Kiruhura District LCV Vice Chairman, Atuhairwe Adson who was last month arrested over rape allegations says his arrest was politically motivated.

Atuhairwe, 30, a resident of Kashongi in Kiruhura district is also a Councillor representing Kitura Sub County in Kiruhura district, was last month arrested on allegations of having raped a Bishop Stuart University student,. Reports indicated that Atuhairwe on September 8th, 2023, exchanged contacts with the victim while they were in Kakoba Ward in Mbarara City.

He (Atuhairwe) later after a week rang the victim who was in her hostel in Kyapatoni Cell in Kakoba offering to take her out to buy drinks, groceries, the student agreed and while on their way back from shopping, Atuheirwe is said to have deviated from the expected route, took another route and raped the student in a car they were travelling in, Toyota Premo Reg. Number UAT 238Q. The victim reported this matter to authorities who took action and arrested Atuhairwe and was later released after spending 3 days in  custody at Mbarara Central Police Station.

In a statement he released on October, 9th, Atuhairwe confirmed that his arrest was aimed at tarnishing his name after declaring his interests in Kashongi County parliamentary seat in 2026. He noted that people he knows well and their motives (he didn't provide names and details of those people) had a meeting in Mbarara and planned his arrest so as to tarnish his name. 

He confirmed that he has never met the said raped victim a reason he gave that his arrest was planned. Asked if he wrote a letter to Kiruhura District LCV Chairman Dan Mukago on stepping aside to allow investigations as how the chairman had claimed, Atuhairwe confirmed that he has never written any letter to Chairman Mukago on stepping aside for investigations. He said some people whose motives were to tarnish his name could be behind Mukago in writing a letter since Mukago didn't consult him as his Vice.

Atuhairwe confirmed he will be seeking to represent people of Kashongi County in Kiruhura district in the 12th  Parliament.