The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Leader of Opposition-LOP, Mathias Mpuuga has cautioned the government against exploiting the current wave of insecurity in greater Masaka to settle political scores.
In a brief statement from his office issued this morning, Mpuuga, says there is a need for Government security agencies, especially in Greater Masaka to work hard to win back the confidence of the community given their immediate checkered past, which included killings, illegal detentions and extortions.
“The region suffered similar insecurity two years ago, and some of the individuals implicated were security operatives,” reads the statement. Adding that” We, therefore, caution that investigations into the current wave of insecurity be handled professionally to avoid exploiting it to settle political scores, just like the regime weaponised Covid-19 to brutalise its legitimate opponents.
On the criminal summonses issued by Commissioner of Police, Paul Kato Tumuhimbise against the Makindye West, Allan Ssewanyana and his Kawempe North Constituency counterpart, Muhammad Ssegirinya to appear on Monday for interviews over the Masaka killings, Mpuuga said they expect professionalism, due process and justice.
“Any attempt to use shortcuts to resolve a bigger problem may not serve the ends of justice to the victims and the accused. Only rare professionalism shall crack what looks like a resurgence of organised crime in which sections of state security apparatus were implicated,” he said.
He described the current situation in the region as desperate, saying citizens desire protection from the current uncertainty. “It is not Government space to act in desperation, but rather act with the desired caution in securing the community while avoiding approaches that tend to create suspicion.”
More than 20 people have been killed by machete-wielding thugs in a space of less than two months in districts in the Greater Masaka region. The attackers seemingly target elderly people living alone. The assailants issue prior warning to their victims before they strike later in the night.
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