The state remains a suspect in Masaka killings - Besigye
Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president and political activist Dr. Kizza Besigye has said that government should also be treated as a suspect in the spate of killings that have rocked the Masaka region over the past month.
Machete-wielding gangs have claimed the lives of over 30 people in Masaka although their intentions remain unclear despite the arrest of over 23 suspects so far.
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Notable among the arrested suspects are National Unity Platform (NUP) MPs Mohammad Ssegirinya and Allan Ssewanyana who police say participated in killing at least 3 people.
Speaking on NBS Morning Breeze, Tuesday, Besigye said that he can not rule out the involvement of the government in the killings.
“My first suspect would be the state; the second would be people with grievances caused by the state, the state could definitely be part of this (Masaka killings),” Besigye said.
Besigye said that as the questioning of other arrested suspects goes on, the government too needs to be investigated because they can not investigate themselves.
“This is why we have taken the case of Uganda to ICC because criminals cannot investigate themselves. We need to investigate this government,” Besigye said.
Besigye who was part of the bush war that brought President Museveni’s government to power in 1986 said that the president formed all political consciousness around violence and he can not rule out the government’s involvement.
“In Uganda, Museveni has continued to create that narrative of us and them, and the use of violence, Besigye said.
Adding, “In Luweero, it was the people of Uganda against "those enemies". Even after taking power, Mr. Museveni's greatest tool is fear-mongering; even his thesis at the university was about violence in politics..”
Besigye sympathized with families that have so far lost their loved ones to the machete goons and encouraged them to remain strong, and involve themselves in efforts to bring their tormentors to face the law.
Besigye said that the insecurity in the country is not new, and urged Ugandans to involve themselves in efforts to hold leaders accountable.
