Prison changed me – Rwakasisi
After 24 years in Luzira Maximum Prison, former UPC die hard, Mr. Chris Rwakasisi says he is a changed man , and is ready to preach the values of love, tolerance, and reconciliation, which he learnt in jail.
The former Minister of Security in the Obote II government was released from Luzira, where he was on death row, following a presidential pardon from president Museveni.
Speaking at a church service organized for him by his family and party, UPC, at All Saints Cathedral yesterday, Rwakasisi said that he will promote reconciliation and love throughout the country.
“I am back and I am here to stay this time,” he said while recounting his prison experience.
“I got expensive salvation while in prison and am going to continue preaching the same throughout the country, especially in the prison,” he added.
Speaking with his shoes off, Rwakasisi thanked the president for his concern, “belated as it was”, but denounced the death penalty, which he said only increased crime rather than curbing it.
Chris Rwakasisi was arrested in 1985 by the NRA
Soon after the afternoon service, UPC held a press conference at its headquarters at Uganda house, where it revealed its intentions to use Rwakasisi to garner support for the party in Bushenyi, his home town, and among the youths, who are ecstatic about his release.
“We want him and we shall use him effectively to propel the party, mobilize new members, and be the leader that his is already,” said UPC president, Mrs. Miria Obote.
She however declined to say if the party would use Rwakasisi to lead the party or even stand for presidency in the 2011 general elections, saying it would be his personal decision.
The UPC leadership, which thanked president Museveni for returning “their son” however called upon the government to set up a commission of reconciliation to right the wrongs it has done to UPC.
“ NRM has for long used UPC as a shield, telling young people that we are responsible for the Luweero massacres, but now is the time to tell the truth,” said Mr. Chris Opoka, UPC’s Deputy Secretary General.
“UPC has suffered a lot because of these lies and now we are starting to see our image cleansed,” he added.
Friday, February 6, 2009
'We want Simeo"- Journalists
JOURNALISTS BOYCOTT POLICE PRESS BRIEFING
Journalists who had gone to attend a press briefing at Central Police Station on Monday, stormed out of the police building in protest, after Police Public Relations Officer, Judith Nabakoba, failed to address them.
After waiting for over an hour for a press briefing, the journalists were informed that the Police spokesperson was not around to address them, but had delegated her deputy, assistant spokesperson, Central region, Mr. Kafeero to talk to the journalists.
The journalists, who had converged at CPS for the briefing scheduled for 11:00a.m, got rowdy and agitated when a police constable informed them that Mr. Kafeero was also out of office, and that the briefing had been postponed to 2:00p.m.
Attempts by Kampala Extra Regional Officer, Mr. Edward Ochom, to calm the journalists, and fill in for Nabakoba were futile, as the angry press people accused Nabakoba of disrespecting them.
“How do you call a press briefing, and then fail to show up, moreover without an excuse. That is disrespecting us,” said one Kirabo from Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.
“Public Relations Officers should be trained in the working of the media,” he added, claming that Ms. Nabakoba did not deliver as effectively as former police spokesperson, Mr. Simeo Nsubuga.
Other journalists claimed that Ms. Nabakoba had foregone the CPS meet, and called just a few journalists to Kiira Road Police station to address them. They claimed that she had sent phone sms texts to some journalists who quietly walked out of the meeting room.
The journalists, who numbered about 30, chanted Simeo Nsubuga’s name, saying he should be returned as Police spokesperson.
When contacted, Ms. Nabakoba said she could not make it to CPS because she had a meeting at Kiira Road, after which she was asked to parade a suspect who was due for court on accusation of making counterfeit money, .
“Presenting the suspect at Kiira Road was done at short notice that’s why I could not get all the journalists here,” she said. “Besides, I had asked my deputy to direct the press briefing,” she added.
Ms. Nabakoba said she had asked the journalists to return at 2:00p.m, but Mr. Ochom told her they had already left.
“I was told you people were just quarreling. If you have a problem, we should meet on Monday and you tell me what it is,” she said. How can I be at CPS every Monday, even when there is no news,” she added.
She said the only news at CPS was about a stolen vehicle, and the usual traffic reports, which can be got from any police station.
Ms. Judith Nabakoba is currently filling in the post of spokesperson Kampala Extra, which Mr. Simeo Nsubuga held before he was transferred to Kyambogo as the Chief Security Officer on December2 2008. .
Journalists who had gone to attend a press briefing at Central Police Station on Monday, stormed out of the police building in protest, after Police Public Relations Officer, Judith Nabakoba, failed to address them.
After waiting for over an hour for a press briefing, the journalists were informed that the Police spokesperson was not around to address them, but had delegated her deputy, assistant spokesperson, Central region, Mr. Kafeero to talk to the journalists.
The journalists, who had converged at CPS for the briefing scheduled for 11:00a.m, got rowdy and agitated when a police constable informed them that Mr. Kafeero was also out of office, and that the briefing had been postponed to 2:00p.m.
Attempts by Kampala Extra Regional Officer, Mr. Edward Ochom, to calm the journalists, and fill in for Nabakoba were futile, as the angry press people accused Nabakoba of disrespecting them.
“How do you call a press briefing, and then fail to show up, moreover without an excuse. That is disrespecting us,” said one Kirabo from Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.
“Public Relations Officers should be trained in the working of the media,” he added, claming that Ms. Nabakoba did not deliver as effectively as former police spokesperson, Mr. Simeo Nsubuga.
Other journalists claimed that Ms. Nabakoba had foregone the CPS meet, and called just a few journalists to Kiira Road Police station to address them. They claimed that she had sent phone sms texts to some journalists who quietly walked out of the meeting room.
The journalists, who numbered about 30, chanted Simeo Nsubuga’s name, saying he should be returned as Police spokesperson.
When contacted, Ms. Nabakoba said she could not make it to CPS because she had a meeting at Kiira Road, after which she was asked to parade a suspect who was due for court on accusation of making counterfeit money, .
“Presenting the suspect at Kiira Road was done at short notice that’s why I could not get all the journalists here,” she said. “Besides, I had asked my deputy to direct the press briefing,” she added.
Ms. Nabakoba said she had asked the journalists to return at 2:00p.m, but Mr. Ochom told her they had already left.
“I was told you people were just quarreling. If you have a problem, we should meet on Monday and you tell me what it is,” she said. How can I be at CPS every Monday, even when there is no news,” she added.
She said the only news at CPS was about a stolen vehicle, and the usual traffic reports, which can be got from any police station.
Ms. Judith Nabakoba is currently filling in the post of spokesperson Kampala Extra, which Mr. Simeo Nsubuga held before he was transferred to Kyambogo as the Chief Security Officer on December2 2008. .
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