Uganda: town of Masaka shaken by serial killings

The main avenue in the town of Masaka, Uganda.

(illustrative image) © CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons / Hectorzalazar

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Since July, at least 28 people have been killed with machetes by criminals in Masaka town and Lwengo district, an opposition stronghold in the center of the country.

The victims are said to be mainly elderly people, according to police, who say they have arrested 30 suspects.

No motive has yet been given.

The last attacks of this kind go back three years, and today like yesterday, the anger does not weaken.

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Since the end of August, Ugandans have been demonstrating to demand justice for the victims of this new series of murders under the slogan "Masaka Lives Matter" ("the lives of the inhabitants of Masaka matter").

It is this message that the opponent Stella Nyanzi wanted to express Thursday during one of these gatherings.

Criticisms of the inaction of the police which seem not to please: on her return to her home, Nyanzi found dozens of police officers at her home.

“ 

I don't understand why men armed with Kalashnikovs, sticks and tear gas canisters entered my home, they even had big dogs.

I told them,

 "Look, the residents of Masaka are tired of seeing these murderers wielding machetes and you don't react. If you really want to show your efficiency, go and arrest the murderers of innocent Ugandans, there is no one there. to stop at my parents' house ".

"

About 30 suspects were arrested, but that did not stop the killings.

The police blame the residents for their lack of cooperation.

The authorities believe that these crimes are planned.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday hinted that the ordering parties were ADF rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Museveni has also requested the help of the Congolese authorities to find those responsible.

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  • Uganda