BUKEDEA – Residents of Bukedea District in Teso Sub Region have appealed to President Museveni to instruct the Inspector General of Police to transfer the District Police Commander if he wants the people of Bukedea to vote for NRM come 2021.
The locals accused the DPC Mr. Ezera Tugume of failing to address the escalating insecurity in the district.
Ms Sarah Asio a mother and a resident of Bukedea Town Council claimed that the DPC has failed to arrest a gang of criminals who are causing insecurity in the town council.
According to Ms Asio the behaviour of the Police head towards addressing the insecurity situation in the district has made the general public lose hope in the force.
“Other district police commanders move to the public carrying out community policing but our DPC doesn’t do that and we believe he might be part of a criminal gang in Bukedea,” she said.
Betty Aropet another resident said the District Police Commander has refused to arrest people who raped women and beating people in May 4th when they were forcefully evicting people in their land located in Amujaju village.
“We no longer go to report cases to Police because on several occasions when you go and report a case, the same Police call that person and tell him all what you have recorded in the file and yet they don’t arrest him,” she said.
Moses Omongole another resident said he does not sleep in his house because the criminal gangs are looking for him day and night.
“If the president does not transfer this DPC then we shall not be happy to vote for NRM because it would be of no value,” he said.
Mr. Ezera Tugume when contacted declined to comment on the matter and switched off his phone.
Mr. Hajji Ramadhan Walugembe the Resident District Commissioner, Bukedea confirmed the existence of groups of criminal gangs that terrorise families.
“It is true the community in Bukedea is living under fear of these untouchable criminal gangs, I have directed DPC to arrest these gangs but he has deliberately refused,” he said.
According to Hajj Walugembe the presence of criminal gangs in Bukedea was tarnishing the image of the NRM government whose main objective is to promote peace and development in the country.
Two weeks ago the Mbale High Court judge Susan Okalany petitioned President Museveni and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions over what she called a plan by criminal gangs in Bukedea District to kill her.
