Ugandans have been told to quit whining and carry on with their day to day duties as their security is guaranteed, and that no wrong elements will antagonize them.
This was carried in a statement by Security Minister Gen. Elly Tumwine to parliament on Thursday, when responding to concerns of Ugandanson social media.
He asked them to ignore messages making rounds on social media threatening instability.
The general, together with Defense and Internal Affairs counterparts Adolf Mwesige and Gen Jeje Odongo was Thursday expected to make a statement on the state of security in the country following matters raised by a section of MPs regarding social media messages announcing an attack on Uganda. But, he showed up unprepared.
On Wednesday, Lyandro Komakech the Gulu Municipality MP reported that people in northern Uganda had raised complaints of an imminent attack. "There have been messages on social media threatening that on the 17th of this month, there is going to be an attack," Komakech said, adding that "The message also advises all citizens to stock assortments of food in their houses and not move out."
Also, Odonga Otto the Aruu County MP asked the Ministries of Defence and that of Internal Affairs to allay the fears and assure Ugandans of their safety. But in a brief statement, Gen Tumwine, told Parliament last evening that there is no need for an alarm as the social media threats amount to nothing. “Messages on social media which are alarmist first of all are criminal. Ugandans are free and safe and the security of the country is in safe hands of the agencies” the general said.
He added that the president recently assured Ugandans that security in the country is enough. Gen. Tumwiine warned that all people participating in disseminating these messages on social media are committing a crime.
However, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga said that Parliament needs a written comprehensive joint statement from the ministers in charge of security that can be circulated to MPs and debated.
The minister promised to work on this and have it present before the house when parliament returns next week.
A message from a man identified as Jjuko, claiming to be the president of some unknown party claims that there will be a national shutdown on 15th and 16th July 2018. The man in a voice message circulating all over social media is in the diaspora.
He claims the shutdown is meant to end the rule of NRM and that for 2 days, there will be no operation in Uganda, asking people to sit home and mourn the disasters in the country.
