By Watera Atai,
KAMULI
Former speaker of the parliament of Uganda Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga says she has narrowly survived two attempted assassination plots orchestrated by a senior government official to end her life.
Speaking at a giveback to the elders event in Kamuli on Tuesday, Kadaga alleged that the official, whom she declined to name, had hired assassins to eliminate her due to her outspoken criticism of the government.
“I have credible information that a high-ranking government official who has been plotting to kill me,” Kadaga stated. “The first time, he hired selected sugarcane growers who were reportedly instructed to ram their heavily loaded sugarcane trucks into my convoy on Jinja – Kamuli highway so that the incident appears like an accident,” she added.
“The second incident left me shaken, some money dealers in Buwagi trading centre, also on Jinja – Kamuli highway were organized to stage chaotic scenes and killed me to make it look like an act of disoriented youth,” Kadaga narrated her ordeal and how she survived them.
Kadaga, who served as Speaker from 2011 to 2021, has been a vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni’s administration, particularly on issues of human rights and governance.
Reports of attempted assassination and life threats clearly indicate the government’s growing intolerance for dissenting voices.
The 1st deputy Prime Minister (Kadaga), expressed concerns about violence that only surface towards and during elections in Uganda. She noted that the two assassination attempts against her life have increasingly made her become desperate to keep silent on some issues happening in this country for the fear of her life.
“I sometimes choose to remain silent on commenting on some issues, but there is a leader who hired the people you are talking about who hired people from Teso and gave them a down payment of Shs15k million to knock my car kill me but, they declined saying, “No, that’s our person, keep your money,” said Kadaga.
When the mission flopped, Kadaga added that the alleged killer resorted to hiring people (money dealers) to kill her because she passed on their road.
She was responding to claims by Buzaya county member of parliament, Hon. Martin Muzaale who said that his political opponents were hiring mafias to attack him and his known supporters in the constituency during public events. Muzaale said that the gang moving in a group of five, hurl insults and other provoking abuses to his supporters during public events something he says is threatening to his life and those of his supporters.
The Uganda Police Force has since commented on the matter promising to investigate the allegations.
Micheal Kasadha, Spokesperson for Busonga North Police said they are investigating MP Muzaale’s claims and the alleged attack on his supporters. However, the police mouthpiece declined to comment on Kadaga’s claims noting that this can only be done after the victim has filed a complaint with police.
