Parliament has tasked the Minister of Security to table a comprehensive report on the state of security in the country.
This was after several legislators raised concern over cases of insecurity in various parts of the country, caused by among others panga wielding men.
MPs were concerned that the country is not only faced with the machete-wielding killers who have ravaged the greater Masaka but also murders especially at some landing sites across the country.
Jinja City Woman MP Manjeri Kyebakutika complained that currently, several areas in Jinja City are being threatened by panga wielding criminals and yet police have not been deployed in the area to avert the attacks.
Already, Kyebakutika said a result, some lives have already been lost.
“We are all aware that the panga men have a tendency of circulating letters to areas they wish to attack. Whenever these letters are circulated, they make sure to follow up their mission. I request the minister for security to offer immediate interventions so that people of Jinja are protected,” Kyebakutika said.
She further told Parliament that the marauding killers have distributed warning letters of their impending attack in areas of Bugembe, Budondo, Mafubira and Wanyange and that two people have so far been attacked.
At first, the Speaker of Parliament asked the Attorney General, Kiwanuka Kiryowa, to explain what the government was planning to do about the insecurity in the country.
Kiryowa assured legislators that the Police had taken control of the situation, and security had been deployed heavily in the Masaka area but said a comprehensive report on the machete-wielding killers will be presented to Parliament at the earliest opportunity.
But members protested his explanation, saying there were still several areas where there was no deployment.
The Leader of the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, noted that the insecurity reports presented to Parliament in the recent past, go beyond the killings cited by the Members.
He asked the government to provide a comprehensive state of security address.
“I take in good faith the promise for the security minister to come here and address the House on security matters. However, last week, we had a Member from Buvuma Island raising the same security concerns as those of Kasensero landing site. These dotted responses need to stop and we receive a comprehensive state of security report in the country,” said Mpuuga.
Fortunate Nantongo (DP, Kyotera Woman MP) told Parliament that there was no deployment of security at Kasensero landing site in Rakai, which has caused vandalisation of property such as boat engines and fishing equipment.
She said in August, a young man was killed and his body dumped at the landing site.
‘The security minister should immediately deploy at the landing site,” she said.
Mawogola South MP Namugga Gorreth, told Parliament that insecurity in her constituency has been worsened by power outages, which she said has lasted several days.
“Ssembabule is part of the greater Masaka where those anonymous letters by machete welding killers have been distributed. They are everywhere, but for the last few days, my constituency has been in a total blackout; it is very dark and the community is in fear,” said Namugga.
Security Minister Jim Muhwezi, however, later said a report will be prepared and presented to Parliament for discussion.
