FORMER Jinja RDC Eric Joseph Sakwa has lauded the First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga for standing with him during the difficult time he was falsely accused by some land grabbers.
Sakwa said Kadaga who is also the Minister for EAC Affairs was among the few political heavyweights who supported him in all ways when some land grabbers wanted him dead.
“…Mama (Kadaga) was with me even more than my mother by sacrificing her resources and efforts to ensure that justice was delivered because she knew the wrong elements were fighting me…”,he said.
This was during a victory and thanksgiving party organized by students of Administrative Law Makerere University held at the Nile Park near the Source of the Nile in Jinja.
Sakwa, 40 also said he got a lot of support from taxi drivers, market vendors and bodaboda riders including some politicians, civil servants and religious leaders who always called and sent him financial and other materials.
“…some people would come home with foodstuffs like chicken, matooke,rice and vegetables just to express their love for me while others would come and pray for me…”,he said.
It should be recalled that Kadaga, while still speaker of the 10th parliament, worked very hard with Sakwa to ensure that all government land in the then Jinja Municipality are not grabbed by some shrewd dealers.
During the ceremony, friends and supporters of former Jinja RDC Eric Joseph Sakwa cautioned him to act with care once re-deployed because the country is full of mafia who can once again land him in problems.
A former youth councilor Moses Wandha pointed out that Jinja has different camps like the Palestinians and Israelites headed by politicians and rich people who use their positions and wealth to fight others not on their side
Wanda, an NRM, who subscribes to the Israelites camp confessed that he was part of the group that fought hard to kick Sakwa out of Jinja because the former RDC was an extremist.
“…Should the big man (M7) redeploy you, I implore you to seek balance in the execution of your official duties because you will always find mafias everywhere who can once again disorganize you…”,Wanda counseled.
Mwanda who is also a blood relative and neighbor reconciled with Sakwa promising to put aside their differences and work for the welfare of the people of Uganda.
The students said they organized the party to appreciate Sakwa for his brilliance and intelligence which made him always put the interests of others ahead of personal ones.
The Desk Coordinator for Administrative Law Dona Asimwe Kaheru commended Sakwa who opted to study even during the difficult period instead of sinking in self-pity.
“…I urge civil servants and those in the NGO world to enroll for this course which takes only 34 weekends to sharpen your skills and thereby enhance the quality of service delivery…” she appealed.
This after the court presided over by the Jinja Chief Magistrate HW Jude Okumu Muwone acquitted Sakwa of the manslaughter, robbery and malicious damage counts slapped against him.
It should be recalled that Sakwa was plucked from the NBS FM studio where he was holding a talk show in an operation commanded by the then Kira RPC Paul Nkore,who was not in talking terms.
He was consequently on the same day produced in the court together with a one Simba Mohammed alias Meddie and jointly charged with murder (later reduced to manslaughter), robbery and malicious damage.
He was accused of torturing and leading to the death of Fred Isanga, a resident of Lwanda Village, along the Jinja-Kamuli road where he had reportedly gone to enforce SOPs against COVID-19 pandemic.
However, court sitting on Tuesday 11 October, 2022 in Jinja presided over by Jude Okumu Muwone said prosecution failed to adduce sufficient evidence to sustain the charges.
In his ruling, Okumu noted that even the 11 witnesses including two widows of the deceased gave contradictory statements and that none of them stated with certainty that Sakwa could have led to the death of Isanga.
