Army investigates Kasese town clerk death threats

Oct 28, 2019

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kasese, Lt. Joe Walusimbi, who also heads the district security committee, told the press that security had launched investigations into the matter.

KASESE-The army has taken over investigations into circumstances under which unknown people served the Kasese Municipal Town Clerk with an envelope containing two live bullets and a warning letter.

The envelope was allegedly delivered by some juveniles, who handed it over to the town clerk secretary, Innocent Ahimbisibwe on October 24.

The secretary opened the envelope before taking to the town clerk's in-tray only to discover an anonymous letter with two live ammunitions allegedly threatening the town clerk to stop interfering with the issues related to the civil service in the urban centre.

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Kasese, Lt. Joe Walusimbi, who also heads the district security committee, told the press that security had launched investigations into the matter.

"The letter warns him to be very careful and that he is not the first clerk in Kasese and that he should prepare his coffin and that the bullets were a sample of what was going to work on him," said Walusimbi.

The RDC said on being asked to explain the source of the letter, the juveniles told the town clerk and the RDC that someone had sent them to deliver the envelope and later led to the arrest of the sender, whose particulars would not be divulged for investigative purposes.

"I immediately dispatched a team of security operatives led by the juveniles to Shauri Yako (low-grade) market where they pointed at someone who had allegedly delegated them to deliver the letter," the RDC said.

He, however, said the suspect was under custody at the Rwenzori East Regional Police headquarters in Kasese town.

Army takes over

The Rwenzori East Regional Spokesperson ASP Vincent Twesigye, told New Vision in a brief mobile phone interview that the army had taken over the investigations.

However, efforts to get the Rwenzori sub-region army spokesperson, Captain Fidel Masumbuku Sonko's comments were fruitless because he was unavailable on his known mobile phone number.

RDC cautions

He cautioned the general public to avoid tampering with security issues, saying whoever has an issue should use the proper channels for redress.

He decried the mentality among some sections of the population in the district who think that others from outside should not work in the district.

"That mentality is wrong because Uganda is for everybody. Some Bakonzo are working in other parts of the country like Buganda where I come from," he said.

Speaking to the press in his office, Innocent Ahimbisibwe noted that when he received the letter, he immediately alerted the RDC about the incident.

"When we found the two bullets in the envelope, we immodestly handed them over to security because it was not an administrative issue," said Ahimbisibwe.

Appointed Municipal Education officer declines job

In a related development, Stephen Biruwarufu, who had been appointed as the Principal Education Officer for Kasese Municipal Council, recently declined the appointment.

In a letter dated September 25, 2019, addressed to the Kasese Municipal Town Council Clerk, Biru Warufu hailed the Public Service Commission (PSC) for having considered him as for the U2 salary scale post in Kasese Municipal Council.

In a three-paragraph letter, Biru Warufu, however, said he regretted declining the appointment due to what he termed as "personal reasons beyond my control."

"It is unfortunate that I have declined the appointment due to personal reasons beyond my control," says Biruwarufu's three-paragraph letter obtained by New Vision.

It is alleged that earlier on September 13, a one Onizi, had, on behalf of other unknown people, written to Biru Warufu threatening him of serious bloodshed.

According to the address on the letter, Onizi is a resident of Kyamunyoku in Nyakabingo II ward, Kasese Municipality.

"The creation of this municipality was meant for creating jobs for our sons and daughters in this local government," says Onizi in the letter.

He adds, "Yes we can import other workers with specialized skills and professions but not in education. I repeat not in education."

Acknowledging that he received a letter in which Biru Warufu declines his appointment; Ahimbisibwe says Biru Warufu was supposed to report on October 1.

Seeking advice

Ahimbisibwe said he was planning to write to the PSC to seek guidance on the matter.

About two months ago, the Secretary for PSC, Dr. John Mbabazi wrote to the Secretary Kasese District Service Commission (DSC) guiding the Commission on the recruitment of the Municipal Principal Education Officer.

According to the letter dated October 13th, 2019, the Kasese Municipal town clerk made submission of three officers and the DSC shortlisted and interviewed two candidates who were qualified for the position.