In a Tuesday social media post, Sejusa said Uganda should not hand over one of its citizens to face trial abroad, especially under what he described as unequal international arrangements.
He argued that extradition treaties are often used by powerful states against weaker countries, describing the practice as a continuation of a neo-colonial legacy.
“Uganda has agreed to extradite its national, a one, Michael Katungi, to U.S to be tried for crimes he allegedly committed there. Can US extradite its national to Uganda to be tried? The answer is NEVER!” he said.
Sejusa said several countries, including France, Germany, Russia and Japan, have legal provisions that prevent them from extraditing their own citizens, arguing that states should instead prosecute nationals domestically.
He proposed that Uganda should try Katungi locally under what he referred to as the “Active Personality Principle”, which allows a country to prosecute its citizens for crimes allegedly committed abroad.
“Therefore, Uganda must reject the extradition of Katungi to U.S, and instead, subject him to our own criminal trial, here. By so doing, we serve both justice and our sovereignty,” Sejusa stated.
He also said he had opposed similar extradition arrangements during Constituent Assembly debates, arguing that Uganda’s dependence on foreign aid has influenced such legal decisions.
“It is therefore a shame, to extradite our national to U.S when U.S can never extradite an American to Uganda. Doing so is a clear sign of the modern master-slave neo-colonial relations; where historical subjugation evolved into these, even, not so subtle systems of domination,” he said.
His remarks come as Katungi remains on remand at Luzira Prison while Ugandan courts consider a United States extradition request.
Katungi, a retired UPDF officer and former African Union policy adviser, also previously served as Head of External Affairs for the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU).
He is wanted by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on charges including conspiracy to traffic cocaine, conspiracy to supply firearms and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organisation.
U.S. prosecutors allege that Katungi used diplomatic and government contacts in Africa to obtain fake end-user certificates that were allegedly used to conceal a multimillion-dollar plan to supply weapons, including rocket launchers and surface-to-air missiles, to Mexico’s Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
He is also accused of participating in a conspiracy to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine intended for illegal importation into the United States.
If extradited and convicted, Katungi could face life imprisonment.
Katungi appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court following his arrest on an extradition warrant issued at the request of the United States.
The court declined to consider his bail application, ruling that it had not been properly filed, and he was remanded to Luzira Prison until July 10 when extradition proceedings are expected to continue.
Katungi has opposed the extradition request and is challenging the process in Ugandan courts.