Uganda’s spy agencies have continued abducting people perceived to be against the government and bundling them in numberless vehicles contrary to the directive issued by deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Paul Lokech.
Barely a fortnight ago, Gen Lokech ordered security teams to avoid abduction of people and loading them into numberless cars. Since the riots of last November, spy and intelligence agencies have been abducting people suspected to have participated or sponsored the riots in which 54 were shot dead by soldiers and policemen.
Gen Lokech directive came on the heels of the killing of boxing legend, Isaac Ssenyange alias Mando Zebra. The boxer was shot nine times at St Francis Zone in Bwaise III Parish by security personnel moving in number vehicles commonly known as drones.
However, Gen Lokech’s order seems to have been ignored by Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence –CMI, Internal Security Organisations –ISO, Crime Intelligence as abductions and bundling of people in numberless vehicles have continued.
People have been kidnapped in Kisekka Market, Kasubi Market, Bugolobi Market, while others have been grabbed on their way home or in their shops in the Central Business District- CBD. In Entebbe alone, 14 people have reportedly been kidnapped but their relatives do not know where they are being detained.
Some of the abductees resurface with wounds all over their bodies. A number of those that have returned claim that while in military detention, they were grilled for being in support of National Unity Platform – NUP presidential candidate Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.
At least 46 NUP members and close confidants of Kyagulanyi were on Friday arraigned before Court Martial and charged for being in possession of four bullets. The group was supposed to appear in Masaka court for bail after they were arrested at his Kalangala rally but their vehicle was instead diverted to Makindye military barracks.
The attacks on NUP members and brutality unleashed on Kyagulanyi during campaigns, has forced the presidential hopeful to send his family in US for their safety as next week’s contested presidential elections draw nearer.
President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power faces Kyagulanyi as his major challenger even though the race has 11 candidates. Others in race include Forum for Democratic Change candidate Patrick Oboi Amuriat, former security minister Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde, former Chief of Defence Forces –CDF Maj Gen Gregg Mugisha Muntu.