The UPDF and Uganda Police Force have spoken out on the arrest of Col. Dan Opita Odwee, the Air Force Garrison Commander who was over the weekend detained over involvement in subversive activities.
Col. Opita was picked from his home in Entebbe and detained at the Makindye Military Barracks.
Addressing a joint press conference on Monday morning, the Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura admitted that there is an ongoing joint police and UPDF investigation to apprehend a group of people engaged in subversive activities against government.
“The group involves both civilians and soldiers who wanted to attack police stations and military installations around the country,”Gen.Kayihura said.
“We first arrested a group of veterans from Kyengera who had been duped that they were to be taken to Somalia. We arrested 9 of them led by a captain who linked us to others and later it was revealed that Col. Opita was also part of the group.”
Police and the UPDF addressed a joint press conference at the Naguru police offices
The police chief and the commander of the joint security command including police, UPDF, prisons and other security organs said the group of veterans who were operating in Kyengera in Wakiso district were about 32 but other fled escaping the arrest.
Kayihura revealed that it was a bigger group with plans to destabilize the country through attacks but noted that through their intelligence, they were able to detect them before their plan was orchestrated.
“There is also a policeman among those arrested but nobody should say anything beyond this because we are still investigating.”
On Nakawa MP Michael Kabaziguruka, Gen. Kayihura said the legislator’s name was among those mentioned in the plot but said ongoing investigations will reveal each one’s role.
On the attacks on Gulu Central police station on Sunday evening, Gen. Kayihura refused to link Col. Opita to the incident insisting that ,” there is no evidence to back this allegation up but if it comes up in our investigations we shall handle it.”
At the press conference, The UPDF spokesperson Col. Paddy Ankunda said the airbase commander was not alone but with a bigger group adding that all perpetuators will be apprehended.
“We are still doing investigations but we shall not leave any stone unturned,” Ankunda told journalists.