Masaka Residents Demand Update on Investigations into Killings

Residents in areas of Masaka that were affected by the recent spate of machete attacks are demanding regular updates of investigations into the killings.

At least 27 people were killed in the different villages within Masaka, Lwengo, Bukomansimbi, and Kyotera districts, as machete-wielding thugs struck the areas during night hours. 

Although the situation was eventually contained by joint efforts of security agencies; the residents are blaming them for not giving affected communities updates on the pursuit of the killers.

Steven Ssebunya, a resident of Kyoko village in Kingo sub-county, Lwengo district who lost his immediate neighbour in the attacks, says the community is still living in fear, but to their disappointment security has not returned to brief residents on the progress of investigations.

He says they are disappointed that even when the local vigilante groups handed to police some suspects they arrested during operations, the Police are reluctant to give a brief on what they found out about suspects. 

Ssebunya is worried that keeping the community in dark about the progress of investigations may affect the morale of the vigilante groups.

//Cue; (Luganda) “twakoma okumanya….   

  Cue out: …..situlina kyetumanyi.”//

He adds that the lack of proper information about these incidents has kept some elderly people out of their homes, which they deserted in the wake of the murders as they feared for their lives.

Gaudencia Namaganda, a resident of Kagganda in Kingo Sub County, who is among the people whose houses were painted with threatening messages also indicates that they still living in uncertainty about their safety. 

She also expected police to regularly visit the affected communities to give them confidence and updates in the investigations.

“I don’t know for how long these wall paintings are supposed to stay on the house. Security officers came and examined them, took some measurements but they have never returned to explain to us what they found out,” she says.

Jimmy Ssemanda a resident of Kisaaka village in Bukomansimbi district and one of the survivors of the attacks also blames security for not following up on them to find out how they are recovering from the physical injuries and the trauma.

  //Cue in: “embeera gyenzize….  

Cue out; ……byagenda mu maaso.”//

Muhammad Nsubuga, the Greater Masaka Regional Police Spokesperson noted that their teams are still engaged in corroborating evidence that they have so far gathered to support the prosecution of the suspects. He adds that they will engage the residents at the appropriate time.

He urges the local leaders to seek any information they want to know from the police and eventually disseminate it to the residents.