By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Soroti City West member of parliament, Hon. Jonathan Ebwalu has queried gaps in security regarding the cause of bomb scares at a time when the country is in political turmoil.
“Sometimes I also get a little bit uncomfortable. Whenever politics heats up in the country, is when the government comes up with issues of the bombs being planted everywhere,” said Hon. Ebwalu
Ebwalu was however forced to withdraw his statement by Speaker Among before the Kira Municipality MP, Ssemujju Nganda intercepted and raised a procedural matter stating that the Speaker cannot stop a member from raising his/her matter.
According to Hon. Ssemujju, it was unfair for the speaker to ask a member of the house to withdraw his statement yet it is on record that the NRA bush war generals have published books in which they boast abd confess of how they threw bombs during the gorilla war of 1980-1986.
Last week, on Sunday police arrested a suicide bomber with suspected bomb explosive at Pr. Robert Kayanja church in Rubaga Kampala. Police says at least six handmade bombs were detonated last week.
“…over the weekend, our security agents foiled a suspected terror attack at Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral in Kampala; the security agencies reportedly recovered some bomb making devices in other localities,” speaker Among said hailing police for quicker response.
“I commend security for their swift response and urge the general public to always remain vigilant and always collaborate with security,” she added.
MP Henry Kibalya (NRM, Bugabula County South) said the focus is almost entirely on the city and its environs, leaving upcountry cops under-facilitated and making the countryside vulnerable.
“The Police officers [in the countryside] are not facilitated; can we have the Police come to the rescue of these people; give them motorcycles, fuel, and let the officers get facilitated,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bukooli Central MP, Solomon Silwanyi wanted the government to advise how Ugandans should handle the situation, but the Speaker overruled him, noting that Members of Parliament should be the ambassadors of mobilizing their constituents on the terror alerts instead of asking government to guide them.
Fort Portal Central Division MP, Alex Ruhunda warned the government against publicizing such threats, saying it affects tourism which is currently one of Uganda’s current foreign exchange earnings.
“The bedrock of our country is through peace and security; it is proper to know that saboteurs of this country will target it such that this country does not have peace, so that our economy collapses,” he said.
He suggests that government formulates a controlled and deliberate communication policy with which to approach the current scare.
“We benefit a lot from tourism; we do not need to minimize these alarms,” he said.
The bomb scares come at a time when the National Unity Platform president, Job. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine and officials from his party are traversing the country carrying out mobilization campaigns and opening of new NUP Offices in different parts of the country. Other tensions are rising as a result of many unanswered questions on the uncontrollable movements of Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba conducting unlawful political campaigns.
