By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Following the brutal murder of foreign tourists and their guide in Queen Elizabeth II National Park in Kasese district southwest Uganda, the government and security agencies have been put on task to heighten national security particularly in terror prone areas.
Sharon Arach Oyat, the spokesperson for Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) an opposition political party in the country says there is an urgent need to improve on safety and security of Ugandans including foreigners who come to visit the country for tourism purposes.
On Tuesday last week (October 17), security reported that three people were killed and their vehicle set ablaze by suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels. The president later revealed that the tourists were from the UK and South Africa while their guide was a Ugandan. The couple was reportedly on their honeymoon in Uganda when the incident occured.
In a statement posted on X (Twitte), president Museveni said the Ugandan High Commission in the UK would provide support to the families of the murdered couple.
The UK’s foreign office said it was in contact with the family of a British national following an incident at the park.
However, Arach exhorts to high intelligence to avoid these stressful occurrences.
“It’s unfortunate that we have just had the massacre of students in Lubhiriha School and shortly after that follows the killing of tourists in the National Park. These things should not reoccur,” Arach said
She added “The government and military agencies should strive to ensure safety of Ugandans and take due intelligence to avoid such a incidents from reoccurring.”
UPC further urged the government to carryout dialogue and reconciliation with the rebel groups inorder to create stability in the affected areas.
Addressing the media today at Uganda Media Centre, the minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Dr . Chris Baryomunsi said government will name a road after the murdered tourists as a way of recognizing their contributions towards the growth and development of national tourism. He also retaliated plans to compensate families of the deceased tourists and the Ugandan guide killed in the national park.
According to Baryomunsi, the government has deployed heavy military in Kasese and other Rwenzori areas to counter any possible terror attacks. He asked residents in the area to remain calm and report any suspected insecurities in their areas
