Security was on Saturday morning beefed up at Entebbe International Airport as Ugandans waited for the deportation of toxic blogger Fred Kajubi Lumbuye from Turkey.
Lumbuye and an unspecified number of other Turkey-based Ugandans were expected in the wee hours of Saturday morning, following confirmation by Foreign Affairs State Minister Okello Oryem that they were extradited by the Turkish Government.
In Uganda, the group which has been viciously critical of the current government, is expected to face charges relating to social media abuse and inciting the masses.
However, NUP lawyers and journalists who camped at Entebbe Airport through the night were disappointed as they weren’t allowed inside.
The lawyers led by Kyadondo East MP, Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi, who is also the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs in Parliament said by dawn, he was still unable to confirm if Lumbuye arrived in the country.
“We have so far not successfully traced any arrival at Entebbe in his names. This is a bit suggestive that Lumbuye may still be in Turkey or in transit,” he said.
Muwada said late in the night he arrived at the airport but was blocked by security from entering despite introducing himself as an MP.
From outside, he said he counted three flight arrivals including Emirates, Ethiopian and Turkish Airlines.
Government officials by Saturday midmorning were still tight-lipped on the whereabouts of Lumbuye and his group.
“There is still no confirmation yet on the arrival; I am still awaiting official communication from our Embassy,” Martha Okumu from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told ChimpReports.
On his part, Charles Twiine the Police CID Spokesperson called for patience on the matter while speaking to CBS Fm.
Yesterday, Minister Okello Oryem told reporters that the Government of Turkey had arrested and agreed to hand over suspects to Ugandan security operatives and that they were at the time en-route to Uganda.
However, NUP’s Hon Francis Zaake who earlier in the week traveled to Turkey to secure the release of their party members, claimed yesterday after the minister’s speech that no agreement had been reached yet between the two governments.
“The reality on the ground is that joint efforts between our diaspora comrades and international human rights lawyers are underway to block the extradition treaty that the Dictator and his accomplices are advocating for,” Zaake claimed.
Do you have a story or an opinion to share? Email us on: [email protected] Or join the Daily Express WhatsApp channel for all the latest news and trends or join the Telegram Channel for the latest updates.
