Deputy IGP names rebel group behind Busiika police attack

KAMPALA, UGANDA: The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi has linked the recent attack on Busiika Police Post in Luweero left two officers dead to a rebel group codenamed ‘Coalition for Change.’

During the attack, which occurred last Monday at around 7:30 pm, the attackers killed the OC, Moses Wagaluka, and Alex Ongolo, a police constable. Stephen Andama, another police constable, survived with bullet injuries.

Now while addressing journalists at his office on Friday evening, Maj Gen Katsigazi has revealed that at least one person, identified only as Ssemogerere a suspect leader of the rebel group has been arrested as investigations intensify further.

“The problem of attacking police posts and taking guns is a deliberate effort by a group of people who seem to think that they can change the government by force. So it’s no longer the same criminals who come and attack with machetes and rob. This is mainly to kill and take guns,” Maj Gen Katsigazi said.

According to him, the group’s mission was to acquire guns and continue with their subversive activities. “So it’s no longer the same criminals who come and attack with machetes and rob. This is mainly to kill and take guns,” he added.

“They [thugs] come in bigger numbers. For instance, in Busiika, they were seven armed with two AK-47 rifles and a pistol, according to our preliminary investigations. Busiika Police Post had 10 police officers attached to it but only six officers were present on that fateful day,” he added.

The Deputy IGP said the attackers targeted the police post when most officers were away but said that investigations revealed some bit of laxity of police officers and commotion at the police post. He said the place is so busy and tucked between shops and bars hence it was hard for the officers to detect bad elements.

Asked what police have done to curb the vice of raiding police posts, MajGen Katsigazi said they have been carrying out operations where several suspects have been arrested.

He added that the operations led to the recovery of at least six guns which had been stolen by thugs from various police posts.

“The trend is building up and it’s not the ordinary crime which we have been used to because these ones are attacking both private security and police posts with an intention of taking guns. This is a serious matter but I would like to assure the public that we are dealing with it head-on to ensure that we contain those attacks,” he said.