Teso MPs raise concern over armed robberies in region

PIC: Ngora County Member of Parliament David Abala (centre) addressing the press, while Kubale County MP Richard Oseku (right) and Serere County MP Patrick Okabe look on during a press conference about the security situaton in Teso region, at Parliament on February 27, 2018. (Credit: Kennedy Oryema)

ACTIVISM
              
KAMPALA - A section of legislators hailing from Teso sub-region under the Teso Parliamentary Association (TPA) have asked the Inspector General Of  Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura, to intervene in the increasing armed robberies in the region.

Led by Serere County MP Patrick Okabe also TPA chairperson, the legislators said they "we want Kayihura to immediately act on the mayhem in which businesspeople and bodaboda operators have killed and robbed of their valuables, especially in Soroti municipality".

"Harbouring activities in the region is scaring away investors," Okabe said.

The region consists of Amuria, Bukedea, Kaberamaido, Katakwi, Kumi, Ngora, Serere and Soroti districts.

The MPs, including, Richard Oseku (Kubale County), Patrick Okabe (Serere County)  and David Abala (Ngora County) have asked for joint security operations of the Police force,  Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) , Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Flying Squad to beef up security in the region.

Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday at Parliament, Abala said since September last year nine people have been killed and their vehicles robbed in Ngora district.

He also decried the disappearance of suspects from Police custody.

"When Criminals are arrested, they are aided by unknown Police officers to escape, before they are produced in courts of law."

"We suspect that there could be organised armed robberies who connive with the Police. We also suspect that Policemen are coaching criminals on how to write statements, which aid their release," Abala said.

Oseku, appealed to internal affairs minister Jeje Odong, who hails from the region to intervene in order to curb the increasing crime rate, adding that the security personnel in the teso sub-region cite lack enough funds for facilitation to carry out the investigations as a challenge.

Police speaks out

Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima denied knowledge of alleged rampant armed robberies in region. However, he promised that the force would investigate and act on the issue.

The East Kyoga Police spokesperson, Michael Odongo, who confirmed of the incidents in the region, said they have recorded 49 deaths since last year.

"There could be other deaths within the region, but they are not reported to Police," Odongo said.

According to Odongo, in February, four mobile money operators were reported dead as a result of armed robberies. One of them is Tom Okilang, who was shot and robbed of sh16m and 18 mobile phones in Soroti municipality.
 
Odong said since January, four bodaboda operators were reported dead and their motorcycles robbed, while seven motorcycles have since January been reported stolen from people's compounds.