Panic grips Opposition chiefs over death threats

A number of Opposition leaders have been thrown into panic over threats posted on social media that they could face assassination.
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has, through his personal assistant Elvis Kintu, already written to the Inspector General of Police seeking protection in light of the threats.

“As the country continues to witness assassinations, we have received assassination threats via social media, particularly Facebook, to the personality of the Lord Mayor, Lukwago Erias, as evinced in the attachment,” the letter signed by Mr Kintu, reads in part.

He adds: “The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to entreat your office to accordingly scrutinise and investigate the contentions therein; and most importantly boost the Lord Mayor’s Security with immediate effect….,”.

When contacted on the matter, Mr Lukwago told Sunday Monitor: “I want the police to investigate the matter. They set a precedent in the case of (Mukono Municipality MP Betty) Nambooze that once a matter like that appears on social media, it is to be taken seriously and could constitute an offense.”

Mr Lukwago was referring to the fallout between the State and Ms Nambooze over Facebook posts she made after the killing of former Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga, which caused her to be arrested and detained even when she fell ill.
Internal Affairs State Minister Obiga Mario Kania told Sunday Monitor that the government has not failed in its mandate of ensuring security for all Ugandans.

Mr Lukwago said, however, said he had not received a response from the police on the matter by Saturday morning. The letter by his assistant was sent to the police boss on Wednesday. We were unable to speak to the police spokespersons for this article because their known phone numbers were either switched of or went unanswered.

Another Opposition leader whose security has raised concern in their circles is Dr Kizza Besigye, but we were unable to reach him for a comment.
Contacted to comment on the matter, FDC secretary general Nandala Mafabi said: “The threat is there; we have seen it. We don’t know whether it is credible or not. It is God who protects us.”

He said what needs to be done is to provide general security in the country, saying if certain individuals have to be protected from being killed, then a decision should be taken to provide security for everyone. He specifically singled out girls who are in fear of being kidnapped.

We put it to Mr Mafabi whether he thinks leaders like Dr Kizza Besigye could be in more danger of being attacked, for which reason security should be provided for them.
Mr Mafabi answered: “Dr Besigye and many of us are protected by God.”

What they say about the threats...

Erias Lukwago, Kampala Lord Mayor. Titus Seruga is a known security operative, who on many occasions, has been said to leak army secrets. He says assassins have crossed into the country aiming to harm Opposition leaders. We take this seriously and I would like to hear from police and general security apparatus on the matter.

Obiga Mario Kania, Internal Affairs State Minister. Security is personal and someone has to raise a matter when they feel there is a problem. Opposition people are Ugandans and government is concerned with the security of every Ugandan irrespective of their political affiliation.

Nandala Mafabi, FDC secretary general. The threat is there; we have seen it. We don’t know whether it is credible or not. It is God who protects us. When I was Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, I was provided with guards but I would usually abandon them and walk freely in town, and I had no guards at his home.

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