More KCCA councilors cite death threats
Jan 09, 2012
At least five more councilors of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) have reported receiving death threats since they assumed office last year.
By Taddeo Bwambale
At least five more councilors of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) have reported receiving death threats since they assumed office last year.
John Bosco Musinguzi, a city councilor for Kawempe South on Monday revealed that he had received death threats from unknown people.
“I was walking home when a group of about ten people surrounded me and asked me why I was fighting the Lord Mayor. I was rescued by one of my supporters but the gang threatened to kill me any day,” he said.
Addressing journalists at the Councilors Lounge at KCCA headquarters on Monday, Musinguzi said the incident occurred on December 14 near Christ the King Church.
He said he did not report the matter to the Police but discussed it with colleagues, many of whom complained of receiving similar threats. He also disclosed that he was planning to register for a firearm to protect himself from such harassment.
His story comes hardly a week after one of the councilors, Bernard Luyiga representing Makerere University, disclosed that unidentified people threatened to kill him, prompting the Police to accord him a bodyguard.
Luyiga, who was present at the press briefing, attributed the threats to opposing views the councilors held with the Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago on matters related to the management of the city.
“The Lord Mayor does not want to be advised. I am a senior councilor and it is my duty to advise the Lord Mayor on matters pertaining to the Authority,” he said.
He denied that his bodyguard had plans to harm Lukwago during a meeting convened at the Mayor’s Parlour last week to review KCCA budget.
He also denied clashing with Lukwago over the post of deputy Lord Mayor. “I did not come to City Hall to become deputy Lord Mayor and have never lobbied for the post,” he said.
He also revealed that he would write to the Suubi pressure group and the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC), to arbitrate to resolve the political differences between him and Lukwago.
He appealed to the city executive director, Jennifer Musisi to tighten security at the KCCA premises to protect the councilors from danger.
Lukwago could not be reached on phone for comment over the matter.