As Ugandans question the involvement of People's Defense Forces-UPDF in weekend events that left 28 criminals in custody, the army says it was only helping its sister security agency, the Uganda Police force.
Over the weekend, military police picked up 28 suspects, majority of them members of Boda Boda 2010, for their alleged involvement in the kidnap and murder of Francis Ekalugar, the former accountant of Case Clinic.
The deceased was kidnapped on Tuesday January 02, 2018 on his way to deposit Shillings 15 million to the bank, only for his body to be found in Kajjansi on January 3rd, 2018, burned beyond recognition.
Today, Captain Deo Akiiki, the Deputy UPDF Spokesperson, told the press at Uganda media centre that they conducted a joint operation on Friday following reliable leads leading to the arrest of Huzairu Kiwalabye, one of the key suspects.
Adding that after interrogating Kiwalabye, the investigators found the need to make further arrests and picked up 28 suspects including Abdullah Kitata, the head of Boda Boda 2010 and a brother to Kiwalabye. They also picked up Mawa Muzamiru a - driver to Dr. SSebale Kato, the proprietor Case Clinic, Kikandi Muhindo and David Bizimani, Congolese nationals at whose residence Ekalugar's vehicle was found on Sunday.
The involvement of the army in the operations, which ideally should have been conduct by Uganda Police Force raised eyebrows. However, Lt. Col. Deo Akiiki, the Deputy UPDF Spokesperson, says the operations were conducted by the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task force (JATT).
"You may wonder why the army came in to arrest suspects. When a person is killed, we don't know what the intention of the murder is. It could be terrorism or something else. That is why we had to work together," said Akiiki during a joint press conference at the government owned media center this morning.
He explained that the intelligence that led to the arrest of the 28 suspects was generated by operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI). Speaking at the same meeting, Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima, said the investigations are on course. He explained that they are currently scrutinising the suspects, saying those found to culpable will be held to account for their actions.
He condemned the raids on the offices of Boda Boda 2010 in Bukesa, Natete and Makindye by mobs, saying the attacks are a demonstration of the failure by Ugandans to appreciate the law. "Ugandans must allow the law to take its course other taking matters in their own hands," he said.
