The UPDF Deputy Spokesperson, Lt Col Deo Akiiki has said that the military involvement in the spate of operations to crackdown on the rogue Boda Boda 2010 group over the weekend was due to the terrorism nature of crimes that the suspects are alleged to have committed.
While responding to the press on Monday, Lt Col Akiki said that the military was forced to apprehend the suspected criminals after getting credible leads that they took part in the gruesome murder of Francis Ekalungar, a former accountant at Case Hospital.
So far, 30 people including Abdullah Kitatta the leader of Boda Boda 2010 have been arrested and are being detained in Kireka.
Asked why the military not Police took lead in the operations, Akiki said; “When a case involves murder and kidnap, every security agency will pick interest”.
“We [military] took interest in arresting these suspects because terrorism is an area that is key to us. With terrorism, you can never know what one incident will lead to,” Lt Col Akiiki told a press conference at Uganda Media Centre.
He addressed the joint press conference with Police Spokesperson, SSP Emilian Kayima.
Akiiki revealed that working jointly with the Counter Terrorism unit and other security agencies, the military got leads from different technical and human intelligence which led to the arrests.
We are still doing more joint investigation with Police and ISO to make sure this case moves smoothly and to the public expectations.
“Most of times, the military prefers working behind the scenes, but whenever an opportunity comes and we have to show up, we show up basing on the need,” the UPDF deputy spokesperson said.
“Ours is to ensure that all Ugandans are safe and secure. Order, security, law all aim at having peace and security no matter who does the operation”.
He said that some of the arrested will face murder charges while 20 others will be charged with obstruction of justice.
“We were able to apprehend prime suspects and got evidence that will be used to help the investigations into the murder of Ekalungar,” Akiiki said, adding that during the operations, “there were attempts to interfere with arresting officers to obstruct justice”.
He said a group of people tried to obstruct the arrest of these suspects at Top Radio, some closed roads while others mobilized their peers through social media against security forces.
“This is not acceptable and we shall do whatever possible to get you out of the way”.
Although some of the wanted suspects remain at large, he said that “we shall get them, today or tomorrow – they will be brought to justice”.
On whether the detainees will be charged before the army Court given that the UPDF was at the lead of their arrest, Akiiki said; “It is still an ongoing operation so we can’t determine prosecution process now. At this point, we have not yet identified issues that require any of the suspects to go into Court Martial”.
He said the the suspects are still undergoing screening to see who is culpable so the law can take its course.
On his part, Police spokesperson, Emilian Kayima said that contrary to the claims that the Boda Boda 2010 enjoys the protection of the police, individuals found culpable will face the law.
“It’s true the Inspector General of Police said they [Boda Boda 2010] have been helping police in Kampala but if Kitatta committed any crime individually, he will be dealt with,” Kayima said.
Kayima condemned mobs which on Monday morning attacked offices of the Boda Boda 2010 group and set them ablaze, saying the act was an obstruction of justice.
