The number of legislators living in fear of their lives continues to increase each passing day with the latest coming from Busongora North legislator William Nzonghu who claims unknown men are tracing his movements.
The panicky Nzonghu informed legislators in a parliamentary sitting chaired by speaker Rebecca Kadaga that he has also received death threats just like the Mbale woman legislator Connie Galiwango who also complained last week of unknown people chasing after her.
Few days after the former Buyende District Police Commander ASP Muhammad Kirumira was gunned down on Saturday at Bulenga, Busongora north legislator William Nzonghu is said to be the next target according to him.
“Even at my home we are seeing and susp[ecting people close to my perimeter wall, My life is in danger. I don’t know why they are trailing me Madam speaker,” he said.
Nzonghu says the unknown men targeting his life have also been traced at his home on Tuesday night.
Kadaga asked that the honourable member be given special attention by government through the minister of internal affairs, assess the threats and offer him the necessary security assistance.
Minister of State for Internal Affiars, Mario Obiga Kania said Nzonghu’s matter will be looked into with aim of allying his fears.
“We will look at them and assess the level of threats and give all threatened MPs appropriate protection, not because they are members of parliament but because they are Ugandans and it is our duty to protect all Ugandans,” Obiga said
In July, President Museveni ordered the Minister of Finance to buy new pick-up armored vehicles for all the 453 Members of Parliament.
This directive from the President came shortly after his double meetings with the legislators both on the floor of Parliament and the office of the prime minister, from where the President launched a ’12 point security plan’ following the assassination of the Arua municipality MP, Ibrahim Abiriga.
The President, however, acknowledged that they (MPs) expressed fear having been singled out for intimidation and possibly attack which has prompted him beef up their security as the country awaits systems that will support his security plan to be effectively implemented.
However, while speaking to NBS TV, Obiga Kania dismissed claims that government intends to beef up the security of all members of parliament. The Internal Affairs state minister said the current state of security in the country doesn’t necessitate such a drastic step.
Meanwhile a few sections of opposition legislators had hinted they required no security unlike their NRM counterparts that have been cited in different anti-people campaigns specifically the constitutional ammendments.
Meanwhile still in parliament, the national Female legislator Anny Adeke has tasked government to explain the continued incarceration of Rwandan nationals without being produced in the courts of law.
MP Adeke argued that even some Ugandan nationals in Rwanda have started leaving the country in fear of their lives hence the need for government to explain to parliament the current relations with the government of Rwanda.
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