Mengo hits out at Kiboko Squad

Buganda Kingdom yesterday condemned the new hooligan group dubbed the Kiboko Squad which has been beating up opposition demonstrators, saying the group may trigger electoral violence.

The kingdom premier (Katikkiro), Eng. John Baptist Walusimbi, said he was puzzled with developing ruffian social environment ahead of next year’s general elections.
He said the public and members of the civil society should investigate the Kiboko Squad and bring to book those behind the unacceptable operations.

“The violent Kiboko Squad that moves around tormenting demonstrators will not solve the problem. The government should solve this problem to avoid sparking of violence towards elections,” Eng. Walusimbi said while meeting members of Advocacy for Violence Free Elections at Mengo yesterday.

Who are they?
Kiboko Squad is a group of men in plain clothes who wield sticks and beat up the opposition and rioters. The remarks come days after this group besieged members of the National Alliance of Free and Fair Elections, the anti-electoral commission group, and caned them on Wednesday.

Last month, the same stick-wielding squad beat up the Inter-Party Cooperation supporters at Clock Tower and around Kampala. The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, has since distanced his Force from the ‘Kiboko Squad’. He said the police does not know the squad and a team has been set up to investigate their operations.

However, he said the use of sticks to disperse violent demonstrators is okay.
The Kingdom officials also denied links to any political party and pressure group ahead of the 2011 elections.