The State Minister for Labour Mwesigwa Rukutana who spent the weekend in detention at Mbarara police following a shooting incident in Ntungamo, in which a supporter of an opponent was injured, will be charged with attempted murder, President Museveni has said.
In an early Monday morning Twitter thread, Mr. Museveni seemingly disturbed by the violence and cheating in Friday’s NRM party primaries for MP flagbearers, wrote:
“The cheating in the NRM Primaries is over. Those who beat People, like in Bukono, are all in jail or on the run. Minister Rukutana is in jail and will be prosecuted. They will be fully accountable with robust charges: assault, attempted murder, murder etc”.
Mr. Rukutana was arrested on Saturday afternoon from his Rushenyi home with deputy police spokesperson Polly Namaye saying the minister, and three of his bodyguards would face attempted murder charges, among others.
Mr Rukutana was arrested after a shooting incident which left Mr. Dan Rwiburingi with serious head injuries as the Minister tussled for the NRM flag for Rushenyi County against veteran politician Naome Kabasharira.
The Minister who now says he never released bullets on to the victims as earlier reported has since lost the election too, as he cools in police jail.
It is understood that the minister will be produced in court today Monday, September 7 and charged alongside his bodyguards for inciting violence, attempted murder by shooting and malicious damage, Ms Namaye said on Saturday afternoon.
Despite his denials, Mr. Rukutana was on Saturday morning pictured in the ugly shooting incident, seizing a rifle from a bodyguard and threatening to shoot.
Mr. Dan Rwiburingi, the victim is now nursing head injuries after a bullet reportedly lodged in his head. He was evacuated for medication in Mbarara, and was to be transported to Kampala for further medical attention.