yard doctored its won report? Did one of the Scotland Yard people confide in you that they doctored the report? Did they give yoiu the undoctored version? Show it to us. Are you telling us that the DP version was the undoctored version? What are you telling us?
Nobody here is worshipping Scotland Yard. The fact is that, they are the ones that carried out the investigation. Going by their report is based simply on that fact, and not because they are a deity. In fact if we check back in the records of 1987, you might find that Scotland Yard were invited on the insistence of DP. I only wish I knew who the interior minister was at the time.
Stop this talk of yours of ‘doctoring’ Mr Kyijomanyi! It does not help to erase your shame as a party. Just stop it.
Lance Corporal (Rtd) Otto Patrick
Francis Aloysius Wazarwahi Bwengye (1988) The price of freedom: the assassination of Dr. Andrew L. Kayiira, Uganda’s great fighter for freedom and democracy. Baden Baden, West Germany, Uganda Human Rights Union.
I have read somewhere in one of the Kayiira reports here that Mr Gombya went to Internal Affairs Minister, Dr Ssemogerere’s home in Gaba.
Mr Penfold immediately turned down the request that I stay in his house until things cooled down. I agreed with him and I suggested I inform Minister Ssemogerere about my fears. This was on Thursday, March 12 and I went straight to his home near Ggaba very early that day.
Mr Ssemogerere expressed surprise that “anyone would suggest that I was involved in the killing of your friend”.
Do you remember Semo staying in Gaba at the time or at any time?
Owana Tonny, Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere’s residence has been Rubaga even when she was still renting. She had never been in Gaba at all.
Do not be very optimistic on this because David Cameron asked Gordon Brown about the same fake reports and Gordon said that the British government has a duty to protect the witnesses who he stated that are still alive.
He went on to say that since they can’t protect them, they can’t publish the report publicly. He also refused to comment about the two reports.
We might be having a long way to go. For your information as well, the murder of Andrew Kayiira was followed by a mini genocide against UFM soldiers who had joined NRA. They were hand picked, paraded and shot at close range. Many desserted and many went into exile. Many are still in prison up to now.
But all in all , fingers crossed.
We need to start looking at this murder as one of the murders that took were planned and commissioned against a certain group of people.
HB
L_Cpl Otto:
Well Dr Gombya has gone on record to refute the ‘official’ report. he is saying the report is doctored and that is pretty serious. Incidentally, even if just one sentence was changed, that is sufficient to render the report doctored. One is sometimes necessary and sufficient and Dr Gombya has contested the version out there. Unlike you and others, I have zero, zero trust in what the Scotland did or did not do. I told UAH that Scotland Yard came to cover up the murder of Dr Kayiira just as they did in the murder of Dr Ouko.
I am not interested in whether it is official or not. The fact remains: they came to cover up the murder, not to help solve it or catch its killers. That is my position and I am sure a few UAH folks silently see the light and have zero interest in the so called Scotland Yard report. The usual nonsense that what bazungu do is right or superior should be tempered with.
That is what I sense from some in UAH: that the report is credible because it was produced by some bazungu. Of please. I won’t be a party to such mental enslavement and yes, inferiority. Nope. I am not interested in the report period.
Once again, UAH folks, let Dr Kayiira (RIP) rest in peace. Bye
WBK
Mr. Patrick,
Thanks for your observations concerning the embattled late Andrew Kayiira death. While his death is no mystery anymore in the eyes of the Ugandan gov’t as it is convinced that it caught the right suspects and brought them to justice, many of the deceased’s friends, relatives and family members are yet to be convinced that justice has ever been done. The latter still and will continue to believe that the gov’t had a hand in their beloved’s death. So Mr. Patrik don’t you think that for the benefit of public interest it would have made some sense for the case to be prosecuted by private lawyers instead of DPP who prosecutes of behalf of the Gov’t, the very Gov’t which in this case was supposed to be the second defandant? This contravenes one of the principles of natural justice which states that no man can be judge in his own cause.
That aside, in your observation you note with interest that the alleged dog handler, Mr. Dison Odutu, who claimed to have trailed the killers with sniffer dogs to a certain military baracks was actually on a 196 day and only reported back to job five days later after the gruesome murder, that is, on 11th March 1987, yet late Andrew was gunned down on 6 March 1987.Mr. Patrick the following, and I reproduce them, were the words of Mr. Dison when interviewed by Daily monitor.
“I remember we had four dogs; two led us from that building (Gombya’s house) up to Ggaba Road. I happened to have been in that group. And another group of two dogs tracked the road coming back to Makindye and they are the ones which went up to Lubiri [Barracks],” Mr Odutu said. He also suggested that Dr Kayiira’s murderers could have been soldiers and not robbers. “In fact, the scene was full of boot marks. Yes, the assailants were soldiers,” he said.
Source
http://www.workingdoghandler.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93&Itemid=1
My learned friend going by the words of Mr. Dison coupled with his background that he had headed the Uganda Police’s Dog section from 1962 to 1987, what kind of picture do you get from a man who has survived a number of bloody regimes? Was Mr. Dison in any way related to Mr. Kayiira so that he was induced to lie in favour of his family? Mr. Patrick emotions aside, we should give credit where it is due, so it is my conviction that Mr, Dison, a man who had served his nation deligently, surving political turmoil after political turmoil would have no interest whatsoever to make such false statements for the sake of the man he barely knew. Why?
Further more, given the sensitivity of the case, if it was true that Mr. Dison had made such statements whether maliciously or in a mistaken belief that he really thought that he had taken part in the investigations, the Uganda Gov’t would have been obliged to take a legal action against Mr. Dison but wapi…
Finally, you submit that if Mr. Dision really took part in the investigations as he claimed so why didn’t he refute the statement by the Ugandan police? Mr. Patrick, Uganda, unlike democratic nations, is a staggering democracy where no one can assured of full protection. Mr. Dison at his age has no interest in the case so I think has no reason to mess up with the giants. Perhaps that is how he has always lived his life, the very reason he has managed to overcome many nasty tsunamis.
In the mean time we are eagerly waiting to see if Mr. HG will succeed to get his unskewed SLY report, perhaps it will help us resolve the mystery.
Bwana sina mengi yakusema leo. Lala salaama.
My thanks too to our learned comrade Patrick for bringing the disputed murder report to our attention. However, I would advise any Ugandan, as Mr. WBK has previously asserted, that Scotland Yard is no reliable authority to rely on if the matter in question involves African or any other common wealth related embattled judicial issues other than UK itself. Reason?
As I have read through the report over a number of times, I have noticed both minor and major incosistencies. Some of the minor incosistencies dwell on what Mr. Gombya has told the public in private capacity and what was allegedly recorded from him by the Scotland Yard(SY). For instance a)the report at its commencement states that Mr.Gombya was renting a 4-bedroomed house at 1.2million shilling(page 4 of PDF format), a fact which is later on,is twisted by stating that he was renting a 3-bedroomed house(page 14 of pdf format) at now 1.4 million shilling or an equivalent of £700, b) the Yard mentions nothing about the first encounter(as indicated by Mr. Gombya on Ngoma radio recently) with the ‘alleged robbers’ by Mr. Gombya and the late Andrew which took place outside the house whereby one of them pointed out Mr.Andrew to the rest asserting that it was him they wanted, but rather only recounts the time they(robbers) shouted at them to come out of the house(page 6 of pdf format), and c) the sum of money, which appears to be only 40 million shilling(this was however clarified at the end by the Yard that it didn’t hold water) but referred to as 50 million shilling.
However, on the other hand, the major incosistencies dwell on the evidence adduced in nature as most of the evidence the Yard submits in its final report are circumstancial rather than physical or scientific in nature. How? Yard states that one Emmanuel Sebunza, aged 17 years admitted that the murder plot was masterminded at one John Katabazi business premises, though he(Sebunza) decided to withdraw from participation. The report goes ahead and states that all but one participants were former UFA soldiers. From there we are told about the few who were arrested , tried and sentenced accordingly. Surprisingly, nothing is said about the assult rifles which were used in the course of commission of the gruesome murder.One would at least expect Mr. Sebunza to know the source of those weapons and where they were kept since he participated in the arragements..but wapi. Could it be that Mr. Sebunza was already a serious criminal on remand whom the K’la admin connived with to implicate other innocent chaps in exchange with a lenient sentence?
Further more, the report mentions about both the finger and palm prints which were taken from the alleged suspects and sent to Metropolitan Police Lab in London… From there nothing is mentioned about the results of DNA samples taken from the poor guys and that leaves an ordinary man like me mentally blocked amid confusion as a result of wondering whether the scientific evidence were taken to another planet for more verification and tests or they were simply returned to Uganda but being negative in nature as the poor guy were seemingly innocent the K’la admin. decided to destroy them.
Again from the immediate points above concerning the ‘alleged suspects’ or shall I plainly say the convicted killers, the report mentions nothing about what the former dog master has constantly been telling the public that that his soldiers(dogs) traced the killers to a certain army baracks where some stolen belongings to the assualted house were found. Did he lie about? This point I wanted to bring it to the attention of our formers soldiers like Lord Buhanga and fractured spear Otto whether UFA soldiers had been integrated into NRA. Even if they had been incorporated into NRA, how comes that murder was planned not the baracks where the dogs traced them but rather somewhere outside?
On the point of witnesses, how were Julian Nabwire and Annet Namatovu related to the victims?
Conclusively, the SY report can’t be treated a final report on the murder of late Andrew Kayiira, but rather as a document with preliminary investigations into the murder, a document which is very biased , concealing the whole truth as it tries through out to implicate one character being responsible for the murder, Mr. Gombya. Oh yes, another alternative was armed robbery gone wrong by his own(Kayiira’s) men and bla bla bla bla…………………
I am no trying to be partial cos even Mr. Gombya’s narrow escape by jumping over that spiked 8ft in height gate and the immediate halving of the money without being noticed leave more questions than answers. Our only hope is that the murder file be reopened as soon the incumbent regime is wrestled on the ground. Otherwise before that, no truth will ever come out because I am pretty sure that even our corporal Otto knows more than he is feeding us per now.
” I prefer liberty with danger than peace with slavery”—-Jean Jaqueas Rousseau
” Apolitician thinks on the next election – a statesman of the next generation” James Freeman Clarke
” The State calls its own violence, law;but that of the individual crime” – Max Stirner “The Ego and His Own (1845)”
“The people of Asia were slaves because they had not learned how to pronouce the word ‘no’ -Winston Churchill.
“The more corrupt the state,the numerous the laws- Cornelius Tacitus “Annals”(c.116.A.D)”
SR. Sveritanien.
Mr Senkindu,
1/6 In you message above, you say: “….the report mentions nothing about what the former dog master has constantly been telling the public that that his soldiers(dogs) traced the killers to a certain army baracks where some stolen belongings to the assualted house were found. ….. how comes (SIC) that murder was planned not the baracks where the dogs traced them but rather somewhere outside?
2/6 However, there were reports that Dison Kopliano Oduttu the dog handler that claimed to have attended the Kayiira murder scene was never part of the investigation because he was on a 196-day leave and only reported back on duty on March 11, 1987, five days after the murder. Might you have any source of information on whether that claim by Police was ever refuted? If you do please, avail it to us at the forum.
3/6 I was also wondering whether you based your remarks on the dog handler on the interview of the same gentleman which the Monitor published in the edition of Tuesday 16 January 2007 or you had another source. If it is the latter, please do the needful.
4/6 Additionally, Uganda Police also claimed that they had only 31 dogs as of March 1987, and not 180 as claimed by Mr. Oduttu, the dog handler you refer to and of the 31 dogs, only two were trained in tracking, patrol and crowd control, 21 dogs were untrained and eight were puppies. Uganda Police further said they had no sniffers. I was just wondering whether you might have chanced to land on any source that disputed that claim by Uganda Police. It would give us interesting insights on how the police do their work.
5/6 In addition, Uganda Police made some claims on the Monitor interview of Affande Corporal Eddie Sande. They claimed that the Monitor were selective on parts of the Corporal’s interview that they published. That some of those accounts if published would have put into question the Affande’s sanity and therefore, credibility. Corporal Sande claimed in his interview with the Monitor that he was brain-washed and had ‘a chip inserted in his brain’ to erase his memory and that the chip was later removed and his memory restored in the US. Did you hear of any such information?
6/6 You ended by saying that, “Our only hope is that the murder file be reopened as soon the incumbent regime is wrestled on the ground. Otherwise before that, no truth will ever come out because I am pretty sure that even our corporal Otto knows more than he is feeding us per now.” All I can say is that, on this forum, we gain interest only in discussing issues that can offer us mileage with regard to speculation. As soon as facts or concrete hints emerge, we keep quiet or fly off on a handle to some new speculation. We never pay much attention to information that keeps emerging in open sources making one wonder about whether we have real interest in what we say here, or whether we are interested at all in knowing the truth. The cynicism and sarcasm that pervades many of our remarks is testimony. For example, even when many were saying that the Kayiira report was never made public, the fact is that it started circulating in the press ever since 1997. What Otto knows is What Robert Senkindu or anybody else would know if they were genuinely interested in these matters. Of course there are some of you that are in denial over those documents, or are opting merely to nit-pick them or to lengthily split hairs on inconsequential aspects thereof. That is us: UAH. Anyhow, here are the links to the report as published in the New Vision:
http://www..newvision.co.ug/D/8/455/544078/kayiira
Scotland Yard releases more facts on Kayiira death, Thursday, 18th January, 2007
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/542752/kayiira
The real Kayiira report, Thursday, 11th January, 2007
Lance Corporal (Rtd) Otto Patrick
Brother Robert,
Well put Robert, the most unfortunate thing about it all is that we have witnessed this scenario repeat itself regime after regime after regime and we have not put a stop to it. I happen to remember colonel Guwedeko-and how he used to play omwesso at Wandegeya, he is another tragic figure in our lives. Went to Sandhurst, lived on Mckenzie Vale Avenue with his family. He seemed like a great father figure always with a book-what did he ever do to deserve the Ugandan guillotine-except for the fact that he was born in the wrong country at a wrong time. I want to know why other countries make it a patriotic duty to celebrate their heroes and as for us we cannot wait to have them take their last breath. Whatever happened to being your brother’s keeper?
The theme for this month is patriotism but I wish to God it were “being your brothers keeper” colonel Otto! How can we teach patriotism if we cannot even defend or protect our yesterday’s heroes? wouldn’t it be patriotic to keep them around? I tell you in all Amin’s parades no one got an applause as loud as the old veterans of war, apart from Okello. The president should know this because he gets his name from pre-historic veterans Abaseveni, but look he is one of a few that remain from those who matched from Tanzania with the sole purpose of making our country a better place. Has he made it a better place for these ageing veterans? Many have perished with their necks bowed due to lack of resources in our hospitals. AIDS has also laid claim to some, and some have simply died of poverty or tragically!
I wonder what goes through his mind, when he sees no Kayiira, no Oyite Ojok and the list goes on? Who then tells their story of how long they waited with him to get home, only to perish tragically on the soil that they so loved under our watchful eye.
I feel a heavy burden to tell the story of many of my classmates who perished from war and AIDS-does he feel the same obligation to the families of his comrades? Like Mandela ?
Or does he just accept that a man perishes like an insect and goes back in the ground, how then do we make the distinction between man and beast-and what evidence do we have really evolved?
Good night
Tendo
Brother Robert,
You analysis below about the Scotland Yard report is good. You sound like some one with a good legal background. Are you a lawyer or something like that? Let us hope that Mr. Gombya will also give us his opinion on this report as he promised.
I think we should encourage people to tell us what they know about the notorious past of our country instead of shutting them down like WBK indirectly suggested on the issue of Dr.Kayiira. There is a lot to learn for the future generation of our country. In any case, Late Kayiira is already resting in peace (RIP) just like England’s Princess Diana but people still wanna know what caused their deaths and who was responsible. Human beings are not like those insects in our village paths called ‘ENSANAFU’. I don’t know what they call them in English. All I know is that anyone can drive a bike through them (ENSANAFU) and end up killing lots-without being punished by anybody. However, if one ‘nsanafu’ can cling to you, you can pay for the crimes of the rest.
Abbey.K.Semuwemba
Mr Semuwemba:
No, I am not trying to shut up the debate. My point is that no news has come out of the latest exchange. In truth nothing new that was not out there in public has come out.
Of course the big difference is that I do not believe in the Scotland Yard report which many perhaps believe in. Not interested.
I hope Dr Gombya will kindly share the title of Mr Bwengye’s book. I have searched to no no avail. I am curious to read it.
I have forwarded the contributions here to a former UFM captain and Lt for comment. If they do and with their permission I will post here in UAH.
WBK
WBK
Thanks for the clarification. I guess the public here you mean the media in Uganda. Let me tell you one thing: never trust the media anywhere in the world. The media are some of the institutions that get away with murder in the world. I guess you live in USA, haven’t you ever heard of the guys in the ZOG media who got away with murder: when they incited the LA riots and 54 people were killed? They also tried to start a riot in New York in 1997 with the alleged sodomy incident. Incidentally, no one was ever convicted of those murders.
The media can be used by anybody including the state to play nice tunes for them. That is why some people start forums like this one to find out the truths in what is being reported by the media. I don’t trust the media, do you?
Abbey.K.Semuwemba
Mr Semuwemba:
The media and the state anywhere are in a symbiotic relationship. Freedom of the Press is ONLY for those who own the media. The state leaks to the media when it suits them and the media protect their sources. You only hear “top aides”. I do not know whether you watched Kenneth Star’s investigation of President Clinton. He leaked daily through a lady who worked for ABC news Washington Bureau and ABC was beginning to take a hit in ratings. Once the investigation was over, ABC let her go. Nothing has been heard from her since.
I guess the only news If you may call it that is for Dr Gombya to refute the Scotland Yard reports in circulation. I told you so. They came to cover up the murder and you have it.
Even forums have interests and do not always report the truth. Actually the media houses at least have people this side anyways to cross check facts before they print them. Not in Uganda for sure. The mainstream media have ombundsperson who mediate conflicts between the media and the little people without the power the media enjoys. I called on the Ugandan media to hire ombundsperson but not yet.
I a m skeptical enough to read between the lines plus I read many sources. But the media is a neccesary evil in society.
WBK
Abbey;
There are two main hindrances to a fresh trial in Kayiira’s murder: 1) Murder and other felonies are bench trial cases in Uganda, meaning judges alone hear such cases, without the jury, 2) since the case was already decided (ruled on), only the defendants or prosecution can appeal it to the appellant court for a new trial. This is very unlike because of the Double Jeorpardy clause which protects defendants from being tried again on the same charges.
Since the SY report did not implicate anyone in Kayiira’s death, this case is as good as dead.
Pojim
Bwana Pojim,
I don’t think ‘ double jeorpardy’ would be involved as long as there is fresh evidence which indicate that there was miscarriage of justice, that is, wrong chaps were convicted when the true criminals are still roaming the K’la streets. It would only be either a question of appeal by the defendants , if any is still kicking, by adducing fresh evidence or a fresh trial if the real killers are arrested. In that essence no double jeorpardy question would come into question unless the situation is as you stress it that new evidence continue implicate the convicts.
As regards Scotland Yard, I am not sure that it is a binding authority which must be followed by the Ugandan courts of law. Moreover,it (SLY) is full of contraversies prima facie. Do you really believe that any prudent judge would ever consider the Kayiira SLY report as a vital document?
THE SENKINDU LEGAL PRINCIPLE
“When there is no law, argue the facts. When there are no facts, argue the law. When there is neither, argue anyway.”
Lance Corporal (Rtd) Otto Patrick
Brother Abbey,
You are right that we know the truth about our ‘notorious past’. I would suggest that we should not only cover 1987/89; but include the notorious present. Only then shall we be fair to posterity.
By the way, Commander Museveni called those LRA (child) soldiers, those brothers of NRA kadogos, cockroaches. His definitive analogy that is.
In Nagongera, we also have insects called ‘Okoko’, you see, everything oo; I do not know what they are called in English, perhaps Gook (real one) could kindly translate – I know he once hunted in Bukedi.
Ochieno
=======
No mulindwa we don’t just tell us you know who killed Kayira, don’t you talk onbehave of every body. That’s the problem with you radio kimaka reporters, You put there you pokopoko instead of you believe you lies, you want people to believe you. It’s true Kayira was killed, but you don’t know killed him. If you do then help the police, the case is still open. EM every body that talk about Kayira’s death tells different story from one another. I talk to One big Ugandan politicia who told me it was Kagame who Kayira, I bealive at that time Kagame wa over seas. others it was Rwigyema, somebody will tell it was Grago Nyanzi, some people will tell you it was Musisi who’s nick name was brain work, Magezi Wada Kiwanuka Back fire. Mulidwa among this people who killed Kayira? or the one you know is different from these people.
Listen I don’t know H Gonbya, I never met Gonbya, but I feel very very bad for him. I will say man was right there when killers came , but I got a feeling that the man is inocent. again that is me, you don’t have feel that way, You don’t know who kill this hero he was my hero in different ways I visited his father at his home in Busiro I met his father I met his brithers Kasibante and Makumbi who were members of the NRC in 1982 I never met Kayira’s mother I think she was already dead if I’m not mistaken. Kayira had some weaknes, but he wasn’t that bad man.
Bwana mulidwa the problem with Ugandan we like our under ground damn radios. Is only me who hate these radios with out addresses, at lest the Red Paper got an address. This radio are dangerous to our people. I wish people listen and just ignore there propeganda’s. I get sad when people talk what they got no proof about, especial our citizens death. I feel bad for Gonbya, sometimes I get disuppointed of what Gonbya has to say to prove he’s inocent. It really doesn’t matter what Gombya has say, a part from me and other good people who believe he’s inocent, those who believe he was envolve it will take a longtime to convinse them, and it’ s very expensive too. where by Gonbya has no money and time to clear his name.
Sometimes we Ugandans include Gonbya, we have to understand that it’s know only Kayira murder which is not solved there a lot out there. Swedish Primerminister included, so I don’t think that Udandan goverment is better equaped than swedish one.Dear Uganda when compailing try make sense, Hate should be out of serious matter like loosing fellow citizen, because of hate politics intresits. That is why DP has to forge the, so call scotland yard documant , Mu7 is damn weak no long man this liers should be in Luzira now. They are dangerous than Konyi, they live with good people, they will make Ugandan kill each other, at least Konyi lives in Garamba were by the animalis there don’t understand his language. Was Kayira more DP member than Ben Kiwanuka, People like DR Lumu, Sembegu, Joseph Simbwa etc they were killed their cases are not solve when is DP going solve it these goes back in 70′s. Listen you confused born to hate people stop confusing fellow ugandan. especial those who were born 25 yrs ago.
Doesn’t the world ‘know’ who is responsible for the man’s death?
It is no secret that our governments are, by habit, annoyingly secretive, so when we demand WE NEED ANSWERS, the reply is ANSWERS YOU WILL NOT GET.
Very possible then the Kayiira File is classified as ‘highly sensitive information’ and people have signed NEVER to divulge its contents.
I mean, if, of all people, Paulo Semwogerere won’t/can’t talk who will – Besigye?
Try and recall the time DP threatened to release the ‘official’ Scotland Yard report into Kayiira’s murder, the entire NRM hierarchy behaved like a cat on a hot tin roof (good Ahmed Kateregga can guide us here) – conflicting statements were issued by the big guns and countless writs against the release of the report started flying about. All too defensive, I thought. Anyhow, whoever knows of the circumstances surrounding Kayiira’s death will go to their graves with what they know.
P.S. Do we have the Official Secrets Act (or something similar)? Very unlikely but if we do then Mr Matama’s pursuit of “ANSWERS”would tantamount to committing a crime. Strange but true!!!
When Kayiira returned to Uganda in 1985 he pleaded with “Nkwanga t allow him into FEDEMU but the FEDEMU high command refused, which led him to revive the defunct UFM and lure his old fighters away from FEDEMU. He presented a mere 13 armed men to President Tito Okello when he joined the Military Council!”
But I remember UFM very active all thru.
Although Bwengye did not acknowldege it, I assisted him in writing this book. You can read it from SOAS University, my alma mater..
HG
Busayo kibi kyenkozire cari
> Nyowe mbaire mbagambira a mananu.. Omanyire there are people who just say things for the sake of it. The day Kashunku was killed was a bad day for UFM as Andrew Kayiira escaped death that very morning after falling into an ambush which had been staged by his own soldiers..
>
> They ordered him to reverse his black Mercedes in Namuyenje and he was cautioned never to return..
> The guys had rebelled. Kayiira went back to Kampala and convened an emergency meeting which Ben Kashunku himself attended.
>
> What made Ben to take the risk of going to Mukono might have been a phone call from hell.
>
> But as you know, shit happens. There was first hand information from Andrew to all UFM members that there was a rebellion going on. Kayiira first learned about the rebellion from intelligence reports which had been filed by one Kayizi then a Makerere university student of social sciences. He took a risk of going to Namuyenje and he came back thanking God for having saved his life
>
> There was no reason for Ben to go to Red Eagles at all.
> RIP BEN
> Buhanga
So what is this whole hullaballooo about Kayira about ? What is the new angle to this story ? I have seen Tony Owana argue back and forth on this and i find that there is barely any news .
Henry Gombya is totally short on the truth on this matter . During the last Kayiira talk wave in kampala i had the opportunity to interview gombya on radio via phone from his base in london , and but for the lies he has told over the years he said nothing substantial.
I would like however to raise for Gombya to explain why as a journaklist he neededan SMG “for his work as a journalist ?” it would be interesting to note that actually a fellow journalist at The Star (Drake Sekeba ) raised this with gomya to no conclusive answer. Gombya you would do well telling us where you had got the enviable amount of money from as a journalist operating on the bloody dusty streets of kampala !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have with me Bwengyes book on the death of Kayiira but when I have chosen too engage Bwengye on this , he has conviniently chosen to forget the details of his (probably) most famous publication . HOW ? I would never know.
When the DP chose to reveal the real scotland yard report , I can tell you mast surely they played strictly to only Bwengyes publication so wher is the new truth ?
Owana may want to volunteer more information since he was the very first to resurect this debate while he was still something editor at the redpaper , and now he works with the army publications ,has he landed on some information that would benefit a new angle to this story ?
peter kibazo
As all “unsolved” murder cases go, Kayiira’s raises more questions than answers, especially when the likes of Gombya come forward with what they think are helpful and watertight explanations – all we get is an avalanche of queries and little else..
About time they all kept shtum about the man’s demise and let others (his kids, wife, friends, etc) forge on.
Many moons ago, it was in a publication called Drum (defunct or still in print?) that I first saw vivid pictures of a slain govt/army official. It is possible the dead chap, a senior army officer who went by the name Ocoya or Okoya, was among the first assassinations in post-independent Uganda. Anyhow, rumour had it that Ocoya/Okoya’s death was engineered by Obote or Amin or both.
Those with long memories can help, who was responsible for the untimely death of that amiable officer? (Bullets caught Oc/koya as he had the evening bath on the house veranda)..
No Mr Senoga!
If you want, please start a fresh thread on Brig Okoya. Do not decapitate this one. People have been saying alot of things, and now when some information comes in, you declare “tubiveeko”.
If we are to go by your doctrine, why don’t we also leave Brig Okoya after the “…man’s demise and let others (his kids, wife, friends, etc) forge on.” Why should that apply to Dr Kayiira and not to Brig Okoya who died more than 4 decades ago? Ah ah! Nyinyi!
Lance Corporal (Rtd) Otto Patrick
1/3. Late Brig. Okoya’s house, to the right, a few kilometres from Gulu town, as you approach from the south, is in a high state of disrepair.
2/3. It is like the orphans of the victim soldier never got his benefits/pension! What is the Army doing [do they care? Was he "their soldier"?]
3/3. Let’s not gorget the victims of terror, whatever colour of the regime they became victims of.
Christopher Muwanga,
Nakasero,
Kampala.
Whatever we say is complete waste of time. Gombya must come out and speak. He says he knows the culprits yet he keeps quiet. Is he aware for how long he may live to speak the truth. I find him a useless individual NOW. Much as I don;t know the truth I a inclined not to take him truthful in what he says.
Speak out NOW and let people murmur. The only way the truth may reign. Come out and be counted. Other than that, I may harbour some sense of distrusting you. You saw it, say it without fear or favour. Will you live one million years like enfudu?
Lingula
One old man told me when i told him i was joining Ugandan politics
“To be a good politician, first know who killed Kazini, who killed Jjulunga, who killed Muzeeyi Nankunda and above all, who killed Kayiira”. Am proud to say that I got an answer to all those questions. (It was an ANSWER not ANSWERS coz it was one name). Muteese, Ffe tuwulira
As written by newvision; a scotland yard report “MBU”
The real Kayiira report “MBu”
Thursday, 11th January, 2007 E-mail article Print article
MURDERED: Dr. Andrew Kayiira
The New Vision got hold of the original Scotland Yard report on the murder of Dr. Andrew kayiira leader of the then Uganda Freedom Movement on March 6,1987. The report, dated May 7, 1987, which was reported missing, sparking a lot of speculation in the past weeks, is reproduced on this website.
1. This report concerns enquiries into the murder of Dr. Andrew Lutakome kayiira age 46 years, former Minister of Energy for the Ugandan Government who at the time of his death on March 6, 1987 was residing at Lukuli-Konge village, Kampala, Uganda, and the assistance given to the Uganda Police by Detective Chief Superintendent Thompson (Serious Crime Branch) and Detective Sergeant Sanderson (Laboratory Liaison Officer) at the direct request of President Museveni of Uganda.
2. Circumstances of case
On March 6, 1987, at about 11:00pm Dr. kayiira and his friend Mr. Henry Gombya, a BBC stringer, were having a meal with Gombya’s wife, Vicky Navva, age 24 years, and three other girls, Josephine Babirye, age 19, Julian Nabwire, age 14 years and Annet Namatovu, age 23 years, when a number of men believed to be about 10 to 14, entered the garden compound and attacked the persons present.
3. At the time of the attack it was dark and the house was without electricity due to power cuts and the only lighting was that provided by a storm lamp which was apparently hanging from the side wall nearest where the occupants were eating.
4. Some of the attackers had torches and according to the witnesses at least three of the attackers had fire-arms, one an AK47 submachine gun.
5. Exactly what transpired will be examined in greater detail further in the report but suffice it to say the occupants of the house ran into the premises, including Dr. kayiira and Mr. Gombya and hid themselves in their respective rooms.
6.Subsequent events show that Dr. kayiira was shot four times (two in the right arm and twice in the left side of the body), injuries from which he died and Mr. Gombya made his escape via the front security gate and hid in a banana plantation after first separating the sum of 40 million shillings into two halves and throwing one half in a box into the matoke plantation which adjoins the house. The remaining half was left for the attackers and is part of the property stolen from the house. None of the other occupants of the house, i.e. the three girls, were apparently injured although Vicky Naava states that she was kicked and punched.
7. Background information
Before looking at the evidence surrounding the murder, it is of use if the reader was made aware of the backgrounds and events involving the main principals, i.e. Dr. kayiira and Mr. Gombya.
8. Uganda has since their independence from Britain in 1962 been in regular unrest and in particular since 1971 when the Obote Government was overthrown by Amin’s Ugandan Army.
9. Obote went into exile and formed up an army called the UNLA (Ugandan National Liberation Army) and with the assistance of the Tanzanian Army overthrew Amin’s Government in 1979.
10. In 1980, Obote held elections and UNLA were retained. However, in 1985, Obote was overthrown by his Commander Okello and the UNLA continued.
11. In 1986 Okello was himself overthrown by the NRA (National Resistance Army) led by President Museveni.
12. It was during Obote’s 1980 elections which it is alleged by some people was rigged that the NRA was formed in the bush by, at the beginning, 27 men.
13. It was during Museveni’s time in the bush that he met up with Dr. kayiira’s UFA (Ugandan Freedom Army) and its political wing the UFM (Uganda Freedom Movement).
14. Suffice it say Museveni overthrew the Okello government in 1986 at which time Dr. kayiira was with Okello. After the coup, Dr. kayiira joined forces with Museveni.
15. Despite President Museveni’s friendship with Dr. kayiira there had been recent mistrust of him by the President as a result of which Dr. kayiira was arrested in October for allegedly plotting against the Government and subsequently released by the court on February 24, 1987, due to lack of evidence.
16. The release of Dr. kayiira surprised some people and the subsequent murder of kayiira led to the strong rumours that his death was politically motivated and had been caused by the Government’s hand.
17. It against this background that evidence surrounding the investigation into Dr. kayiiraa’s death must be viewed.
18 Events leading up
to the murder
Mr. Henry Gombya is a BBC stringer and although his work involves reporting matters of interest to news agencies on freelance basis, he is undoubtedly very well connected with many government officials and also strongly suspected of being involved in black market business transactions involving foreign exchange. In Uganda the exchange of currency on the black market appears to be the rule rather than the exception.
19. Gombya is a married man and although he claims that his wife is Vicky Naava it is known that he has a wife called Betty living in Uganda.
20. Whatever the situation domestically, Gombya on February 22, 1987, rented a four-bedroom house at Lukuli-Konge Village, Kampala and moved in with Vicky Naava. His rent was 1.2 million shillings (500 pounds) per month and he paid one year’s rent in advance. It was at his house that the murder took place
21. Dr. kayiira as already stated has been a leading figure of the UFA and UFM and a close friend of President Museveni although relations had been strained recently. Dr. kayiira was also a close friend of Gombya although only having met him in 1985 and prior to the murder the two had been seen very often together. It is also strongly rumoured that whilst Dr. kayiira was in prison, money sent to him from America for his UFM officers was being looked after by Gombya. This fact, however, is difficult to confirm, and Gombya recently denied this to the officer reporting. What is agreed however is after Dr. kayiira’s release from prison on February 24, 1987, Gombya went to prison to ask why he had been released and further to request that he should be re-arrested. The reason for this action is however unknown due to Gombya leaving Uganda after the murder and is therefore a matter of conjecture.
22. It is significant however that Gombya allowed Dr. kayiira to stay at his house after his release from prison.
23.It was because of the above facts and the political overtones that the subsequent murder of Dr. kayiira was quickly seized on by various factions to suggest that his death was not only politically motivated but might even have been carried out by President Museveni’s soldiers on the President’s orders. This charge is emphatically denied by the President.
24. Scene of murder
The venue of the offence is a threebedroom detached house standing within a large plot of land with wire security fencing surrounding it. This fencing is also strengthened by bamboo cane. The height of the fence is 7 feet.
25. The house itself is a one-storey type with balcony over the top of a garage attached to the side of the house. At the rear of the house is a building which is used for cooking and for servants to live.
26. A drive way leads from the house to a double door security entrance with the gate being 8 feet in height with spikes on the top. It is this gate that Gombya states he climbed over to make his escape.
27.The house is owned by Mr and Mrs Katongole who live opposite and had the house built to rent. Mr. Gombya was the first tenant of the property.
28. The surrounding area is mainly bush country with plantations of banana and matooke which the local villagers cultivate to sell and to live. The villagers’ houses are mainly mud lined walled huts and they live together in small communes drawn together only by the local village chief and the elected Defence Resistance leader. These two latter persons are very important and it will be seen later have significant bearing on Dr. kayiira’s presence at the Gombya residence. The conditions for the villagers are very primitive. Running between the various villages and outside Gombya house is a small track which is overgrown and leads eventually to Gaba Road which in turn leads to Kampala which is about six miles away.
29. To give some perspective of the area the reporting officer made ‘house-to-house’ enquiries and in doing so had to walk or drive up to one mile away form the scene to ascertain information from possible witness.
30 Investigation
On the night of the murder as already stated Gombya together with his wife and three other girls were having a meal when they were attacked by a number of men with torches and guns, whereby they ran into the house and locked themselves in their respective bedrooms. Dr. kayiira and Mr. Gombya each having separate rooms.
31. The suspects, some according to the occupants, were wearing combat trousers and in some cases shirts, shouted to the occupants to come out of the rooms. Also it is alleged that they asked where the doctor and the “UFM man” was and where the money was. This reference to money is significant as it is known that Gombya had obtained 50 million shillings only a few days earlier, further that Dr. kayiira was present in Gombya’s office when the money was delivered in two separate amounts (10 million shillings on March 3 and 40 million shillings shortly afterwards). At the current exchange rate of approximately 2,000 shillings to the pound the value of that money is in the region of 25,000 pounds. This however must be looked at in the light of the unofficial exchange rate mainly used by the Ugandans which would reduce the value to about 2,500 pounds.
32. The suspects according to witnesses and a reconstruction of the scene, appear to have ordered the four girls out of their room where they had been hiding and after questioning them had locked them in the bathrooms. They then fired a shot through the door of Gombya’s bedroom and then ambushed or kicked open the door and entered. Gombya had decamped.
33. According to Gombya, whilst the suspects were shouting at the girls and kicking his door, he in panic split the money into two halves and threw 20 million shillings in a box into the matooke plantation from the balcony leading from his room and left the remaining money in the bed for the suspects to steal. He then jumped from the balcony, a height of 12 feet and ran down the drive way and on the second attempt managed to climb over the gate. He then hid in a banana plantation until morning.
34. Whilst this was happening the suspects were shouting to Dr. kayiira to open his bedroom door which he did, at the same time asking them what they wanted. Exactly what happened then will never be fully known, but from reconstruction it appears that upon opening his door the gunman fired two shots which went through kayiira’s right inside arm and then a further two shots which went through his left side abdomen and passed out the right side. Dr kayiira died where he had been shot.
35. The suspects then ransacked the house and stole personal property including the large sum of money (about 20 million shillings), a tape recorder, a camera, radio cassette and video deck belonging to Mr. Gombya. It is not known whether property from Dr. kayiira was stolen but it is though that he had no property at the house.
36. Witnesses state that when Gombya escaped and was running towards the gates he was seen by one of the suspects who raised the alarm and was told not to pursue him as the “UFM” man is in the house. This would suggest that the suspects knew that Dr. kayiira was staying at the house and from previous questions to the occupants knew there was money in the house also.
37. Mr. Gombya states that he hid in the banana plantation until about 6am in the morning when he returned to the house and discovered that his friend Dr. kayiira was dead. He also recovered the 20 million shillings that he had thrown into the matooke plantation.
38. Police were eventually notified at Kabalagala Police Post some two miles away and arrived shortly after 7:30am. A photographer and scenes of crime officer arrived soon after wards. Scenes of crime examination was always going to be difficult as prior to police arrival villagers and other persons from the surrounding areas had descended onto the property and went inside the house to satisfy their curiosity, and pay their respects.
39. The pathologist Dr. Kakande of Mulago hospital examined the body and confirmed that the cause of death was due to multiple gunshot wounds. He did not attend the scene himself. He is very vague about the injuries and admits that he did not carry out a full post mortem examination but purely looked at the body and later allowed the relatives to bury the body. No clothes or blood samples were taken from the body which was buried on March 11 at Masulita, his village, about 30 miles from Kampala.
40. At the scene of the crime three bullets were found and a broken blood stained stick. In the matooke plantation next to the house was house was founds a cardboard box which has contained the money left on the bed by Gombya and also found in the matooke plantation was a cream coloured jacket, a handbag belonging to Mrs Gombya containing correspondence. In the banana plantation/ bush area about 300 yards from the house was found a black briefcase belonging to Gombya and also a shoe. Correspondence from these items were also found strewn around.
41. Investigations by the Kampala CID under the direction of Mr. Simon Mugamba (Director of CID) and Senior superintendent Fidelis Ongom (officer in charge) commenced and quickly established that Gombya had requested from Mr Henry Katerega, a Kampala businessman, the sum of 50 million shilling very urgently. Further that Gombya has rang him several times to hurry the matter up. Although this action could lead credence to the rumour that Gombya had received money from abroad on behalf of Dr. kayiira and may have misappropriated it and was now trying to recoup some of it, there is also the more stronger notion that Gombya was involved in foreign exchange business deals with Katerega. This involved Gombya being paid his wages in a business firm of Katerega’s choice in London and subsequently Gombya being paid in Kampala in local currency. This has a ring of truth about it when it is considered that the local residents invariably carry out transactions on the unofficial money exchange which is up to 10 times that of the official rate.
42. As a result of their investigations the police were contacted by a man named Emmanuel Sebbunza, aged 17 years, who informed police that he had been involved with the person responsible for the killing of Dr. kayiira and, although not at the scene at the time of the offence, assisted them in its preparation and later subsequent hiding of the stolen property. He further stated that he had been paid money for both his assistance and to keep quiet about who took part.
43. It is interesting to note that he states that the motive was robbery as the persons involved in the offence were all ex-UFM members, knew that Dr. kayiira was at the house and further knew that a large amount of money was in the house also. He states however that it was believed that Dr. kayiira had the money.
44. This evidence fits in if it is considered that Dr. kayiira was with Gombya when the 50 million shillings was obtained by him and further that it was believed that Gombya was holding a large sum of money for Dr. kayiira.
45. Emmanuel Sebbunza further stated that the arrangements for the offence were made at the shop of Muzeyi & Sons, Kampala belonging to Mr. John Katabazi, age 28 years, a businessman.
46. Subsequently, on March 19, 1987, Katabazi was arrested, as also were four of the 10 or so other participants. Robert Magezi, also known as Babi Katende, age 20 years, and Peter Kiwanuka, also known as Backfire or Kayongo, age 19 years.
47. All persons arrested have been interviewed and made statements but all deny being involved in the offence. One of those arrested in fact gives his alibi of being involved in another robbery at the time of the offence and therefore could not have been involved.
48. All accused, apart from the owner of the business premises (Katabazi), are apparently ex-UFM members, who had served under Dr. kayiira.
49. Identification parades were subsequently held and Magezi was identified as being at the scene by Julian Nabwire, Kiwanuka identified as being at the scene by Annet Namatovu and, although in itself not evidence, Nabwire ‘almost’ identified Kizito but was scared to do so because of the look she was given by him.
50. In addition, the cream coloured coat found at the scene was identified by Emmanuel Sebbunza as belonging to Kizito.
51. The evidence against the owner of the business premises is just that of Sebbunza and the fact he states that the arrangements for the offence were made there.
52. All persons were subsequently charged with the murder of Dr. kayiira and are at present remanded in custody.
On Thursday March 26, 1987, at the request of President Museveni, the Ugandan President, I (detective Chief Superintendent Thompson) attached to the Serious Crimes Branch New Scotland Yard, together with Detective Inspector Sanderson, Scenes of Crime Officer attached to the Metropolitan Police Laboratory, travelled to Uganda to assist the investigating officers because of the strong suggestions that the murder of Dr. kayiira was a ‘political’ one.
53. On March 28, 1987, a briefing was obtained from the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Luke Ofungi, and also from the Director of CID, Mr. Simon Mugamba.
54. Subsequent examination of the scene of the offence by the officers revealed the finding in Gombya’s room of a piece of metal (a bullet) and a piece of wood in Dr. kayiira’s room, which fitted a missing piece on the door of Gombya’s bedroom which had probably been transferred on the foot of the suspect who had kicked the door down. Blood samples had to be taken from the blood where the victim had died also from blood found on the walls in both Gombya’s and Dr. kayiira’s rooms. Two tool mark casts were also taken from Gombya’s room. All these exhibits, together with Dr. kayiira’s briefcase and the cardboard box which had contained the money, together with the cream coloured jacket were sent by hand to the Metropolitan Police Laboratory London for examination. Also sent to the laboratory were three bullets and an empty cartridge case found at the scene.
55. A bullet hole was also found in the garage door and although the bullet has not been recovered, it is known that Gombya’s car was in the garage at the time and now has a burst tyre. Attempts are being made by the Uganda police to recover the bullet from the car which is still in the possession of Gombya’s family.
56. Fingerprints and palm prints, together with control blood samples of all the suspects, were also obtained and sent to the laboratory for examination.
57. Enquiries were made extensively in the area of the murder up to a mile away, which showed that no NRA officers had been seen in the area prior to the date of the murder and further that there was a group of men, about five or so, who were robbing the villagers. No suggestion has been made of military men being seen in the area and the NRA commander has confirmed that his men were not in the area at the time.
58. Also interviewed was a Mr. Kakande-Gava, a teacher who had known Dr. kayiira since he was a boy and had in effect adopted him and paid for his schooling. On the two days prior to the murder including the actual day of the murder, he had spoken to Dr. kayiira in his (Mr. Kakande Gava) office and on hearing that Gombya with other four unknown were going to organise a party to celebrate his release from prison warned him not to attend as he did not trust Gombya, who he says was so changeable in personality, and further he felt that he ‘would be signing his own death warrant’. His reasons for this assumption are unclear but how prophetic his warning was.
59. Enquiries also showed that although as is the custom and law Gombya had been introduced to the chief of the village and the defence resistance leader, he had not in fact informed the two officials that Dr. kayiira was living at the address. This is looked upon by the local Ugandan people as unusual and bad manners. Local enquiries also revealed that none of the villagers knew he was living there although they knew him by name.
60. Lines of enquiry by the investigating officers include checking the financial background of Dr. kayiira and Mr. Gombya, the tracing of a woman who an informant states was involved in the leading of the suspects to the house. This woman it is alleged as one of the girls who was at the scene when the attack took place.
61. Attempts are being made also to trace five other suspects whose names are known but who have gone to ground in the bush or have gone to Kenya.
62. Mrs Gombya on March 11, 1987 went to a local travel agent and purchased two open airline tickets for herself and a man named Mr. G. Dick. The man ‘Dick’ is Gombya (confirmed by him) and the tickets costing a total of 3,144,680 shillings (1572.34 pounds) were paid in cash.
63. These tickets were used by Mr and Mrs Gombya on March 13, 1987 when they travelled by Ugandan Airlines to London Gatwick airport. Gombya travelled using this name Dick.
64. It is this action by Gombya that has raised suspicion that he may in fact have had some part in the murder of Dr. kayiira for although he gave a statement to police before he left, it was self written and he gave no opportunity to interview him on it.
65. It is also unfortunate, in hindsight, that Gombya and his ‘wife’ were taken to Entebbe Airport by the Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Peter Penfold. Gombya was not in fact wanted for any offence at the time and it is alleged by him that this was verified after checks with government sources, however great play was made by the various press/newspapers on the fact that prior to his exit from the country, Gombya had gone into hiding and had not been interviewed by Police.
66. Much comment was also made by the press that rumours strongly stated that Gombya during the time he was in hiding was being sheltered at Mr. Penfold’s own residence.
67. Although at the request of Uganda Police, Mr. Penfold was not officially interviewed in respect of his actions and knowledge of these matters. I did in fact holding an unofficial briefing’ talk with him in which he agrees that he took Mr. And Mrs Gombya to the airport but strongly denies allowing him to stay at his house or any other British High Commission residence.
68. His reasons were that Gombya was a good friend of his (Penfold is the godfather of one of Gombya’s children) and was purely assisting him in his travel to the airport. The fact that his car commands diplomatic respect did not assist in this matter.
69. Although upon our arrival this matter was causing some concern, it appears now to have died down and the fact that British Police officers are assisting the Ugandan Police has help relieve the pressure on this subject. It is the reporting officers opinion that Mr. Penfold’s actions were in hindsight an error of judgement and he had not stayed at his address but was picked up near the Kampala International Centre is believed.
70. There is still much to be done by the Ugandan Police in preparing the case for court, which is not helped by the fact that there is little or no petrol in Kampala and officers making enquiries are experiencing difficulties in travelling to potential witnesses’ addresses. Both Metropolitan police officers have assisted them as much as possible in this matter.
71. Regular meetings were held with the Ugandan Police Officers and Minutes of the main conference were made and given to the officer in the case and the Director of CID in order that they were fully aware of the various actions to be carried out.
72.Conclusion
It will be seen from the foregoing report that there are many options as to the type of persons who committed the offence and the motive behind it.
73. The original option that the president’s own men were behind the murder of Dr. kayiira was in fact the strongest one when the British Police Officers arrived in Uganda, despite the fact that five men had been arrested. All of the suspects except one are ex-UFM men and this did not assist to quell the rumours abounding Kampala.
The main options are:-
(1) It was robbery that went wrong when one of the suspects panicked and shot Dr. kayiira
(2) That the suspects knew Dr. kayiira was living at Mr. Gombya’s address, were aware that a large sum of money (50 million shillings) had been delivered to Gombya’s office when Dr. kayiira was present upon which such delivery and presumed that it was for Dr. kayiira and not Gombya.
(3) Had been informed that upon Dr. kayiira’s release he had asked for Gombya to supply him the money which it was rumoured Gombya had received from abroad on behalf of Dr. kayiira for his army forces, and went to rob him.
(4) A combination of any of the above three with the situation presenting itself that, as alleged by the informant, the suspects all being ex-UFM men went to rob Dr. kayiira and one of their number (WADDA) was recognised by Dr. kayiira and he had to shoot him to prevent later identification to police.
(5) Option 3 with the added ingredient that Gombya set up the robbery himself to solve his problems in having to return Dr. kayiira’s money. Gombya’s actions upon his escape helps to support this theory.
(6) The President’s own forces were behind that murder because the courts had released Dr. kayiira for lack of evidence.
74. It is the reporting officers opinion that on the evidence available Government forces were not behind that murder of Dr. kayiira and that the suspects knowing that Dr. kayiira was living at Gombya’s address and having been given information that a large sum of money was on the premises and further believing it to be kayiira’s, simply set out to rob him of it. During the robbery one was recognised and shot him. Option 4 is therefore the most likely conclusion.
75. Until Gombya is interviewed at length by the Uganda Police, it is impossible to be certain of his implication in this offence, if in fact he is involved and this must therefore remain a matter of conjecture.
76. However, he was seen on 1st May, 1987, by reporting officer in London and has agreed to be interviewed by police from Uganda. Arrangements are being made through I.C.P.O. for this to be done.
77. In conclusion, I would like to express the thanks of myself and Detective Sergeant Sanderson for the assistance and co-operation given by both the Uganda Police and Ugandan authorities and also the British High Commissioner, Uganda.
78. Submitted for information with a request that a copy of the report be forwarded to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for their information and that the British High Commissioner in Kampala, and a copy forwarded to Mr. Luke Ofungi, the Inspector General of Police, Kampala, Uganda.
Detective Chief Superintendent
( K. Thompson)
I am concern that the late Dr. LUTAKOME Kayiira Andrew (RIP) was an international figure but, not just a Luganda affairs as some of you would want to insinuate. I hate stating this truth since all of us must know that the NRA/M7 regime just likes this doctrine of isolating most touching national politics into local dry tribal pariah doctrine and gets away with it always.
YES, you see now as it turns out to be you people are asking why your BESIGYE did not come on air? This is because, the issue had become a Baganda affair and the issue of their late Dr. LUTAKOME Kayiira Andrew (RIP) – but not the concerns of Ugandans about his death. Frankly, you may hate my reasoning, but the question that remains in the minds of many Ugandans is; “ Who murdered the late Dr. LUTAKOME Kayiira Andrew (RIP)”?
I think, the quicker you FDC, DP and Buganda give Ugandans the answer to who murdered the late Dr. LUTAKOME Kayiira Andrew (RIP) the better for us Ugandans. Otherwise, it would be treated as the internal affairs of the pro – NRA/M7 in the names of DP, FDC and Buganda issue – the good – damn “ The bottled Esenene – eating one another doctrine!
OCAYA pOcure
Henery Gombya was very close to NRA more that to any one. Actually, when the Titos kicked Obotes A***********s it was Gomya who called M7 in Stockholm to brake the News.
Days before Kayiira;s murder, Gombya had had a meeting with M7 and in that very meeting, Gombya discussed Kayiira;s welfare with Kaguta. Mbu he told Kaguta to stop harrassing Kayiira.
Now the question is, Did Andrew Kayiira know how deep Gombya’s relationship with M7 was?
Gombya was not only a journalist, he was also a lobbyist and a confidant of Kaguta. Why did Kayiira choose to stay with Gombya and not other people like Bwengye or Kamya?
Did Gomya trick Kayiira into staying at his home?
Herbert,
According to Gombya when I listened to him on Ngoma Radio(UK), when he was asked the same questions, he said that if he had had anything to do with Kayiira’s death, he would not have been in exile for 23 years. He continued to say that he was an independent journalist who was not close to any group whether NRM or UFM or FEDEMU. He said that he first got to know Kayira when Bazilio Olala Okello and group wanted to arrest him after publishing a story that made them look so bad. At that time, Gombya was working for BBC Africa and I think the Muno newspaper. He also told us how he managed to escape from the country after Kayiira’s death.
2. He explained his meeting with Museveni in Lubili before Kayiira was arrested for the first time. He said that Museveni asked to meet him in Lubiri( MENGO) army barracks while Kayira was staying in a hotel somewhere in Kampala . Museveni told him that some of the young boys in the NRA wanted to eliminate some political leaders and that it was important that he ( Museveni) meets Kayira as soon as possible. Gombya agreed to arrange a meeting between Museveni and Kayira. But as soon as he stepped out of Museveni’s office at Lubiri, he then saw Kayira in ‘AKANDOYA’ style and being led by a group of soldiers under the command of Tinyenfunza. He then went back immediately to tell Museveni about it who ordered the release of kayiira immediately.
3. As of to why Dr. Kayira chose to stay with Gombya and not other people, Gombya explained that Kayiira was broke and he had no money. Before Kayira moved to Gombya’s place, he was living in a single room somewhere according to Gombya. So Gombya offered to accommodate him because he had protected him against the Bazilio Olala Okelo Group.
Abbey.K.Semuwemba
UK
A former minister and rebel leader in a single room after 1986?
Joseph,
According to Gombya, Dr.Kayiira did not have money and he always lived on the mercy of friends. He said that Dr. Kayiira believed in genuine politics of not embezzling tax payers’ money to build mansions. Friends who believed in his cause paid for almost everything including the hotel bills. He also said that at that time when he met Kayiira in a single room, he was scared of his life and that is why he lived that way. In addition, when Kayira was staying at Gombya’s house, the people in the village did not that he was there including the LCs.
Abbey.K.Semuwemba
Joseph, l have not contributed on Kayiira debate. But what l can say that Kayiira believed in terrorism and had an urban task force. Unlike Museveni who was for a full scale guerilla warfare, Kayiira wanted a quick one like shooting down a presidential jet and Obote perishes in a day and you take over. His method failed but he contributed to the liberation struggle. His attack of Lubiri barracks in 1982 put confidence in the people that at one time tyranny would fall.
iT S true NRA attacked military and police barracks but was not targeting civilians. However l know that immigrant communities in Luwero including your self, suffered a lot as all rebel groups targeted you for siding with the enemy.
Its also that some rebel groups especially UFM an FEDEMU targeted some immigrants who were staunch UPC supporters , UPC youth wingers and NASA operatives. They run to Kampala and other areas. Some like Mulindwa ended up in Canada , via operating in Kampala taxi park.
l am a believer who does not fear death because even if l fear it, it will come. My death was predetermined by God however much you do, will not change it. But l will not be intimidated for those who threaten to crush my skull after this government has gone. I don’t think that we shall go back to coups and civil wars for we have graduated from them. But even when it were so, l will take preemptive measures to finish you off before you do it to me.
The following article was written by Tony Geoffrey Owana and published in Sunday Pepper
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DP FINALLY FORGETS KAYIIRA
Gombya also forgot eulogy on Shaka Sali’s ‘Staright Talk Africa’ show
By Tony Geoffrey Owana
Finally, the Democratic Party has given up making the unsolved murder of Dr. Andrew Lutakome Kayiira a vote-capturing issue and consigned his memory to his lonely grave in Kanzize, Masuliita.
6th March 2009 marked 22 years of an unsolved murder that nearly rocked the peace the NRM had restored barely a year earlier, when the former guerilla chieftain of the Uganda Freedom Movement was slain at the plush home of Henry Gombya, who won world fame as BBC’s man in strife-torn Uganda .
Unless and until the self-exiled former Ugandan journalist, Gombya gives his detailed version of Kayiira’s murder, he will continue to be regarded as Number One Suspect in the murder. Shaka Ssali hosted Gombya to his ‘Straight Talk Africa’ show last week and Gombya had no eulogy for Kayiira.
No Demo, No Memorial
If anyone had expected DP to hold a press conference or hold a peaceful or even violent demonstration for the unsolved murder, that one was disappointed. There was hardly a memorial service to report about.
Kayiira had just been freed after court dismissed the treason charges against him. It would now seem his decision to reside at his friend Gombya’s home was silly, especially for a guerilla commander in chief who must have had presidential ambitions at one time or another. The only eyewitness (and ear-witness) to the dramatic events of 6th March 2007 is Gombya, who says virtually nothing about the event, save to describe himself as ‘the fall guy’. Gombya owes an explanation to Kayiira’s ghost if not to Kayiira’s numerous admirers.
Gombya’s Escape
Writing for The Guardian of 20th January 2007, Paul Lewis falsely reported that after the murder, Gombya had fled to Britain using a false name. The truth is that Gombya left via Entebbe International Airport as part of the diplomatic baggage of Britain ’s Deputy High Commissioner to Uganda , Mr. Peter Penfold.
Police, who were very anxious to interview Gombya could not grab him from Penfold without causing a dangerous diplomatic incident. Instead, CID boss Sam Mugamba had to fly to Britain to take Gombya’s statement. Ambassador Penfold himself has never found it worthwhile to explain what prompted him to assist Gombya to flee. He also refuses to commit himself to the possibility that Kayiira was not merely murdered but assassinated, saying the cause could have been either politically motivated or simply criminal.
I also think Penfold and Gombya would have put more effort in forcing Scotland Yard to release their findings on Kayiira’s murder. Two years ago, Gombya swore to undertake legal action to force Scotland Yard to confirm whether either of the reports was written by their detectives.
He was referring to two different documents released as the ‘Scotland Yard report’, one by the Uganda government, the other by the Democratic Party. The DP document turned out to be a shoddy forgery, landing the MPs who crafted it into hot soup.
Forgotten
Until 2007, Dr. Kayiira was still useful to the DP as a rallying point for a party on ts death bed, bit it seems DP is now strong enough to do without the freedom fighter’s ghost. There are some myths that must be dispelled.
Kayiira was never a DP leader and there is no record that he even tried to run for parliament. Today’s media however describes him as “one of the prominent DP leaders…”
A 2007 feature by Gerald Busingye describes Kayiira as “a close friend of the late Lt. Col. George Nkwanga…” Nkwanga was the overall commander of FEDEMU, which lost many officers and men to the revived UFM through desertions. When Kayiira returned to Uganda in 1985 he pleaded with Nkwanga t allow him into FEDEMU but the FEDEMU high command refused, which led him to revive the defunct UFM and lure his old fighters away from FEDEMU. He presented a mere 13 armed men to President Tito Okello when he joined the Military Council!
Busingye also wrote, “At the time of his murder, Kayiira, it was believed, would have lasting and destabilizing support in Central Uganda , being a Muganda and a member of the then popular DP. That is why DP thinks the Government had reason to eliminate Kayiira. President Museveni has denied that his government or army killed Kayiira. He says the NRM does not believe in eliminating political opponents, which is why he invited all of them to form a unity government in 1986.
Unanswered Questions
Gombya, who now lives in Farnborough, Hampshire complained, “It seems a British police report has been doctored to make it seem like I am a suspect or somehow involved. Who carried out the shooting? I don’t know. Who ordered it? I believe it was President Museveni, and I’m not afraid to say it … I’m the fall guy.”
Two Scotland Yard officers, Detective Chief Superintendent Thompson and Detective Sergeant Sanderson flew into Kampala to investigate the murder reportedly submitted their report to Ugandan police on 7th May 1987. for the record, the ministers then in charge of police were DP’s Paulo Ssemogerere, whose deputy was col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, now FDC leader. None accuses government of a cover-up.
Following the 2007 ‘revival’ of the case, Portsmouth MP Mike Hancock asked Home Secretary John Reid to publish the Yard investigation but Mr. Gombya does not seem to have followed up this lead.
Unless Gombya convinces Ugandans that the Museveni regime managed to bribe the Queen’s police and entire government into silence, his own silence will remain a loud self-condemnation.
Rich Journalist?
For a Ugandan journalist to get rich through Power of the Pen is a very recent development. It was certainly not the case when Gombya rose to international prominence, covering the chaos then raging in Uganda . Prior to this he had been eking out a precarious existence as a reporter for Ngabo and The Star newspapers, which Omutaka Ndugwa Grace Ssemakula Musoke and Drake Sekkeba can confirm.
With or without BBC cash, Gombya could not have singly afforded to rent the 14,400,000 house at Kkonge-Lukuli, in which Kayiira was murdered. There is suspicion that while Kayiira was behind bars, UFM sympathisers abroad sent money to the organisation through Gombya, then known to be very close to the UFM leader. This was long before systems of ‘wiring money’ came to Uganda and contacts like BBC’s Gombya were valuable.
Once out, Kayiira reportedly grilled Gombya about how he had handled the funds he received on the UFM’s behalf. Sources add that Gombya had not considered Kayiira’s acquittal likely and had behaved like many behave when dealing with the affairs of a prisoner. It is probably this pursuit for accountability that exasperated Gombya into hatching plans to ‘end the menace’.
During the terrifying attack, Gombya somewhat managed to split the stash into two bundles of 20m/- each and fled with one. Did he leave the other as payment for the assailants or to divert their evil intentions?
New Priorities
However, DP has more serious problems than remembering departed heroes. The party must contend with the looming delegates’ conference that will elect new office bearers and things are not too rosy.
At least two bigwigs on the party’s national executive committee were last week nearly lynched by enraged party members after they made statements considered insensitive to the interests of the listeners.
And the leaders at last seem to have realised that the alleged forgery they crafted and passed off as the Scotland Yard report did not amuse anyone, their foreign benefactors inclusive, meaning that it is time to let Dr. Andrew Lutakome Kayiira rest in eternal peace.
When Kayiira returned to Uganda in 1985 he pleaded with “Nkwanga t allow him into FEDEMU but the FEDEMU high command refused, which led him to revive the defunct UFM and lure his old fighters away from FEDEMU. He presented a mere 13 armed men to President Tito Okello when he joined the Military Council!”
But I remember UFM very active all thru.
Andrew Lutakome Kayiira, cabinet minister and former leader of the Uganda Freedom Movement, 1987.
Shot dead in Konge, Makindye, Kampala by a hit squad comprising Major Paul Kagame, James Kazini, Lt. Col. Kasirye Gwanga, Lt. Col. Moses Nyanzi (a.k.a “Drago”) and ESO assassin Humphrey Babukika.
In the 1980s bush wars, Kayiira’s UFM was always the better equipped force than Museveni’s NRA and Museveni felt Kayiira was his main rival for power.
The Scotland Yard report on Kayira’s death is reported to have mentioned Major Paul Kagame or Brig. Jim Muhwezi as the architect of the assassination.
But who really pulled the trigger?
Ugandans, does it really matter who pulled the trigger? Crime is crime and whoever plans and/or pulls the trigger to wipe out breath out of a human being is wrong and needs to be tried in a court of law. Until unless Ugandans realise this single point, the country is going nowhere. Watch and see. The Almighty Father God is our witness. I am told that the whoe M7 Presidency itself worships the real God Himself. So, I believe that M7 Himself does not know what happened to our brother Kayira. But again, it comes to one thing. A man who specialises in hunting elephants is most likely going to be caught by the animal. So says the proverb!!
Mr. John Okello,
You have raised a genuine or shall I use the legal term(as advised before) valid question relating to crime and punishment. However, Mr Okello I would love to differ with you on the point of just punishing whoever carries out or be involved in a prohibited act. Mr. Okello, I think that most important thing to consider is mens rea(guilty mind) and actus reus of the people involved just to ensure that otherwise innocent people who were wrongfully involved( either by duress of threat or due to the absence of mens rea) don’t get punished.
As for Dr. Andrew Kayiira(RIP) we can’t collectively punish whoever participated in his murder, but rather concentrate on the principal architect and accesories who exhibited mens rea(intended to kill him or cause him GBH) during the commission of the actus reus . Otherwise, if we were to punish who ever knew about his death, many inoccent Ugandans(including Dr.Paul Semwogere) would end up being victims of the malfunctioning legal system.
Robert Ssenkindu
You are spot on. I heard you and Mr.Moses Nsubuga calling to participate in the discussions on radio Ngoma about Kayiira’s death. You are right that we should not collectively punish whoever was involved in this murder. I heard Dr.Henry Gombya saying that after Kayiira’s death, he went to Dr. Semogerere to ask for military protection since Semo was the minister of internal affairs. Semogerere told him that he had received orders from the president not to deal with anything to do with Kayira’s death. All powers were entrusted in Dr. Kiiza Besigye who was then state minister of internal affairs. Later on, semo offered two police officers to protect him but they also disappeared in the middle of the night the same day while Dr. Gombya was in bed.
So please let us not go for Dr. Semo and Dr. Besigye petty involvement and instead go for the BIG FISH. I still think that it is very important if Besigye and Semo come out to tell us what they know about this murder.
Abbey.K.Semuwemba
Joseph
Ahmed is just losing it because he supports the regime in power. He sounds like Mukulu Tamare Mirundi who was sugar-coating discussions on Ngoma radio with similes (sp)(OBUGELO) or ideologies of some kind. Tamare Mirundi said that NRMO and Museveni did not/don’t believe in political assassinations and so many callers found it hard to believe him. At that point, Major Twaha Mukiibi reminded Tamare Mirundi of the Mukula murders; the 39 UFM soldiers who were killed the same day Andrew Kayiira was 1st arrested; the 400 UFM soldiers who died in containers or trucks on their way to an ‘invisible’ mission in Eastern Uganda . Tamare Mirundi then responded by saying that those were soldiers and not civilians. He also accepted that Mukula really took place. But callers kept asking him about the QUESTIONABLE deaths of personalities like Mayombo Noble and Kiddu and Sara Kiyyingi.
Now, what I would like Ahmed to tell us is whether he agrees with Mirundi’s assessement that NRMO does not do civilian/political assassinations but does SOLDIER ELIMINATION. Last time I checked, both categories were illegal and prosecutable under the national and international law.
Abbey.K.Semuwemba
killing people does not solve the problems of the country i advise ugandans to fight for them selves because it does not necessary to go to school to learn how a preson can fight for him self if at all some who are leading the nation are not nationalists every thing can not moving on smoothly in the country it is the consititution rights people to access their rights and the better way to solve the problems is to be empathy and simpathetic but people who are leading they are working for GOD and their stomach its realy surpring the all world i moblise peeple to stay focus on such kind of people because they brought un employment which led under developement in the country .Tolead by such kind of people we would rather led by late IDI AMIN beause he working after his people in the country may he soul rest in internal peace .