Uganda

Uganda Local Defence Unit (LDU) and Other Security Agencies have Killed mor Ugandans than COVID-19

Ugandan Local defence Unit (LDU) and other security agencies have directly led to the death of many of citizens during lockdown while implementing COVID-19 guidelines with no any death currently caused by this pandemic.

The victims were killed by soldiers of the Uganda Local Defence Unit (LDU), Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Uganda Police Force who were enforcing orders intended to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Those who died because of acts of security forces than COVID-19 include, Eric Mutasiga head teacher of a primary school found in Mukono municipality who was shot in a thigh by a police officer who was trying to arrest a chapatti vendor and instead shot the deceased who was trying to intervene in the matter.

Benon Nsimenta a lay reader at Kogere archdeaconry in South Rwenzori Diocese in Kasese district was shot dead by a Uganda People’s Defence Force soldier. Benon Nsimenta was allegedly shot dead at around 6 am at Karungibate in Hima town council as he was heading to his garden with the wife while moving on a motorcycle.

Margret Nanyunja, 80, who died after LDU personnel raided her home in Kyengera town council along Masaka road in Wakiso district on April 10. LDU personnel allegedly ransacked Nanyunja’s home, claiming that her grandson Andrew Mbazira had defied COVID-19 curfew orders. Mbazira later told journalists that LDU personnel raided their home at around 1 am and beat up her grandmother when she asked them for a search warrant.

Wilber Kawono, a resident of Budaka district was shot by police on April 18. Budaka district police commander Shadia Nabunya told journalists that Kawono had carried a passenger on a boda boda which was against President Yoweri Museveni’s ban on public transport.

Nabunya said Kawono disobeyed an order to stop, prompting a policeman to aim at the motorcycle tyre but he accidentally shot directly at Kawono causing his death.

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A boda rider Robert Ssenyonga of Njeru municipality succumbed to wounds caused on him by an LDU using his gun as he was enforcing presidential directive.

Evelyn Namulondo, a resident of Budhumbuli, in Jinja town, was shot in the stomach by security personnel in camouflage when she was going to purchase her food stall merchandise on a motorcycle. It was at around 5 am, and she later succumbed to bullet wounds at Jinja hospital.

James Wako, a chappati snack seller in Jinja said he heard gunshots and only realised that someone had been shot after seeing Namulondo groaning in pain. While in the hospital before her death, Namulondo said she spent some minutes seeking to be evacuated to a hospital in vain. Nevertheless, a boda-boda cyclist rode her to Jinja hospital where she died three days later.

Charles Sanga, a businessman also died after he was allegedly clobbered by soldiers and policemen led by the interdicted Jinja resident district commissioner Erick Sakwa on accusations of defying the president’s lockdown orders. The RDC was arrested and charged with manslaughter. The case regarding Sanga’s death is currently in court.

Vincent Serungi, a resident of Wakiso town council was also shot and killed on March 31 on accusations that he was riding a motorcycle against the president’s orders. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango said Serungi’s suspected killer Constable Stephen Wafula was arrested and charged with murder in Mukono court.

Besides those that have died, there many others who are still nursing bullet wounds. Shadia Kauda, a resident of Kiwanga, Goma Division, in Mukono district was shot in the thigh by police while chasing after youths they accused of disobeying Covid19 orders.

Alex Oryema and Kasim Ssebudde were shot at Misindye, Goma Division, in Mukono municipality. The duo was shot on March 27 while heading to a construction site on their own motorcycle with a bag of building implements.

The UPDF First Division spokesperson Maj Yusuf Katamba said UPDF had taken the necessary action to penalize all those that have beaten civilians during the lockdown. According to Katamba, seven soldiers have been found guilty of beating Ugandans by a division court martial led by Col Sam Mugyenyi in Kakiri, Wakiso district.

But let us obey government regulations so as we may overcome COVID-19

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