Lwemiyaga MP Gen. Rwashande political assistant arrested
The CDF last week deployed the army to support the area police after the land conflict spilt over to the Ssembeguya's goat multiplication project funded by the Government under the agriculture ministry at Kakinga in Ntusi, leaving several people, including a UPDF army veteran, Robert Dhikusoka, nursing severe injuries.
One of the suspects Umar Kalanzi (in a sleeveless Jacket), and also the political assistant to Lwemiyaga MP Gen Emmanuel Rwashande was arrested for attempted kidnap of Fred Gumisiriza aka Kayanda over the weekend at Ntyazo. (Credit: Dismus Buregyeya)
SEMBABULE - Police in Sembabule district have arrested Umar Kalanzi, a political assistant to Lwemiyaga County legislator Brig. Gen (rtd) Emmanuel Rwashande, in connection with a violent land fight at Ntyazo in Ntusi sub-county.
The Southern Regional Police Spokesperson, Twaka Kasirye, said Kalanzi, 32, was facing charges of attempted kidnap of Fred Gumisiriza, alias Kayanda, a resident of Ntyazo.
Kasirye said Kalanzi will be prosecuted after police investigations are completed. The Masaka-based Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) Armoured Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Jackson Pande Kajuba confirmed the attack, saying it happened during the day, enabling the victim to identify the suspects.
Acting on the orders of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, last week, Brig. Kajuba deployed soldiers to stop clashes in the troubled Ntyazo village and at the farm of Paul Ssembeguya in Ntusi, where the land conflict turned violent.
“A gang of nine men came in a vehicle and intercepted me; I suffered head injuries after one of the men stabbed me while others beat me all over the body. I saw Kalanzi, but other men were strangers to me,” he said. Kayanda said the Ntyazo land conflict will be resolved if the parties follow the law.
Acting on the orders of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, last week, Brig. Kajuba deployed soldiers to stop clashes in the troubled Ntyazo village and at the farm of Paul Ssembeguya in Ntusi, where the land conflict turned violent. (Credit: Dismus Buregyeya)
However, Kalanzi's relatives claimed that he was in Kampala at the time the incident took place. “It’s not possible that Kalanzi was at the scene of crime, all we know is that he is being framed up by enemies who want to grab our land at Ntyazo,” a family member said.
When contacted, Brig. Gen. Rwashande said the parties involved in the land conflict at Ntyazo should follow President Yoweri Museveni's guidance on the matter.
"The President guided us on the conflict and tasked the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to handle the matter and report to him. We have the army keeping peace here; all parties should wait for the final word from the President," he said.
The UPDF soldiers were rushed to Lwemiyaga on June 5 after the two rival sides clashed. Dhikusoka, who is attached to the Ssembeguya goat farm project, said he was shocked when the locals ambushed him during routine patrols and hacked him using pangas.
The locals at Kakinga said the fight erupted after they were confronted by panga and spear-wielding people on the night of June 5.
"We had received prior information that there was a plot by people from Ssembeguya's farm to attack us, and we remained alert to defend ourselves," a resident, who preferred anonymity, said.
The resident said the attackers came with spears and arrows before a fight ensued, resulting in casualties. "Deploying the army in our area is a wise decision because the police had failed to protect the locals," he said.