Top Story: Kadaga Top Aide, Namutamba Arrested; Phones Taken in House Search

Busoga Kingdom Tourism Minister, Hellen Namutamba, has been arrested after spending two nights at Speaker Rebecca Kadaga’s residence in Muyenga, a Kampala suburb.

Police on Monday telephoned Namutamba to report at Kira Division Police, Wakiso for interrogation in an “alleged case of offensive communication to the prejudice of Hon Anita Among (Bukedea District Woman MP) in respect of two posts that were posted on the Facebook account of a one Brian Kinene on 8th and 9th May 2020 respectively.”

Among had earlier recorded a statement at police, saying her reputation was being damaged by Kinene’s Facebook posts.

Kinene had alleged that President Museveni was giving large sums of money to Among to undermine Speaker Kadaga.

Earlier, Kadaga had met with MPs from Teso region about the controversial COVID-19 MP facilitation fund (Shs 10bn) which Museveni ordered be handed to district taskforces.

Kadaga told Teso lawmakers that returning the money was not only embarrassing her but part of the wider plan by the executive to undermine her authority.

Kinene posted some of the details of the meeting on his Facebook page but targeted MP Among who opted for legal action.

Kinene was eventually arrested before confessing to detectives that he was receiving funds via mobile money from Namutamba to tarnish Among and Kadaga’s opponents in Busoga.

Fearing arrest, Namutamba opted to abandon her place of abode in Namugongo and hide at Kadaga’s home.

On May 12, CIID issued formal summons for Namutamba to appear at police to help in investigations.

ChimpReports has now learnt that Namutamba yesterday turned up before the acting Commissioner Media Crimes Department at Kira Police Division where she was arrested.

Detectives took Namutamba on a search of her premises in Namugongo where several mobile handsets were retrieved.

“Police’s target were electronic devices and they got some mobile phones for analysis,” said a close associate of Namutamba.

It remains unclear if charges will be preferred against Namutamba.

Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire referred ChimpReports to CIID headquarters for comment on the development.

Officials there confirmed Namutamba’s arrest but asked for anonymity to speak freely.

Namutamba’s arrest comes at a time Speaker Kadaga is involved in a bitter fight with president Museveni following the Shs 10bn COVID-19 MPs cash bonanza.

Kadaga met Namutamba in London where the latter was financially struggling.

On the advice of Kadaga, Namutamba returned to Uganda where she was appointed a presidential assistant on wealth creation and also served as an aide to Justice Catherine Bamugemereire during the inquiry into land conflicts in the country.

She became Kadaga’s right-hand woman, helping her manage her private publicity campaigns.

Many politicians in Busoga region accuse her of relentlessly attacking them on social media.