Frank Gashumba wants Shs10b from government as compensation for wrongful arrest

Motor-mouthed political commentator and self-styled businessman Frank Malingumu Gashumba is seeking Shs10billion from the government as compensation for the loss and injury caused to him resulting from wrongful arrest in October 2017.

Acting through his lawyers Denis Nyombi and Company Advocates, Gashumba confirmed he intends to drag the Attorney General of Uganda, Lt. Col. Deo Akiiki and Brigadier C.K. Asiimwe who hold the positions of Deputy Spokesperson of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Deputy Director of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), respectively to court.

Accordingly, Gashumba accuses the government, acting through the trio of wrongfully arresting him on October 30th, 2017, and illegally parading him in the full glare of media cameras, which brought him untold psychological anguish and financial loss.

“In further unmitigated and deliberate violation of our client’s inherent fundamental rights, on Wednesday 1st November 2017 you wrongfully/illegally paraded our client and his brother while barefooted in handcuffs before the media/press. During the press briefing/public shaming exercise that was broadcast live on some major TV stations and online, several false allegations of commission of crimes were leveled against our client,” the lawyers claim.

These argue that several items were paraded as tools Gashumba and brother used to commit crimes. And he was consequently arraigned in court, but the case was dismissed on November 7, 2017.

The lawyers claim the acts by CMI and UPDF were deliberate to malice, dehumanize, and tarnish their client’s reputation.

“Consequent upon your fore mentioned acts, our client suffered and continues to suffer gross injustice, severe damage to his good name, public shame, ridicule, untold mental anguish, and significant financial loss which you are jointly and severely liable to remedy,” the lawyers claim.

They ask that the government pay Gashumba shs10billion in compensation among other demands.

I am suffering from the effects of my wrongful arrest- Gashumba

On Monday, October 30, 2017, I learnt that my brother, Innocent Kasumba, had been abducted from his residence in Buziga and was in detention at the CMI Headquarters. I made my way there to establish the reasons for my brother’s predicament, only to be arrested and detained on the apparent orders of the aforesaid Brig. Asiimwe.

The following morning, I was transported to my home in Ggaba by over ten heavily armed and menacing operatives in a manner that is reserved for hardened criminals and terrorists of international infamy.

In combat style, the operatives took positions around my home. Without warrants, they entered and ransacked every room as they searched high and low for undisclosed items. Several photographs, including those of some members of my household were taken, ostensibly for “evidence gathering.”

The same horror was visited on my office in Industrial Area that same morning where upon arrival, the entire floor that houses my working space was cordoned off, preventing others from accessing or leaving their suites on the floors above and below. Box files, computer drives and documents were rummaged and sequestered, upon departure. Curiously, a photojournalist from Vision Group appeared and enthusiastically took pictures of the surreal scene.

Throughout this ordeal, I was bound by handcuffs which were not removed even when I sought to ease myself.

I spent the night in detention at the CMI cells in Kireka. No access had been granted thus far to my lawyer or any of my family members.

The following day, at 1.00PM or thereabouts, my brother and I were handcuffed and spirited by a double cabin truck to the UPDF General Headquarters in Mbuya. Shortly before arrival, the accompanying operatives ordered us to take off the bathroom sandals we were wearing and disembark the vehicle, barefooted.

We were led to a room where a forest of microphones and an array of flashing cameras were waiting, as journalists and reporters accosted us with questions and all manner of commentary.

The aforesaid Lt. Col. Akiiki addressed the live press conference and showcased an assortment of items purportedly recovered during the warrantless searches of my house and office the day before—among them passports, stamps and marijuana—none of which I had ever seen. We were under unequivocal instruction not to utter a single word to the press corps or anyone else for that matter.

Having been charged, tried, convicted and sentenced in the media without so much as a hearing, we were whisked back to the detention facility in Kireka.

Five days later, on Friday morning, in a spectacular reversal of the rules of criminal procedure, due process and natural justice, my brother and I were taken to the Central Police Station (CPS), and after two or so hours, arraigned at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Court.

An astonishing twenty-eight (28) counts were proffered against me and bail was thereafter granted. To say that I was dumbstruck by these prejudicial actions is an understatement. Amongst the bail terms was a fortnightly appearance which I have honoured no less than twenty-two (22) times.

For all the theatrics that the authorities engaged in during my arrest and detention, including the alleged recoveries of items at my residence and office, no single witness or material evidence has ever been presented or adduced by the prosecution.

Inevitably, the case was dismissed on November 7, 2019.

With the benefit of hindsight, it is more than apparent to me and any observer that the events narrated above were orchestrated to embarrass, demean, and demonise me in the court of public opinion. Consequently, not only have I suffered mental anguish and derision but have also lost out on numerous commercial undertakings and incurred financial loss.

Lt. Col. Deo Akiiki and Brig. C.K. Asiimwe assumed the roles of judge, jury and executioner and visited these terrible injuries to my livelihood and societal standing. The duo conspired and abused their esteemed positions in our country’s military institutions to torment me without any basis in law or fact, contrary to the constitutional and statutory mandate of these public bodies.

For these reasons, and as further elucidated in the court documents accompanying this statement, I will be seeking a range of legal remedies to address this self-evident case of malicious prosecution and abuse of power.