The leader of opposition in parliament (LOP) Hon Mathias Mpuuga, has urged government to refrain from using the insecurity situation in Greater Masaka region for political gains the same way it used COVID-19 to settle political scores.
Mpuuga made the remarks in response to police summons issued by police on Friday, directing two opposition legislators to appear for questioning on account of their alleged knowledge of matters related to the ongoing killings in Greater Masaka.
Hon Mpuuga warned that investigations into the incidents of murders in Masaka should be void of politics the way government handled the COVID-19 threat to target political opponents.
“..given their political inclination, we 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..” Hon Mpuuga’s statement partly reads.
Mpuuga said “only rare professionalism” shall crack what looks like a resurgence of organised crime in which sections of state security apparatus were implicated.
“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.” Mpuuga said.
Yesterday, Police issued criminal summonses to Kawempe North MP Segirinya Muhamad and Makindye West MP Allan Sewanyana both belonging to the National Unity Platform (NUP) to record statements on matters related to the current wave of criminality in Greater Masaka, in which 29 people have so far lost lives.
Earlier, government through the ICT Minister Hon Chris Baryomunsi implied that the killings in Greater Masaka are motivated by politicians for their own gains. During a press conference held today, Byaryomunsi thanked the locals in Masaka for shunning the negative messages by the politicians. He also thanked the intelligence and all security apparatus on the ground for making sure there is sanity in the greater Masaka.
Mpuuga who is also the area representative for Nyendo Mukungwe in Masaka, says the situation in the region can only be described as desperate; because citizens desire protection from the current uncertainty. He says 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.
Mpuuga notes that Greater Masaka has suffered similar insecurity two years ago, and some of the individuals implicated were security operatives and therefore government security agencies especially in the region have to work hard to win back the confidence of the community given their immediate checkered past which included killings, illegal detentions and extortions.