A Ugandan Minister will stand trial for after allegedly shooting at his opponent’s supporter at the weekend.
Mwesigwa Rukutana, the Minister of State for Labour and Industrial Development, lost to Naome Kabasharira at Rushenyi County primaries for the ruling National Resistance Movement – NRM – party on Saturday.
Following his defeat, Rukutana turned chaotic and in the scuffle, he grabbed a gun from one of his bodyguards and shot two people who were rushed to hospital in critical condition.
Rukutana claimed he was trying to secure himself. He alleged that the people he shot were from a crowd which came to his farm armed earlier.
“Those people were armed. They came to my farm and blocked my family members from leaving home. My guards went and urged them to leave but they refused. I was trying to secure myself,” he said.
Police authorities in the country said Rukutana and his three bodyguards have been arrested in connection with the incident, adding that he will be presented before the court on Monday.
“Police in Ntungamo have this afternoon arrested and detained Rukutana together with his three bodyguards following a shooting incident in which one person was seriously injured,” deputy police spokesperson, Polly Namaye said in a statement.
Former Deputy Attorney General, and current Labour Minister Mwesigwa Rukutana using his gun and guards to threaten agents in yesterday’s primary polls.
He lost the election pic.twitter.com/68eiw8Xin6
— Mujuni Raymond (@qataharraymond) September 5, 2020
The former deputy Attorney General is no stranger to controversy.
In 2019, he blasted Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, the chairperson of the commission of inquiry into land matters appointed by the President for quizzing him.
“I don’t give a damn. Let her tell the president, she can even tell God,” the non- remorseful Rukutana had said referring to Bamugemereire.