SAD! Officers in uniform brutally arrest Chairman Luzige who was cautioning them on mistreating civilians
NEWS EDITOR
THE Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. David Muhoozi has sent a team of senior leaders in the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) to Mityana where Counsel Joseph Luzige, the LC V Chairman was manhandled by undisciplined officers in uniform and brutally arrested.
CDF has directed them to make an on spot assessment and confer with both the district leaders and the district security committee.
The sent team include: Maj Gen Sam Kavuma the Deputy Commander Land Force (D/CLF), Maj Gen Sam Kawaga (1Div Commander) and Maj Gen. Henry Masiko the Chief of Political Commissar (CPC).
Meanwhile, four officers who were involved in battering and man handling Chairman Joseph Luzige have been arrested and are to be prosecuted in the military court.
They are; L/Cpl Simon Peter Anguria, Pte Simon Odeke, Pte Caroline Musundi and Pte Isaac Okello.
According to Brig. Gen. Richard Karemire, UPDF Spokesman, investigations have also commenced.
The heartless incident happened yesterday evenning in Mityana, when Chairman Luzige came in to talk to security men who included UPDF soldiers, Police and LDUs to stop their brutality on civilians.
It is alleged that a patrol squad in Mityana beat up bodaboda cyclists who did not observe Presidential directives to stop at 5pm.
“Chairman Luzige was called to come and save his people from the hands of the blood thirsty security officers. When he tried to talk to them, they man handled and brutally arrested this senior leader in the district.” Said an eye witness.
Attempts by residents to shout at the security officers not to embarrass their District governor where fruitless as they kept manhanddling him, an act which has annoyed top government officials.
Luzige is a senior NRM cadre and was once a Lawyer attached to State House.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, he was heard introducing himself to these officers as the District LCV Chairman but all in vain!
ARMY SPEAKS OUT
In a press statement released by UPDF Spokeperson released today, Brig. said the UPDF regrets this gross act of indiscipline that is not characteristic of the UPDF as a people’s army.
The statement reads, “Yesterday on July 7, 2020, a patrol squad on routine duty in Mityana Municipality manhandled the LCV Chairman for Mityana District Mr Joseph Luzige. The circumstances are yet to be established.”
Karemire says this incident, no doubt has attracted a lot of attention from the members of the public and the leaders in Mityana district and beyond.
“We wish to restate that discipline remains a core value and bedrock on which the UPDF was founded. Anyone who deviates from this will always be punished according to the established laws.” Reads the Statement.
It continues to say, “There are examples to prove this in the recent past like a soldier in Kasese was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment and an LDU personnel was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment all because of unprofessional conduct.”
“We therefore strongly condemn this act meted out against one of our senior civilian leaders.” Says Defence Spokesperson.
He said, the UPDF wishes to reiterate its full commitment and loyalty to the people of Uganda and will always remain subordinate to the civilian authority as provided for under Article 208 of the Constitution.
“There is no need to lose heart over these incidents. A comprehensive review of these deployments to enforce anti-COVID 19 measures is soon to take place and we expect better results.” Reads statement signed by Brig. Gen. Richard Karemire psc, fwc, Defence Spokesperson.
PUBLIC RESPONDS
Counsel Moses Kabuusu has said, “Its disheartening to watch this when soldier pretend to be above the law and harass political leaders plus legal friends like this.”
“I know ULGA will come out and fight for him.ULS also needs to come out and probe the matter to find out what exactly happened and how it ended.” Said counsel Kabuusu.
Fredrick Mujjuzi yesterday night wrote on NRM CENTRAL REGION platform that, “LDUs have strongly and almost successfully taken away the NRM security pillar. Many people have always voted NRM saying President Museveni brought peace. Now see how these LDUs are misbehaving!”
“That gun is a very deadly weapon in the hands of a wrong individual.These acts of LDUs seem to portray LDUs to be in-charge if a district Chairperson elected by the people can be treated like a pig.” Writes NRM’s Mujjuzi.
On the same platform, one Umar wrote, “Mzeee shoud come out and respond to them or else people are going to get fed up and battle with them seriously.”
Abraham Luzzi, NRM flag bearer and contestant for MP Mityana Municipality said, “Security officers fall under the RDC. He chairs district security meetings. Is he fearing them? He must be incompetent. We request the president to send us another RDC.”
CONSTITUTIONAL FUNCTIONS OF DEFENCE FORCES
The functions of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces are—
(a) to preserve and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda;
(b) to cooperate with the civilian authority in emergency situations and in cases of natural disasters;
(c) to foster harmony and understanding between the defence forces and civilians; and
(d) to engage in productive activities for the development of Uganda.
MITYANA SECURITY WOES
Mityana is in news these days over security problems which must be sorted out as soon as possible.
The News Editor Media on Monday published a story about leaked intelligence report by District Internal Security Officer (DISO) Fabiano Niwagaba in which he pinned Hon. Minister Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, Hon. Henry Kamya Makumbi, Counsel Luzige and others for not supporting minister Judith Nabakooba. Counsel Luzige called this ‘Nonsense’. Also readhttps://www.newseditor.co.ug/2020/07/06/mityana-diso-in-trouble-over-leaked-intelligence-report-on-mp-zaake-ministers-kiwanda-nabakooba-chairman-luzige/
