Police officials cut Defence Committee meeting after tip off they faced questions on Nantaba

Officials from the Uganda Police Force Thursday morning shunned a defence committee meeting at parliament after reportedly being tipped they would face questions on the mysterious case of ICT Minister Aidah Nantaba.

The group had prior been made aware they would be presenting their ministerial policy statements amounting to a tune of over Shs870 billions, but insiders in parliament claimed when they heard of a possibility of answering questions regarding the progress of the case in involving Nantaba and cycler Ronald Ssebulime, they developed cold feet.

However, according to the police leadership, IGP Okoth Ochola decided to head to Queen Elizabeth National Park as investigations into the kidnap of an American tourist and her driver intensify.

Police on Wednesday said a joint operation including the UPDF, Uganda Wildlife Authority and Police had kicked off in a bid to rescue the victims.

Deputy police spokesperson, Polly Namaye told the Nile Post that Ochola had rushed to the area to check on the progress of the operation.

“The operation is ongoing and the IGP joined the teams yesterday in Kanungu.  We will update you as the operation goes on,”Namaye told this website on Thursday morning.

The case of Nantaba

Parliament and police have each summoned Nantaba in turns over the arrest and consequent murder of Ronald Ssebulime, but she has deliberately refused to show up.

I can not come: Nantaba tells police that Museveni confined her in house

Nantaba declined reporting to the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters at Kibuli, saying President Museveni confined her in house.

Nantaba was on March 28, summoned by the CID Director Grace Akullo to record a statement regarding the death of Ronald Ssebulime, wo was murdered following her panic calls to police after she alleged he was a suspected assailant.

However, in a reply to Akullo, Nantaba claimed that President Museveni has directed her to stay indoors, hence she will not make it to Kibuli.

Nantaba on the other hand advised that the department of the CID specifically interested in the matter shift to her home temporarily to enable her record her statement.

“…I am unable to report in person having been directed by His Excellency the President to confine within my premises until he himself instructs otherwise,” Nantaba claims.

“..such circumstances, I am constrained  to travel to Kibuli CID headquarters as you requested. But you may in the meantime consider visiting my premises to record the required statement,” she adds.

Nile Post cannot independently verify if President Museveni indeed made such an order. However, sources spoken to by our reporter maintain “he has not made such an order, at least formally.”

When contacted over the same and if the letter was indeed authored by herself, Nantaba laughed hysterically before lamenting: "journalists, journalists."

The minister declined our continued inquiry on the letter, choosing to end the phone call abruptly.

Not the first time

Nantaba was supposed to record her statement on March 25, but she told police she was busy attending a cabinet meeting. The body guard also did not show up to record his statement.

On march 28, the deputy speaker Jacob Oulanya summoned Nantaba to explain the circumstances surrounding her alleged attack. However, she is yet to show up.

History

On Sunday Nantaba while returning to Kampala from Ndeeba village in Kayunga became suspicious of men who were reportedly trailing her on the motorbike.

She sought the intervention of Naggalama Police station which immediately swung into action and shot a one Ronald Ssebulime, the biker, to death.

According to eye witnesses Ssebulime was not armed, nor did he resist arrest.