Residents, police disagree on Masaka attacks

What you need to know:

Mr Asan Kasingye, the Police spokesperson, who has since camped in the area to monitor the situation, said the force has since September last year arrested 89 suspects.
President Museveni recently vowed to end what he termed as rural and urban terrorism and ordered the Police to end the reckless attacks and killings in the sub-region.

Masaka. Security agencies and residents in greater Masaka sub-region are divided on the state of security in the area with the police saying the area is safe while the locals are restless and worried of more attacks.
Their fears stem from more anonymous leaflets being circulated in the villages and warning the residents that not even the presence of the police and the army will save them from more of

Six injured as assailants attack Masaka

The thugs attacked villages of Kyabakuza A, Kyabakuza B and Kyabakuza Trading centre leaving residents within and from neighbouring areas terrified

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The border area between Masaka and Bukomansimbi districts is worst hit by the violence.
“We have continuously received more of these letters warning us of attacks even when the police and army are deployed in the area,” said Mr Samuel Kalibala, the chairperson Kamenyamigo-Kalunvuka village.
Mr Kalibala survived one of the attacks but two of his colleagues were killed when the assailants attacked his village.

What residents say
Some of the residents claim the attackers walk in groups and use torches. Another resident who declined to be named says the assailants made a false alarm and when they responded, they were instead attacked.
Mr Latif Zaake, the greater Masaka regional police commander, says the Force is aware of the leaflets being dropped in the area.
He, however, said preliminary intelligence suggests that some of the residents are circulating the leaflets in order to have the security beefed up in the area. “The community should not panic. We are on top of the situation and we shall apprehend all these criminals,” Mr Zaake said.
He said what is happening in the area is crime being perpetrated by thugs using rudimentary methods to rob the community.

Initially, the attacks were tagged to suspected rebels and other subversive activities but the claim has since been dropped.
Mr Asan Kasingye, the Police spokesperson, who has since camped in the area to monitor the situation, said the force has since September last year arrested 89 suspects.
The police have put at six, the number of people who have been killed in the attacks although some local sources cite a higher number.
Those wounded are estimated to between 13 and 23 are being treated at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital.
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