Masaka murders: Buganda MPs want former security personnel profiled

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Members of Buganda Parliamentary Caucus have resolved to pitch camp in Masaka city on Friday this week to assess the security situation following the persistent cases of murder in the greater Masaka region.

The legislators resolved this in their caucus meeting held on Wednesday morning at parliament chaired by their chairperson and Butambala County Member of parliament Muwanga Kivumbi.

He told journalists that during their visit, they will interact with various people to gather the necessary information on the murders.

The decision comes amidst escalating insecurity in Masaka region, which has seen unknown machete-wielding thugs hacking 26 people to death over the past few weeks. Greater Masaka comprises Bukomansibi, Lwengo and Masaka districts.

In his report to parliament on Tuesday, the Internal Affairs Minister Gen David Muhoozi said there is heightened security in the region, which has led to the arrest of 11 suspects in connection to the attacks.

Now, Kivumbi wants security to profile all former security personnel, including Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel, crime preventers and Ugandans who served overseas as private security guards to rule out their involvement in the murders.

Joyce Bagala, the Mityana District Woman MP and several other legislators expressed concern about how the government is handling the situation.

They noted that it is unfortunate that the government is blaming politicians for the murders instead of resolving the matter.

While addressing journalists at the government-owned media center on Tuesday, Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi claimed that some politicians have a hand in the insecurity in Masaka.

The team says that they will come up with a report on their findings next week.

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