There was a heavy deployment of Police in the sub-county two weeks ago after a group calling itself Bijambya dropped leaflets in various villages threatening to kill leaders and some area residents.
The
police in Hoima are on the spot over reports of torture, brutality and
extortion on residents of Kyabigambire sub-county.
There was a heavy deployment of Police in the sub-county two weeks ago after a group calling itself Bijambya dropped leaflets in various villages threatening to kill
leaders and some area residents. The leaflets, which were written in Luganda, were found in the villages of Kisabagwa, Bugandale, Kasunga, Bineneza,
Mparangasi, Kibugubya, and Nyakabingo East in Kyabigambire sub-county.
On their list of targets they had; Alex Mwesigwa, the
LCIII chairperson of Kyambigambire, Irene Nabadda-the sub county
council speaker, Twaha Kyamanywa-the LCI chairperson of Bugandale village, Benson
Mbabazi- the chairperson of Kisabagwa village , Paul Kato from Kasunga village, Adriko
Malon, Yose Afidra, Vicent Sansiyo all residents of Bineneza village among
other residents.
This
prompted area leaders to petition the district security committee to deploy
security personnel in the area since residents were living in fear of being
attacked by the people who dropped the leaflets.
As
a result, the district security committee resolved to heavily deploy in the
area to avert any forms of insecurity.
Security
personnel intensified both foot and motorized patrols in the different villages
within the sub-county and the entire district, to beef up the already existing
efforts of village security committees. However,
barely two weeks after the deployment residents have
accused them of torture, brutality and extortion.
The
residents say the security personnel who were deployed to protect them and their
property have instead turned against them beating them up and inflicting
injuries, especially on those they get moving past 6 p.m. They
now want the security personnel commanded by Moses Kiige, the officer in
charge of Bulindi police post investigated for torture, extortion and brutality.
Vox Pop//Cue
in;”Muteire e migo…
Cue
out…Abantu banu babatwale.”//
Swaibu
Nyangabyaki, the area LCV Councilor says that they cannot tolerate the massive torture being inflicted on the area residents
by the security personnel.
//Cue
in;”Itwe nka abantu…
Cue
out…omu sengenge omu.”//
Pius
Wakabi, the area Member of Parliament has tasked the district security
committee to immediately withdraw the deployed officers since they have turned
against the public instead of providing security to them. He also calls for investigations against the police personnel deployed in the area.
//Cue
in;”Abantu ba yibirwe…
Cue
out…muyindureho katoito.”//
Ruth
Nkamusiima, the Hoima District Police Commander-DPC has apologized to the residents and added that the officers are going to be investigated and punished
accordingly. She
has tasked all those who have been tortured by the officers to file cases at police
so that they can be accorded help.
//Cue
in; ”Ensonga zanyu ni…
Cue
out…Bakasondoza allegations zanyu.”//
In
November 2021, Hoima City leaders accused security personnel of implementing the
Presidential directives to curb the spread of COVID-19 of continued brutality
and extortion. By
then Victims being brutalized and extorted during patrols and night curfews were
boda-boda cyclists; shop keepers, mechanics, restaurant operators.
The
leaders including Councillors expressed dismay over the failure by the city
security committee to take action on the officers who were accused of
brutalizing the residents.
