The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah ordered the Defence committee to carry out independent investigations into the Kasese attacks and Bundibugyo clashes.
The development comes after the Internal Affairs Minister Rose Akol and legislators contradicted on the issue during today’s plenary session.
Minister Akol told the house that in the recent past there have been a number of violent incidents in Kasese and Bundibugyo Districts and that her statement was to inform Parliament and the country about the suspected causes of these incidents.
According to Akol, after Feb 24th LC5 elections, there were clashes resulting from dissatisfaction with the election results starting in Busengerwa village, Busaru Sub County where one person was killed.
This led to retaliatory attacks in Busaru, Ngamba and Kirumya sub counties, leaving 15 civilians dead.
Minster Akol added that clashes in Bundibugyo, left 15 civilians dead, including children as young as 4yrs &139 houses set ablaze, and that following the incidents, 80 suspects were charged with murder in high court sitting in Fort Portal on 11th March.
She adds; “On 10th March, a group of about 20 youths suspected to be Royal Guards armed with knives, sticks attempted to attack Kithoma Police. Also, a joint motorized patrol of Police and UPDF while patrolling was attacked by over 30 persons armed with machetes.”
However, Busongora North MP, Hon. William Nzoghu lashed at the minister for presenting the statement, yet she has never even travelled to Kasese since the attacks started.
According to Nzoghu, when the IGP travelled to Kasese, he only stopped at a hotel and addressed journalists, but never went to villages, whereas it is the Police and the army that is shooting people in Kasese, and it requires an independent audit.
He adds; “the DISO was the one pointing out people to be shot in the trading centre, and the soldiers shot dead 4 people. The framing of the Kingdom has gone on for some long time; the kingdom is not involved in any of the killings.”
The defence committee is expected to investigate the attacks and report back to the house as soon as possible.
