Step up border security, rights body urges government

Strange killings. The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHCR) attributes some of the mysterious deaths in the central region to laxity at the Uganda-Tanzania border points, allows criminals to roam freely.

The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHCR) yesterday urged the government to step up security at the Uganda-Tanzania border points in the wake of the mysterious murders in the central region.

Mr Medi Kaggwa, the UHCR Chairperson, told a press conference in Kampala that the fact that many murders have been reported at the border districts of Masaka and Rakai, security at all entry points into the country must be tightened for vigilance and observance in the areas.

“We strongly urge the government to strengthen security at its border points in order to stop illegal immigrants who may include criminals,” Mr Kaggwa said. He added that where as there was a lot of laxity on the side of Uganda’s immigration police, the Tanzanians, on the other hand, are too cautious of any visitor to their country.

Reports of such horrific murders have since last year been recorded by police in Luweero, Wakiso, Rakai and Masaka districts.

The killings have sparked rumours of a rebel group in the region, while others claim that the attackers suck victims’ blood with the purpose of selling it in foreign countries.

Many people have always fallen victim, while others have also reportedly fled their homes in Kikandwa and Busunju in Mityana District.

Call for wider probe
Mr Kaggwa also called for comprehensive investigations into the murders by law enforcers to apprehend the perpetrators and come up with a strategy to stem the incidents.

Steven Bassaliza, also commissioner in UHRC also noted that, well as information available on the murders point to mostly land disputes, there were a lot of incidents that the police must explain to the public for security assurance.

However, James Baba, the state minister for Internal Affairs said the rights body’s claims on the murders was simply misleading.
“All murder suspects have been apprehended by police, so those claims are baseless,” Mr Baba told this newspaper yesterday.

Citing the findings by the police, Mr Baba said all motives of the previous murders revolved around land disputes, business altercations, crimes of passion and village quarrels. He dismissed claims of the murders being perpetrated by the laxity by the border security controls.

musisif@ug.nationmedia.com