By Moris Mumbere
E-society
Why kill and call them
rebels yet you trained them Kasese political leaders ask Kayihura.
By Moris Mumbere
KASESE: "A
team of 11 soldiers came in 2012 they were putting on black
uniform sent by the IGP after a request i made to the inspector
general of police to train the royal guards for me am wandering why they are
called rebels" Omusinga said in an interview.
The Rwenzururu king
has added his voice following the killings in Kasese district were political
leaders both elect and losers have gathered to combine effort on how they can
build peace in the region following incidents that have continued to occur
where over fifteen people have been killed by police officers in the district.
“am wondering why the
IGP does not take concern of his people killing those that he trained, imagine
he trained over 86 royal guards at the site where the royal palace is to be
constructed and his the same person who made a statement during the July 5th
attack on TV asking who trained them how first has he forgotten” elected member
of parliament Jackson Mbaju Katika said.
In a dialogue workshop
under the theme “United we stand together, divided we fall together” held at
catholic bishops hall where several analysts, Kasese catholic Bishop, Kasese
protestant bishop, inter-religious council committee sheiks, KRC, both NRM and
FDC local councilors, chairperson three and five, members of parliament both
winners and losers had gathered for a common cause asking on the a way to make
a better Kasese of peace, unity, without bloodshed.
As an analyst and a
member of parliament elected Mbaju asked whether matters of peace discussed
with the inspector general of police with stake holders are considered or he
just comes in Kasese to make accountability before the president.
“after coronation a
term of officers from kampala come to Kasese sent by the IGP to train the royal
guards, the term was assisted by royal police officers whom the president gave
to the king but among those trained one Yofesi Maate Mugoye is killed now
what’s this” relatives said.
Mbaju remembered the
meeting they held with the IGP and the Rwenzururu king at Margarita hotel where
the king asked the IGP to always communicate to the king in case there’s any of
the royal guards suspected to be destabilizing peace in the region so that he
is handed over peacefully without putting his life to death but police has
resisted and continued killing without clear reasons why royal guards are
killed.
Mbaju further
identified personal benefits which is killing our district where by the few
people who the inspector general meet are the people who can’t reveal any
statement to the people affected.
“When the IGP comes in
the district he meets the elected Kasese municipal mayor, the chairperson five
Mr. sibendire Bigogo they share what he had at pocket but fail to reach at
those affected individually to hear their views but later to hear on radios
that the IGP was here and said this and this without getting the view of the
people affected”. Mbaju observed.
In Kasese since
election over 13 people have been killed by police including one police officer
where five of the killed are royal guards and others arrested whom eye witness
see and police has not revealed the cause of arrest.
Among those who died
are Nason Bwambale he survived with two wives and five children. Jockus
Musalira, he survived by one wife and three children. James Wayakwa he
survived with three children and one a wife. Saleri Kake he survived by one
widow and nine children. Uziah Mumbere Nyamingyi survived by three wives
and 21 children, He was killed during night attack on a joint patrol of UPDF
and Police in Hima town council. Geoffrey Kasimba a police man who was killed
at Kidodo police post he survived by one wife and six children, Muhindo Donat
he survived by one wife and one child, Kule Muzamiru a thirteen year old boy
who was shot three times by soldiers at the tally Centre on 19th during the
delay to declare the winners in the recent parliamentary and presidential
candidates
Yesterday March 31,
2016 Yofesi Maate Mugoye a royal guard and a quarter master in the Buhukira
Royal Palace was killed broad day light as he had been sent to buy food and was
allegedly targeted by a flying squad who were travelling in a Subaru car
Registration number UAW 090F at at Sauliyako market after a quarrel with
them.
Mbaju said all these
are born Ugandan, blood of African but why continue without finding possible
way of addressing this,
In a press briefing
today at police headquarters in Kampala the IGP defended
police action of killing the Obusinga Bwarwenzururu royal guard yesterday describing it as an act of self
defense.
Kayihura says that late Yofesi Mugoye could have not been killed should he have humbled himself before the
police flying squad that conducted arrest
on him outside Sauriyako market in Kasese town.
The Inspector General of police, who was addressing press at the police
headquarters in Naguru-Kampala this afternoon, explained that the flying
squad was working on information that the victim was part of assailants
who attacked Kidodo police station and killed one policeofficer and took off
with police gun which is up to now still missing.
In trying to execute the arrest against him by the flying squad, Kayihura
says Mugoye reacted negatively and attempted to grab a gun from the flying
squad, a situation he said led to the shooting at him before he died.
However the Obusinga Bwarwenzururu King His Majesty Charles Wesley Mumbere
has a different version of the story, insisting that thecontinuous targeting of
his royal guards has a hidden agenda.
Omusinga Mumbere blames the state for using police to intimidate and kill
his subjects whom he say are innocent of whatever is going onwith the unrest in
the Rwenzori region especially Kasese district.
Mumbere adds that the option police has taken of killing civilians openly
will not help to calm the situation in the region but rather may further
escalate the situation.
Mbaju further
condemned most religious leaders who used to tell Christians to vote certain
persons saying there our church member which started division in most churches
during campaign forgetting that some church members are relative to same
candidates.
He however advised
those behind this killing game to stop because if ever one is to revenge in
that order then relatives will react negatively.
The elected
chairperson five Geoffrey Sibendire Bigogo observed that there’s a game played
by political leaders who are in power how comes the violence in Hima reach to
Buhuhira killing three yet no connection of the election in these two sub
counties, and there after police connects the killings to the kingdom? Was the
king connected to who the citizens should vote, how comes royal guard are being
affected in such condition. Why haven’t the incumbent chairpersons LC5 for the
district, Rt.Lt. Col. Mawa Muhindo and the losing Members of parliament make a
public address to the people?
“There’s a driving
power behind these killings and royal guard arrests which the incumbent leaders
don’t want to address” Bigogo said.
The bishop of South
Rwenzori diocese, the rt.rev. Jackson Thembo Nzerebende condemned the act done
by police of kidnapping royal guards in form of arresting which has caused more
threats to people of Kasese.
“How do you came to me
not in uniform, no identification and a warrant of arrest so that i can know
that am in safe hands since the person is attached to police in steady of
kidnapping me especially while in town” bishop said.
He advised police to
find ways of arresting people because it might be done in open and leaves
others especially in markets to fight back.
The catholic bishop
Francis Acqurinous Kibira urged politicians to find possible ways of solving
issues rather than attacking government which might not be a solution to same
issues.
The Muslim sheikh
Nasib Musenene in his presentation of political, social and economic behavior
urged government to know the solidarity of bakonzo who are always determined
when the decede on what they want until they achieve it no matter the poor
situation that government may push them which he used to request the Bakonzo to
use in order to promote peace in the district.
Tear gas is never a
solution to some issues in the country but instability in the district.
The FDC chairperson
Saul Maate once in a press conference said, the term of those in leadership of
the district will be ending after the new elected people swear in but all this
that is happening in Kasese noon of them have reacted.
Utilities:
Who trained them?
According to some
kingdom official who asked to be unanimous revealed that after coronation the
IGP sent a group of officer to train royal guards and after training the kindom
official received a certificate of pass out of 86 members to assist on security
in the kingdom.
End.
