WANTED: Blogger Godfrey Kawuma with Kyagulanyi’s presidential portrait. On extreme right is Fred Lumbuye
NEWS EDITOR
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AFTER top blogger Fred Kajubi Lumbuye arrest in Turkey, Godfrey Kawuma, another reknown political and Human Rights defender who in 2017 is remembered for mobilising youth around Ggaba, Makindye Division, Kampala district against lifting presidential age limit, tops wanted list of opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) political activists facing arrest by Ugandan Government!
This comes at a time when State Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs Hon. Henry Okello Oryem informed journalists at the Government Media centre how Ugandans should celebrate the arrest of ‘toxic’ blogger Fred Lumbuye.
Oryem, while addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre on Wednesday morning, said, “Every one of you would be jubilating that this person (Lumbuye) has been arrested and is being brought before the courts of law but it seems like you are sympathising with him.”
However, Minister Okello’s counterpart in opposition Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi has shockingly told Ugandan Parliament how the hunt to arrest more bloggers and Human Rights activists is ongoing.
Giving an update on the arrest of Lumbuye, Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi who is also Kyadondo East Member of Parliament said, “We have reliably confirmed from trusted sources within Turkish Security that Human Rights Activist Lumbuye is in custody of Turkish Security. There is intense efforts by Uganda Security to have him and more 15 other Ugandans who were believed to have run out of the country, arrested.”
MP Muwada Nkunyingi who is the Uganda Shadow Foreign Affairs minister has said, “We now remind Human Rights Activists and Defenders, be it persons or states and agencies to pick interest in this matter since we are certain these activists are being wrongly hunted for their divergent political views.”
“We still have a public duty to voice out their rights.The essence of a Shadow Government is partly to lawfuly keep in check the actions of the Regime. Our approach has largely remained on defending people’s rights.” Reveals NUP MP Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi.
GENESIS OF GODFREY KAWUMA TROUBLES
On December 20, 2017, the Ugandan Parliament amidst public protests passed an amendment to the Constitution which, among other measures, aimed at eliminating the requirement that candidates vying for the presidency be under 75 years of age.
Article 102 (b) was amended. Kawuma had mobilised groups of youth against this ammendment saying the Constitution must not be diluted to benefit Mr. Museveni.
A few days later, Kawuma’s family said, their relative started getting intimidating messages how he was going to be arrested and persecuted for fighting the president and NRM government.
Born 34 years ago, Kawuma reportedly ran out of the country since 2018. From there, he kept on preaching people power and anti-NRM government gospel. This is how he was appointed NUP diaspora coordinator working closely with now Parliamentary Commissioner Hon. Francis Butebi Zaake, the NUP National youth cordinator, also Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament.
Kawuma and popular Kawempe North MP Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya are also very close.
Important to note, Godfrey Kawuma is also known for advocating for LGBT human rights. Some NRM leaders have been accusing Bobi Wine and the likes of Kawuma for being Pro LGBT who shouldn’t be allowed in our societies.
Sources say, if Kawuma is arrested, being an LGBT will be one of the crimes he will be charged with.
The hunt for Godfrey Kawuma is on and government looks like it is ready to do everything to arrest and make him answer for charges connected to the above accusations.
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