Minister Mwesigwa Rukutana Arrested Over Shooting Incident In NRM Primaries

State Minister for Labour and Industrial Development Mwesigwa Rukutana has been arrested over violence he orchestrated in the Rushenyi County primaries for the ruling NRM party.

Following his defeat to Naome Kabasharira, Rukutana turned chaotic and in the scuffle, he grabbed a gun from one of his bodyguards and shot two people who were rushed to hospital in critical condition.

“Police in Ntungamo has this afternoon arrested and detained Rukutana together with his three bodyguards following a shooting incident in which one person was seriously injured,” deputy police spokesperson, Polly Namaye said in a statement.

According to police, the minister and his three bodyguards will face charges related to inciting violence, attempted murder and malicious damage.

It is said that President Museveni had ordered for the immediate arrest of the former Attorney General to answer charges related to violence during the NRM primaries.

Earlier in the day, Rukutana claimed he was trying to secure himself.

“Those people were armed. They came to my farm and blocked my family members from leaving home. My guards went and urged them to leave but they refused. I was trying to secure myself,” he told the website.

The former deputy Attorney General is not new to controversy.

Last year, he blasted Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, the chairperson of the commission of inquiry into land matters appointed by the President for quizzing him.

“I don’t give a damn. Let her tell the president, she can even tell God,” the non- remorseful Rukutana said referring to Bamugemereire.