Truth about the Masaka murders
Truth about the Masaka murders. This is first hand information, some of the suspects in prisons over “Bijambiya” (pangas) revealed they were being paid, but could not tell who exactly was financing the infamous project. The suspects are there languishing in prisons. These are vagabonds, they are not serious people. They were arrested in the first faze of Bijambiya, during Gen. Kale Kayihura’s era.
Today, Police Spokesman CP Fred Enanga has told journalists that so far 15 suspects, who were picked from the 68 suspects arrested randomly, are in police custody. Enanga added that those arrested “are residents.” Other narratives link murders to land conflicts. All in all, about 27 people have so far been killed in less than a month.
Well, it should be remembered that it was not Kayihura who put down the Masaka killings (Kyanamukaka murders). It was then Commander of the Rapid Response Unit, Afande David Magara. He has since retired. Unfortunately, he is one guy whose effort in fighting violence crimes has never been recognized. He and Afande Godfrey Musana were very instrumental in arresting the principle suspect then called Fred Mujulizi.
Mujulizi later reportedly escaped with the aid of Nixon Agasirwe, Kayihura’s blue eyed boy. It’s the same Afande Magara who managed to contain crime, during his time response to a crime scene was seven minutes while that of the US was at 8 minutes.
Police funders used to wonder how he had managed to attain that. If it hadn’t been for Afande Magara violent crimes would have visited Ugandans much earlier but he never stayed back, but continued to render help to Kale Kayihura.
Many people praise Col. Kayanja, but it was Afande Magara who did a lot in that unit as then deputy to Kayanja. Ever since his retirement violent crimes started increasing and the likes of Nixon Agasirwe became the problem was within.
There was nobody to contain them when Afande Magara left. Many of the people Afande Magara trained to takeover after him were frustrated and they left for the UN, others took early retirement.
About this time, AIGP Asan Kasingye, the Chief Political Commissar with a team of senior officers, is meeting with staff from Sembabule district to galvanize security against “bijambiya” criminals in the district, support in terms of manpower, logistics and strengthen security and improve on the readiness to respond to any acts of criminality in the region.