LC Executive Blamed For City Robbery

Jul 12, 2002

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni yesterday said the Kisenyi Local Council 1 committee should be arrested, after the deputy director of Internal Security Organisation (ISO), Col. Elly Kayanja, implicated them in city robberies.

By Felix OsikePRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni yesterday said the Kisenyi Local Council 1 committee should be arrested, after the deputy director of Internal Security Organisation (ISO), Col. Elly Kayanja, implicated them in city robberies. Kayanja also said investigations had revealed that Local Defence Unit personnel and contacts within the army were involved in the robberies in which prominent business people have been killed. Kayanja told journalists at a press conference at the State House, Nakasero, that the Kisenyi LC1 chairman whom he did not name selected only robbers to serve in his committee. Museveni, vowing to crush the racket, proposed that robbers be tried under military law due to weaknesses in the civilian courts.“On Tuesday, we arrested Simon from Kisenyi. He is a brother to the chairman LC1. The chairman put all the thieves in his committee,” he said. “Arrest the whole committee. That is no problem,” Museveni said. He said he called the press conference to explain the current wave of crime in the city and the security situation in the north where Kony rebels have recently staged attacks.Kayanja said Simon was arrested after a tip-off that he had dug a trench in his house where stolen property was stored.The heads of all the security organs attended. They included UPDF Chief of Staff Brig. Nakibus Lakara, ISO boss Brig. Henry Tumukunde, David Pulkol for ESO, Police chief Katumba Wamala and CID boss Elizabeth Kutesa. Museveni apologised to the press for not allowing electronic gadgets only 12 hours after the journalists were asked to forward their equipment for scrutiny. “Some of your allies had bad ideas about me. Until we get a good system to sniff your cameras, we shall not allow them here.”He said the sources of the arms used by the robbers were the defeated rebel groups, uncontrolled junior army officers and senior officers who loan guns to the robbers.The ISO chiefs named the city robbers who have been killed or arrested.They include Ismail Mwebe, L. K., Mike, Busabala alias Sekindi, Pte Okella, William Gitta, Ochieng, Kityo Salongo, Sekagya, Sgt Musa. Anti -government elements are also reportedly using the thugs to raise money. Ochieng was shot dead recently.ISO said a street in Bakuli, a city suburb, is a conduit for cocaine. Kayanja said Hollywood Theatre in Kibuye is a daily meeting place for robbers.He said the recently recruited LDUs and some UPDF soldiers were “organising thefts” in the city. Kayanja said the LC chairmen personally recruited some of the LDUs. He said the LDU commander, Makindye, Dennis, is on the run after allegedly masterminding the killing of a businesswoman in Nsambya.Museveni said, “The LDUs cannot be a force of their own. If they are involved in robberies, stop the training until we know who is involved.” He said all the LDU instructors in Kampala should be withdrawn and LDUs already recruited be disarmed.Kayanja also appealed to the public to be careful of boys going around with nail manicures, saying they are rakers.He said most wanted robbers had fled to Mbarara, Masaka, Mbale, Jinja and Iganga and were targeting highways.Kayanja also said some of the robbers were willing to surrender if they could be forgiven. Museveni proposed an amnesty for robbers who want to surrender, but Attorney General Francis Ayume said this could only be possible under the prerogative of mercy. He said a surrendering robber has to be tried. Museveni said, “If you giving amnesty to Kony, why not give amnesty to robbers who voluntarily surrender?” Katumba Wamala said the Lugazi mayor is being investigated over robbery. Museveni assured the nation that the security situation in Kampala and in north would be contained. Tumukunde blamed some robberies on commercial disputes and personal vendetta.“There are so many ungazzetted banks in town not controlled by the law. They lend out money without legal cover. When there is default they hire other robbers to settle their scores.” Tumukunde said weak laws had led to increased crime. He said the robbers had become sophisticated with cells in neighbouring countries.Ends

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