Security officials behind assassinations - minister

State minister for Water Ronald Kibuule

Kampala- The Minister of State for Water, Mr Ronald Kibuule, has said security officials are behind the recent assassinations of top government personalities.

“Initially, there was fear of the gun...But because of the friendly nature of the forces, the gun is not feared now, which is an achievement as NRM. Our armed officers are very close to the population and that has come with the challenge of misuse of the weapon by killing Ugandans,” Mr Kibuule said in an interview with Daily Monitor yesterday.

He said the assailants are trained and execute the killings with such perfection that cannot be done by a layman.

Asked whether the reference ‘armed officers’ meant the security officials, Mr Kibuule said: “Yes, these are security officials and trained. When you look at the killings that have happened, they are done professionally. This is what I call misuse of arms by our comrades-- the armed officials. The killers have been smart, they have used boda bodas to run away. They cannot be just common wananchi. Eyewitnesses said they shoot using one hand, nobody can do this unless they are experts,” Mr Kibuule said.

“These cannot be mere casual people. For example, the death of [Ibrahim] Abiriga, these could have been sharpshooters but had never got a chance to practise this at the battle ground,” he added.

Mr Kibuule said security agencies should investigate the killings to find out why people are dying in the same way.

“We need the security apparatus to come top on these particular issues. People are continuing to die; they are putting our security in the country at stake,” Mr Kibuule said.

The country has mourned more than five big personalities in government and several others in the religious circles in less than three years.

The recent murder of Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abirirga tends to give credence to Mr Kibuule’s claims.

He was shot dead together with his bodyguard by gunmen moving on motorcycles in Kawanda on Bombo Road.
After the assassination, some MPs asked government for protection for fear they would be the next targets.

President Museveni ordered the Ministry of Finance to procure bulletproof escort cars manned by sharpshooters as extra protection to the legislators.

The decision has, however, sparked a storm among the civil society, general public and some MPs, questioning its the justification and cost implications.

Last week, the Opposition MPs said they would shun the escort vehicles, arguing that security for the general public is more critical than the individual protection.

However, Mr Kibuule said it is more expensive to bury an MP and carry out a by-election than protect him or her with an escort car and sharpshooter.

“Ensuring Ugandan security is key but securing an individual’s security is key, especially for some figures. We are a representation of a bigger society that is why we are called MPs. We can be targeted for different reasons.”

On pick-ups
“They need to be protected but the only problem is the money to procure the protection. We will spend much more money to give MPs state burials and later conduct by-elections than buy for them the pick-ups. We shall get softer solutions to this,” Mr Kibuule said.

Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said he could not confirm the allegations of the minister until all the ongoing cases have been investigated. “I do not want to be taken like I am answering him but we need to get to the bottom of the investigations before we draw any conclusions. Yes, there can be some cases of misbehaviour, negligence and careless mistakes but since no one has been convicted, I cannot confirm anything,” Mr Kayima said.

Uganda People’s Defence Forces deputy spokesperson Deo Akiki declined to comment on the issue because of its sensitivity and referred us to his boss, Brig Richard Karemire.

“It is a minister making a statement here, I would not want to answer him because the issue is sensitive. You can talk to my boss for a comment or the Minister of Internal Affairs,” he said.

We could not access Brig Karemire as his cellular phone was not available when we called.