Police has paraded before media a group of suspects that have allegedly been terrorizing the Greater Masaka region.
At a media briefing held at Katwe Police Station, the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura presented 20 suspects who confessed to killing and raping residents of Masaka.
Majority said they had been promised to be employed as security guards but that on getting into Masaka, they were forced into crime.
One of the suspects, Juma Mulindwa told journalists that they were mobilized around Mt. Zion Hotel. He added that they couldn’t run away because they were being guarded by people in police uniform, who were under orders to shoot and kill.
“We were being guarded by people dressed in police uniform. They recruited us saying the previous group didn’t do the job well. We couldn’t resist because the people guarding us were told to ‘shoot to kill’ if any of us tried to leave. We were paid Shs20,000 per day,” Mulindwa told the IGP.
Another suspect, one Sulaiman, admitted to having been in charge of mobilization. “I was called to mobilize over 30 youth for crime and I was given Shs100, 000.” He added that all their needs including marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes were provided.
They were also provided with machetes, hammers and knives which they have been using to execute their works, he said.
One Kajubi Ronald pleaded for forgiveness saying: “I only raped once in 2009. Since then I have never raped women again. I’ve been stealing because of poverty. I ask for forgiveness. I can repent and stop stealing.”
Similar to Kajubi, another suspect, Ssenyonga pleaded for forgiveness.
“I’m a thief. I break into houses with knives but hadn’t reached the level of killing. We have a leader called Kabugo Ssentongo. He pays us after executing the job well. I’m paid between Shs70, 000 – 80,000. I have never killed or raped anyone. I just break into houses and steal. I will give you all the names of the other thieves I work with. But I’m asking for forgiveness. You’ll not hear my name again.”
Kayihura said over 100 suspects had been arrested and 50 of these had already appeared in court.
“We have made a number of arrests and increased patrols in Greater Masaka and other areas,” he said. “We’ve tightened security in greater Masaka. Patrols have been frequent. Greater Masaka has been calm for two weeks now.”
For months this year, Greater Masaka region residents have been living in fear following the murder of over 20 people and injury of more than 80 others.
Thugs armed with machetes and clubs on Tuesday made a fresh raid on four villages in Kingo sub-county, Lwengo district, injuring eight residents.
They have occasionally been dropping fliers bearing warnings that they would attack homes.
