Govt to table statement on kidnaps, murders

 

 

 

 

Odongo made the statement on Tuesday at Parliament following allegations by Francis Zake (Mityana Municipality) that security agencies which he claimed are used "to torturing citizens" might be behind the abductions and murders.

 

"On Thursday, I will come back to this House with a statement on the recent murders. But it is not true that the state has anything to do with these acts. Let the member (Zake) share evidence of his claims," Odongo said.

 

Odongo's revelation comes at a time of increased anxiety following the abduction and murder of James Kalumba, a former employee of Motorcare Nissan Uganda.

 

Kalumba, who had gone missing a month ago, was discovered dead in a swamp near his home in Kajjansi, Wakiso district.

 

A road maintenance worker stumbled upon Kalumba's body, giving his family some form of closure.

 

Last week, Maria Nagirinya, a social worker working with a non-governmental organisation and her driver, Ronald Kitayimbwa, were kidnapped around Lungujja-Busega and murdered.

 

The issue of abductions and murders had reached worrying levels two years ago, with women and girls in Entebbe, Wakiso being the main targets.

 

The murders were attributed to varying causes.

 

This ranged from the bad blood between then security minister Lt Gen. (rtd). Henry Tumukunde and Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura allegedly compromising security in the country, to ritual murders by those who think shading human blood brings wealth.

 

While appearing before Parliament's defence and internal affairs committee before getting dropped from cabinet, Tumukunde said isolated incidents of abduction and murder of citizens were incapable of bringing down a government.

 

But to Odongo, these murders can do enough damage to undermine the legitimacy of a government.

 

At the height of the concerns over murders, Odongo then tabled a statement in Parliament, attributing the crimes to a one Ivan Katongole, a renowned businessman dealing in fish export who had then been arrested in connection with the killings.

 

However, last January, court acquitted Katongole with justice Wilson Kwesiga noting that the prosecution against the businessman was malicious since it was carried out ‘in bad faith'.