By Mmeeme Leticia and Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA:
Former presidential candidate for the Forum for Democratic Change, Patrick Oboi Amuriat has asked the minister for internal affairs Maj. Gen.Saverino Kahinda Otafiire to resign over his utterances on Masaka murders.
Last week on Thursday, minister Otafiire while appearing on a local TV talk Show, NBS ‘The Frontline’ said the killings in Masaka is because the NRM no longer dominates the area pinning some groups of the opposition as masterminding the murders.
“You forget that when the NRM still dominated Masaka, there were no killings. Someone else is in charge of Masaka politically,” Gen.Otafiire said.
The words of the general have raised concerns among the members of the public with many accusing him of political arrogance.
Latest is the FDC President Amuriat who has condemned Gen. Otafiire utterances calling him to resign.
“In respect to the murders of the people in Masaka , Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire should bravely stand as a man throw in the towel and resign if he is still the liberator he claims to be.” Amuriat said.
He added on saying that Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire doesn’t mean well for the country.
Amuriat made the remarks on Monday during the inauguration ceremony of fdc national leaders at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi Kampala. The inaugerated leaders are; members of the NEC, Secretaries and deputy secretaries for mobilisation, and deputy presidents of Buganda and Eastern regions.
Close to 30 people were killed in recent Masaka murders by machette wielding assailants, commonly known as the “Bijjambiya” and several others are retreating injuries and a number of properties like houses were partially destroyed in the attacks.
Security intervened in to calm the situation and some of the suspects including two members of parliament; Allan Livingstone Ssewanyana (Makindye West) and Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya aka Mr. Updates (Kawempe North) have been arrested and convicted as investigations are ongoing. The MPs are accused of having a hand in the recent spate of murders in the Masaka sub-region.
The FDC however, says that murders in the greater Masaka region have been politicized to create havoc and intimidation among members of the public something they condemn.
“We stand with the families of people who have been killed under unclear circumstances, the FDC condemns the wanton killings not only in the case of Masaka but also in the case of murdered women in Entebbe Wakiso, unexplained murders of NRM or NRM leaning leaders who have been killed by men on Boda Boda, the most recent being the attempted murder of Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala that killed his daughter Brendah Nantongo and his driver sgt Hassan Kayondo,”
“In particular, we are concerned with the charging of two opposition MPs; Hon. Allan Ssewanyana and Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya with these murders. Their arrest is a gimic intended to cause havoc to the people.” Amuriat condemned.
According to the fdc, the government has politicized these murders and framed some convicts with murder charges. They say, the move is a calculated witch-hunt aimed at demonization of opposition leaders and intimidating the population.
FDC urges that the country may never get to the bottom of the killers if the murders continue being politicized.
Furthermore, the FDC has demanded for the immediate release of the two legislators from Kitalya prison where they are detained on remand.
MPs. Ssewanyana and Ssegirinya were sent on remand to Kitalya prison by the Masaka magistrate court on three counts of murder and and one of attempted murder. They are expected to return to court tomorrow Wednesday September 15 for further mention of charges.
