KAMPALA – Uganda’s Internal Affairs Minister (Rtd) Gen Kahinda Otafiire has admitted the existence of rogue elements within the various security forces, maintaining that these were accountable for the on-going wave of the crimes in the country.
Gen Otafiire noted that some of the rogue personnel were taking advantage of the security’s (planned) arrests, to achieve their respective hidden motives.
Gen Otafiire was on Wednesday responding to concerns about the illegal arrests and detention of a section of Ugandans by plain-cloth security personnel.
The Minister said that as a measure of containing the activities of such rogue personnel in security forces, the police were on order to desist from detaining suspects without credible evidence.
He highlighted that it was illegal for security personnel to arrest suspects and detain them in un-gazetted facilities. He added any security operative who acts in such a fashion was a criminal, who had to be arrested.
There has been a spate of arrests carried out by plain cloth security personnel in the wake of attacks on security installations and security personnel.
Early last month, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi linked the attacks on Busiika Police post in Luweero District to a rebel outfit called Coalition for Change – CC. But Otafiire dismissed the claims, insisting that these elements within the various security organs.
For instance, the Minister revealed that an attack in Bukomero in which a security guard was killed was conducted by a lone individual who attempted a raid on a fuel tanker in Mbale where the same gun was discovered. He said the suspect identified as Ssekimpi was later gunned down in an attack in Kapeeka.
Otafiire assured the nation that security organs were following up on the matter, the more reason panic shouldn’t be an option.
Armed assailants have attacked security installations and killed security personnel in Jinja, Nakaseke, Luweero, and Wakiso districts before fleeing with guns and ammunition.
Additional reporting by URN
