Ibrahim Abiriga’s car bearing bullet holes from the scene where he was assassinated in Matugga

The Minister of State for Water, Ronald Kibuule, has said security officials are behind the recent assassinations of top government personalities stating that the Armed personnels are so close to the civilians which has resulted to misuse of Arms.

“Initially, there was fear of the gun. But because of the friendly nature of the forces, the gun is not feared now, which is an achievement as NRM. Our armed officers are very close to the population and that has come with the challenge of misuse of the weapon by killing Ugandans,” Kibuule said.

He continued to say that the assailants are trained and execute the killings with such perfection and professionalism that cannot be executed by a layman. Asked whether the reference ‘armed officers’ meant the security officials, Kibuule said “Yes, these are security officials and trained. When you look at the killings that have happened, they are done professionally. This is what I call misuse of arms by our comrades the armed officials. The killers have been smart, they have used boda bodas to run away. They cannot be just common wanainchi. Eyewitnesses said they shoot using one hand, nobody can do this unless they are experts.”

“These cannot be mere casual people. For example, the death of Ibrahim Abiriga, these could have been sharpshooters but had never got a chance to practice this at the battle ground,” he added.

Kibuule urged security agencies to investigate the killings to find out why people are dying in a similar way (shooting).

“We need the security apparatus to come top on these particular issues. People are continuing to die; they are putting our security in the country at stake,” Kibuule said.

Uganda has witnessed the killing of more than five big personalities in government and several others in the religious circles in less than 4 years.

The recent murder of Arua Municipality MP Late Hon. Ibrahim Abirirga was the last to be witnessed in the country and tends to be the base of Kibuule’s claims. It should be remembered that Abiriga was shot dead alongside his bodyguard by gunmen moving on motorcycles in Kawanda on Bombo Road.

After the assassination, some Members of Parliament (MPs) tasked the government to provide protection for fear they would be the next targets.

President Museveni. thereafter ordered the Ministry of Finance to procure bulletproof escort cars manned by sharpshooters as extra protection to the legislators.

The decision however, sparked a storm among the civil society, general public and some MPs, questioning its justification and cost implications.

So Opposition MPs said they would shun the escort vehicles, arguing that security for the general public is more critical than the individual protection.

However, Kibuule noted that its cheaper to protect an MP with an escort car and sharpshooter than bury and organize a bi-election.

“Ensuring Ugandan security is key but securing an individual’s security is key, especially for some figures. We are a representation of a bigger society that is why we are called MPs. We can be targeted for different reasons,”

“They need to be protected but the only problem is the money to procure the protection. We will spend much more money to give MPs state burials and later conduct by-elections than buy for them the pick-ups. We shall get softer solutions to this,” Kibuule lamented.

Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said he could not confirm the allegations of the minister until all the ongoing cases have been cordially investigated.

“I do not want to be taken like I am answering him but we need to get to the bottom of the investigations before we draw any conclusions. Yes, there can be some cases of misbehavior, negligence and careless mistakes but since no one has been convicted, I cannot confirm anything,” Emilian said.

Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) deputy spokesperson Deo Akiki declined to comment on the issue because of its sensitivity and referred the Matter to his boss, Brig Richard Karemire.

“It is a minister making a statement here, I would not want to answer him because the issue is sensitive. You can talk to my boss for a comment or the Minister of Internal Affairs,” he said.

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• I disliked Abiriga, but I cry tears for him – Nambooze

The post Kibuule pins recent Uganda assassinations to security officials first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Soldier carry the remains of their lost Comredes. Ugandan officials have said only four soldiers were killed in the attack when Al-Shabaab Islamist extremists attacked their base on Sunday. Internet Photo

Alshabab attacked and killed at least four Ugandan soldiers at the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) base in Somalia on Sunday.

The attack happened on April 1st 2018 at Quoryole, Bulomareer and Golwein in Lower Shabelle region in Somalia.

Since the attack, the media has been awash with different statistics with some reports suggesting that 8 soldiers died whereas others have up to a tune of sixty soldiers.

The Shadow Minister of Defense who is also the Member of Parliament Kilak  County North Gilbert Olanya raised the matter before parliament noting  that their investigations indicate  that 10 UPDF soldiers have died and 14 are injured.

The army spokesperson Brig .Richard Karemire told the media that four Ugandan soldiers had died, and only six were injured, while UPDF managed to kill 22 Alshabab Militants, although international media agencies reported higher figures of 46 and 59 as the number of dead UPDF soldiers.

On Tuesday, President Museveni revealed that actually 8 soldiers had been killed, and that UPDF managed to kill 36 alshabab terrorists.

MP Gilbert Oulanyah  said that  the death of these soldiers is raising speculations over the motive in the secrecy of this information.

Oulanya wanted to read out the names of the deceased who he thinks their number is slightly higher from that quoted by government and those considered injured but he was stopped by the deputy speaker Jacob Oulanyah.

He asked for Government to give the names and details of the dead and injured without concealing anything,

He also asked government to explain the plans it has of bringing the Ugandans soldiers back home since it was considered last year to withdraw them from Somalia.

While responding to the matter raised by mp  Olanya ,the minister of Defense Adolf Mwesige told parliament that  130 Alshabab militants were killed by AMISOM forces on the day of the attack, while only 8 UPDF soldiers died.

He committed himself to give a comprehensive statement over this matter on Thursday 5^th April 2018 before parliament. Mwesige explained that four soldiers had died on the spot, while four died later from the injured six. He also said the UPDF will stay in Somalia as it has been agreed upon in the United Nations.

The post Parliament demands for actual number of UPDF death in Somalia attack first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.