KAMPALA–Frank Gashumba, a renown Kampala businessman and social critic, has Monday morning been arrested by Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).
UPDF spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire confirmed to PML Daily that Gashumba has been arrested for impersonation, but declined to divulge details of the case and where the NRM critic was picked from.
However, his lawyer, a one Nyombi, said Gashumba was arrested at CMI offices when he went to check on his brother, Innocent Gashumba who is currently detained there over charges not yet established by press time.
But unconfirmed reports state that Gashumba had been picked as part of a wider network of individuals spying for the government of Rwanda. But others sources say Gushumba’s arrest might be linked to a picture that recently went vial on social media depicting him in military fatigues.
Mr Gashumba runs a civil society organisation known as Sisimuka Uganda where he sensitizes Ugandans about government failures. He commands a large following on social as well as broadcast media.
Gashumba is not new to scandal. In 2011, he was convicted for conspiracy to defraud DFCU bank and shortly after, he was arrested for trying to defraud EYG Group, a Turkish company dealing in fire tenders of $28m (Shs79.9billion) on pretext that they wanted to buy fire trucks on behalf of the government of Uganda.
In April 2008, he was arraigned before Buganda Road Court and charged with obtaining money by false pretence from a one Abdul Ssali.
Mr Gashumba, together with Ishaka Ddungu Muwesi reportedly approached Mr Ssali and promised to secure him a log book for his car which they never did after giving them Shs800,000.
Gashumba’s arrest follows President Museveni’s directive to CMI to carry out parallel investigations into the murder of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Felix Kaweesi. Last week, CMI arrested and arraigned nine people, including seven police officers and charged them before the General Court Martial for kidnap and espionage