Family of abducted Masaka businessman seeks government intervention

The family of Mr Abdul Hamidu Lugemwa, 40, who was abducted by unknown people on Friday last week, has cried to government for help in seeking his whereabouts.

Mr Lugemwa, a resident of Kyabakuza, Kimaanya-Kyabakuza division in Masaka Municipality was abducted on Friday evening on his way from the mosque. He owns a maize milling factory in Kyabakuza.

Ms Mariam Nazziwa, a wife to the abductee on Monday said: “It is unfortunate that my children have not reported back to school because my husband was taken before paying school fees. Am in great fear that he might have been killed.”

She called upon the government and security agencies to intervene in her husband’s abduction because she is not aware of any offense he committed.

Ms Saidat Nassanga, a worker at Lugemwa’s factory said he was abducted by gun-wielding men in casual clothes.

“There is a vehicle that used to come at the factory every evening, and I heard my boss saying that there are people following him on his way back home but he never took it serious since he had no grudges with people . On the fateful day, the same vehicle came and parked in its usual place,” Ms Nassanga said.

Ms Joweria Nassaka, the mother to Lugemwa said she cannot sustain the family of about 15 people because it’s her son who was taking care of them.

She said all his son’s wives and children moved to her home after their husband and father respectively, was kidnapped.

The Southern regional Police spokesperson Lameck Kigozi said that Lugemwa was arrested by Internal Security Officers, but he declined to give reasons for his arrest.

“I also learnt about his arrest after journalists inquiring from me and I took an initiative to ask, and according to our colleagues in ISO, they arrested him to answer some questions,” he said.