By Sandra Birungi

Bubulo West MP, Tonny Nsubuga Kipoi is facing new charges involving kidnapping a South African couple which had been earlier on arrested as accomplices to the MP for suspected drug trafficking and treason.

Kipoi, who is currently at Luzira prison on treason charges is now being charged with kidnapping the couple, Dedre Marx and her husband Willie Nel. The couple, which was deported on Saturday claimed that they had come to the country as tourists after being invited by Mr. Kipoi but upon arrival, they were held captive, together with Dedre’s brother whom she identified as Alex.

“We chose to come and visit Uganda because one of my elder brothers worked in Uganda some time back. e talked about the country,” Marx said. They said they arrived in the country on December 12th 2012 and were taken to Kipoi’s apartment at Royal Palms. Later on, Kipoi allegedly told Marx to deliver some parcels on his behalf in Sao Paulo, Brazil but they refused. After they refused, he held them captive.

“I will never forgive Kipoi for what he did to us. He would leave the house at 5:00am and come back at 2:00am in the morning,” Marx said just before they were deported. Marx alleged that the police asked for approximately sh24m (80, 000 South African Rand) after her brother was arrested so that he does not get charged with criminal charges. “Alex called my father and asked for the money. When my father demanded to speak to me to prove whether i was alive, i told him that i had not committed any offense,” Marx explained adding, “We recorded statements with the police. The Inspector General of Police asked to speak to us and has since been taking care of us.”

Beata Chelimo, the commissioner of the Special Investigations Unit said they were interested in the couple’s role in Kipoi’s activities adding that they were arrested when they were chasing Kipoi. Asked how they knew Kipoi, the couple said they were introduced to each other by a colleague whom they identified as Micheal.

Kipoi was arrested in Fort Portal, Kabarole district last year while allegedly meeting with Ugandan security officers and Congolese rebels.