Police say al-Shabaab targeting the opposition

The police have warned leaders of opposition political parties of what they say are specific threats by the Somalia-based al-Shabaab terrorists to assassinate them.
But the leaders, who held a closed meeting in Kampala yesterday, want the Police to shed more light on the warning, which some of them are treating with suspicion.

Daily Monitor heard from several opposition politicians that this could be part of a government ploy to wage a war of fear against them in a bid to limit their exercise of the right to freedom of association and assembly, especially in respect to the walk-to-work protests against the high cost of living.

A letter communicating the “threat of terrorism against political leaders” sent out on Tuesday, indicates that the police have received believable reports that the terrorists are already in the country and are preparing to strike.

“We have received highly credible information that al-Shabaab terrorists have infiltrated the country with plans to assassinate prominent political leaders, especially leaders of the opposition,” reads the letter which was signed by the police boss, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura.

The police, however, assured the opposition leaders that a manhunt for the terrorists has intensified. They also advised the leaders to be vigilant and to increase security measures around themselves.

“In the meantime, we strongly advise that you take extra precaution for your personal security at home, at work/social and business engagement.”

Maj. Gen. Kayihura further said in the event that the opposition politicians cannot afford extra security measures, the Force was ready and willing to provide police security to man their homes, offices and for escort purposes.

“We put at your disposal police protection and request that you assign a person from your office as liaison with the police.” Uganda Peoples Congress party president Olara Otunnu yesterday confirmed to this newspaper having received the letter from police. But, he said, the opposition had met yesterday morning at Uganda House to hammer out a response.

At this meeting, it was agreed that a conference be convened between themselves and Maj. Gen. Kayihura so that more information could be revealed before they can come out with a common position.

“We are concerned about terror and the terror that we have been having was from Museveni and Kayihura. We cannot discuss al-Shabaab when we have terror here,” Mr Otunnu said.
“In a normal democracy, a matter like this, is to be taken seriously but in the case of Uganda, people rise not only to political questions and as we know that Kayihura has been acting as Museveni’s tool of oppression but not an independent police officer,” he said.
Democratic Party leader Norbert Mao said he too had received the letter but dismissed it as baseless.

“They wrote to all of us and the letter bears similar content and it is ridiculous.”
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba confirmed the communication to Daily Monitor.
“It is true we wrote to them, the terror threats are real and shouldn’t be politicised,” she said.

FDC’s view
FDC spokesperson Wafula Oguttu said the party will not dismiss the police claim but remain suspicious that it could be State-engineered in order to hurt the opposition.
“As a party, we are going to improve the security of our party leaders but we don’t believe al-Shabaab can target us. We have done nothing,” he told the press yesterday.