Kawempe South Member of Parliament Mubarak Muhammad Munyagwa has been granted bail by High Court Judge, Justice Flavia Anglin Senoga, after ordering him to make a down-payment of Shs.15 million to one John Baptist Maali for a land transaction turned sour.

MP Munyagwa, who has spent two weeks in Luzira Prison on remand, was arrested on April 10, by Edward Kyalula of Alpha Court Bailiffs, after he failed to vacate a piece of land sold he to Maali at 100m in 2005. The MP, sent to prison by Execution Division Registrar Flavia Nassuna, promised to pay the balance by August 2.

MP Munyagwa aka Muggatti gwa Bata, sold the plot 509 located at block 205 Kyadondo, Kawempe division measuring 0.316 hectares but had since failed to clear the balance.

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The recent murders of high profile figures awakened fear amongst the public over their security.

And these fears of insecurity reached the peak last month following the brutal murder of the Assistant Inspector General of Police Andrew Felix Kaweesi. This, followed by the recent murders, theft and rape in the Masaka Greater Region and Najjera, has left many worried about their security.

Among those worried for their security is retired Supreme Court judge, Justice George Wilson Kanyeihamba, who is even guarded by three armed policemen given to him by government.

“Most Ugandans who don’t believe in God as I do are frightened out of their wit. They say there is a hit list for businessmen and VIPs. And today’s Red Pepper says Kabaka is on the hit list. ‘SFC takes over the security’ …. Really, must we talk about security? Security is no longer there,” he said while appearing on NBS TV in the afternoon.

“When they are still investigating the assassination of the late AIGP, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, a headline reads; a Gen(eral) has been arrested, and many police officers were involved. Who can talk about security in this country? We are living on the mercy of God. And I am sure that even the President himself and the cabinet are worried for their security. Please don’t talk about security anymore in Uganda. In our minds, it’s not there anymore,” Kanyeihamba said.

Kanyeihamba’s comments came just hours after the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Gen. Kale Kayihura advised residents of Najjera, Wakiso District, to form Whatsapp Groups to enhance their security.

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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.

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Hundreds gathered in Ethiopia’s Northern town of Adwa, to commemorate the defeat of the Italian troops by Ethiopian forces in 1986 and the establishment of a Pan African University in Africa.

African leaders and several delegates, who had just attended the 6th Tana high level forum on security in Africa, flew to Adwa to cement African Unity with the establishment of the Pan African University in Africa.

President Yoweri Museveni and his host Ethiopia Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn laid the foundation stone for the construction of the University.

Museveni blamed African chiefs for not fighting and consolidating the sovereignty of the African continent. He thanked the people of Ethiopia for putting up a spirited resistance to colonialism, which couldn’t be done by many African chiefs.

“I am honoured along with my colleagues to be in Ethiopia. I am honored to be invited here at Adwa. I would have removed my shoes because this is a holy place, it is the holy land of Africa. It removed the shame from Africa. The African chiefs should be ashamed of their ancestors who looked on as Africa was being invaded and colonised by the foreigners,” he said.

Museveni said the colonisation of Africa was an indictment of the Africans. “Here in Ethiopia, your ancestors redeemed the honour of Africa and that is why we are here. Adwa is a remarkable inspiration in Africa,” he said.

About the Pan African University, President Museveni said, “I am glad you are establishing a University here at Adwa which will redeem Africa with a combined action of carriage, knowledge and new technology to benefit all Africans for development.”

Adwa is a market town and separate district in northern Ethiopia specifically in the Tigray region. It is best known as the community closest to the decisive battle of Adwa fought in 1896 with Italian troops. In the age of relentless European expansion into Africa, Ethiopia, led by Emperor Menelik II, defeated one of Europe’s major powers, Italy.

Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn said “Our ancestors have made huge sacrifices to safeguard the sovereignty of the country and pass it on to existing generations.” The battle according to him, was a victory for all black people. He tasked young Ethiopians to involve themselves in the development of the country.

“It is my strong conviction that a generation that remembers the history of its forefathers can also make its own history. In order to pass this history on to the next generation we have to build a war museum and a Pan African University and make Adwa a tourist destination,” he said.

The event saw marches by members of the Ethiopian security forces and displays by horse riders draped in the colours of the country, cheered by hundreds of people from the mountainous Devrch villages 25 kilometers from Axum Yohannes Airport.

Former Burundi President Pierre Buyoya, former Malawi, President, Joyce Hilda Banda, former South African President Thabo Mbeki, Botswana Vice President, Mokgweetst Masisi and former Nigeria President, Olugesun Obasanjo attended.

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