CORRECTS - Ugandan officers held over 'assassination plot'

CORRECTS NAME OF ARMY OFFICER IN SIXTH PARAGRAPH

By Halima Athumani

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Thirty officers from Uganda’s military were arrested Sunday over purported involvement in subversive activities, including an alleged assassination attempt on the country’s president.

Fred Enanga, a Ugandan police spokesman, confirmed the arrests to Anadolu Agency saying there were attempts by some officers to carry out an assassination attempt on President Yoweri Museveni:

“These people have been involved in a plan to carry out subversive, rebel activities to overthrow the government.

“Some of the arrested are in police custody while others are with the military but we expect to arrest more people in the course of the coming week.”

According to Enanga, the security forces are carrying out an ongoing operation “after getting intelligence that some of these people were planning to carry out assassinations of key government officials”.

The arrested include Col. Dan Opito Odwee, a commander in Uganda’s air force. Opposition legislator Kabaziguruka Michael Andrew -- cousin to opposition leader Kiiza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change -- was among those held.

Enanga commented on Kabaziguruka’s arrest, saying: “The circumstances under which the legislator and others were arrested are very sensitive.

“We can only confirm to you that the suspects are helping us with investigations into some very serious offences that involve other suspects as well.”

Besigye was charged with treason on May 18 after a video of him ‘swearing in’ as president of Uganda went viral.

Besigye insists he won the Feb. 18 elections. However, Museveni -- who has been in power for 30 years -- had his win upheld by the Supreme Court and was later sworn in as president on May 12.