The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kabarole, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A section of residents from Harugongo sub county, Kabarole district have expressed concern over the alleged misconduct of the sub county security officer (GISO) Chris Mugisa Kalija.
Residents claim that the GISO who is entrusted with area security is a criminal currently being investigated in more than six cases among which theft, intimidation, and corruption whereas he’s also a convict of arson, according to records in 2010.
Lucky Ivan, one of the residents and a complainant against the conduct of Kalija, said he reported a case at police of intimidation, under CRB 411/2020, however, the case was frustrated yet the file was sanctioned by the state attorney’s office.
Andrew Zahura says he also reported a case at police under CRB 14/13/2020, of intimidation.
Moses Baguma, a resident of Busaiga A said he reported a case of theft of a domestic animal where Kalija was allegedly involved, but he was shocked in spite of overwhelming evidence against him to find out that Kalija was released after only 24 hours without any clear explanation.
Residents had also petitioned the district chairperson and equally the office of the Regional Internal Security Officer -RISO for Rwenzori, complaining over the miss conduct of the GISO.
In a sub county meeting that was held at Harugongo sub county in Kabarole district called by Regional Internal Security Officer Major Don Adiki, residents also accused Chris Mugisa Kalija of illegally possessing a gun, which they claim he inherited from his brother who was a GISO of Harugongo, who owned two guns.
They claim that upon his demise, only one gun was handed over to government whereas another whose operations are not known to anyone was hidden. Now, residents want government to compel Chris Mugisa Kalija to hand over the suspected gun and explain what he has been using it for and where.
However, during the same meeting, other locals accused the complainants who were largely from one Busaiga parish where Chris Kalija is born, of being jealous over his progress.
But others in support of Chris Kalija said he is very swift in his operations and the most suitable person for the position due to his rapid response during turbulent times.
In the interest of natural justice, Kalija was given an opportunity to respond to complaints against him.
He stated that whereas it is true he was convicted of arson in 2010 by the Fort Portal High Court, he served his sentence and he has not engaged in any crime since.
He said currently a section of individuals have since been compelled by court to pay him damages worth 5 million for attempting to damage his reputation by concocting lies against him to fail him to become a GISO with ill intentions to damage his reputation.
Chris Mugisa Kalija consequently denied all claims made against him, saying he doesn’t own any illegal gun and the only gun he had he gave it back to authorities.
He said the gun had been given to him to protect the Harugongo corridor from ADF rebels in 2013.
However, this did not go well with residents who tabled evidence to the RISO saying while Kalija claims to have been a home guard by 2013 according to his letter dated 13 April, 2013, when applying to be a GISO, his name is not on the list of home guards and details of the arm he claims to have returned are not captured anywhere.
They also say the sub county was not under any threat of rebels by 2013. Major Don Adiki, the convener of the meeting said his coming to Harugongo was in response to the petition and numerous complaints raised against the GISO’s misconduct.
“You are aware that I had suspended Kalija’s operations for more than a month and today I have come to resolve the matters,” the RISO stated. “This is an abnormal meeting as by the status of my duties, I am not supposed to be discussing a matter to do with a GISO, because I am the head of all GISOs in the region but since the complaints keep arising, I had to pick interest,” Major Don Adiki stated. “The issue to do with the gun we tried to investigate but we could not find the gun. But we shall continue to investigate the allegations because some of them are serious.”
It was from this background residents said there living in fear for their lives especially after questioning the behavior of the GISO, saying they were even scared to reach out for his help in case of any problem since they cannot trust his behavior.
They said they were also shocked that government is employing alleged criminals to be in charge of security without scrutinizing their moral history.
The regional internal security officer said he was lifting the suspension of the GISO to continue his operations in the sub county while thorough investigations will continue to expound the truth about the illegal gun.
The Kabarole Resident district commissioner Julian Ayesiga said she will follow up on all cases raised against Chris Kalija but implored him change his conduct if he is to continue serving in security.
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