The family of incarcerated former Ugandan Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura, speaking for the first time on Monday, said it has had “unfettered access to him.”
The ex-police chief was arrested five days ago and is detained at the Makindye Military Barracks, a maximum security facility in the capital Kampala.
In a statement signed by his wife, Angela Kayihura, she said his lawyers have also been allowed to see him.
Mrs Kayihura also clarified the law firm to represent the general, denying media reports that the family and his lawyers had been denied access.
Since the arrest of Uganda’s longest serving police chief, a number of law firms lined up themselves with some claiming to be representing him.
“This is to inform the general public that neither Gen Kale Kayihura nor any member of his family has met, talked to or instructed Mr Evans Ochieng or Mr Caleb Alaka or their law firms, to represent Gen Kayihura as alleged in the media, or at all,” the statement read.
“Gen Kayihura’s and our only lawyers are M/s Kampala Associated Advocates,” the general’s wife said.
Elison Karuhanga from KAA confirmed to The EastAfrican that the firm would be representing Gen Kayihura and that the legal team has been allowed to meet him at the detention facility “any time of the day”.
Mrs Kayihura said the law firm has not been instructed to file any petition in court yet. She said statements in the media contrary to that are false and should be ignored.
Gen Kayihura served as the police chief for nearly 13 years before being fired by President Yoweri Museveni in March this year.
Sources say he could face “serious cases” that include “treason, espionage, murder, recruitment, and creation and arming of illegal militia with intent to overthrow the government.”
His lawyer, Mr Karuhanga, described the former IGP as calm and “ready to answer any questions from anybody or entity”.
The government has yet to charge him with any offence.
The EastAfrican understands that the general has not sought for release from detention but “should the situation take longer then the option of applying for a writ of habeas corpus might become necessary.”
