Col .Kulayigye suspended over gold scandal

The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces--UPDF--has suspended one of its senior officers, Colonel  Felix Kulayigye over his alleged involvement in a gold scandal.

The UPDF spokesman Paddy Ankunda says Kulayigye has been suspended from the office of Chief Political Commissar.

Ankunda tweeted Wednesday evening that he had received many calls about the fate of  Colonel Kulayigye adding that he has been suspended pending further inquiries about his conduct in the issue of gold business.

Ankunda however notes that the suspension will only affect his office as chief political commissar and not as representative of the UPDF in parliament.

"However, Colonel Kulayigye remains in parliament as a UPDF representative despite the suspension" Ankuda stated.

Kulayigye, himself a former army spokesperson, is one of the 10 officers representing UPDF in the 10th Parliament.

Ankunda states that Kulayigye's suspension will hold until matters related to his involvement are fully investigated.

In June this year, Col Kulayigye's name came onto the spotlight when he allegedly kidnapped employees of Matrich Holdings Limited, a private company and ransacked its premises after a gold transaction went bad.

Matrich Holdings Limited deals in minerals. Richard Kamugisha, the managing director of the company accused Kulayigye of kidnapping company staff and looting its property.

-URN