The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Bukomansimbi, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The family of the slain police officer Denis Lumala Ssebugwawo of Kisojo village in Bukomansimbi district has accused the government of not fulfilling the pledge of compensation.
Ssebugwawo who before his retirement in 2016, served as Rwizi Regional Police Crime Intelligence Officer was brutally killed alongside his 12-year-old granddaughter Nancy Navumbya when assailants attacked their home on New Year’s Eve in 2018.
On the same night, the machete-wielding assailants also murdered five more people who included Jane Nantale, John Sseremba, John Kawalya and Gonzaga Kayemba who were also residents in the neighbouring Kyamabaale village, in Kibinge sub county.
However, four years later, relatives of the deceased are yet to receive any government support and compensation which was promised by President Museveni when he visited the area.
The President pledged that the government was to cater for the education of Ssebugwawo’s eight orphans, reconstruct the slain officer’s house as well as support the widow to start an income-generating project to enable sustain the remaining family.
All the pledges according to the family members have remained unfulfilled despite the assurance they were given and follow-ups they have made to the different government offices.
Violet Nabankema, a sister to the deceased, who was also among the dependents says the President promised to support the widow to establish a poultry farm in addition to three dairy cows, but none of these promises has been fulfilled. She adds that the family is now struggling to survive.
She says they tried their efforts to help Ssebugwawo’s widow secure the support without success, and were surprised to see the president compensating families that lost relatives to the recent similar murder incidents that occurred in Masaka and Lwengo districts.
Last week, President Museveni met 25 representatives from families whose relatives were killed in the recent Masaka murders. He handed to each of them shillings 20 million as compensation for the deaths.
But Moses Nkalubo, a brother to the Ssebugwawo says that they are disappointed with the government for failure to meet the promises yet the deceased diligently served the country.
He says the government has abused the trust the family had vested in it. Nkalubo indicates they had expected the government to be honest to the late Ssebugwawo by helping to preserve his legacy by at least sponsoring the education of two of his children.
Milly Babalanda, the Minister for Presidency declined to comment on the matter when contacted.
But Joseph Ssewava Mukasa, a Communications Assistant in the Office of NRM chairperson advises the family to make a formal reminder to the President.
Ssewava says that the matter was initially being handled by the former Inspector General of Police, General Edward Kale Kaihura who left office before the pledges were met.
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