The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Hon Winnie Kiiza has said that the brutal death of renowned Member of Parliament, Ibrahim Abiriga is a challenge to government to take the prevailing insecurity in Uganda seriously.
Winnie Kiiza said that government has continued to sweep the security concerns under the carpet but that the death of Abiriga signifies that the criminals spare nobody, regardless of their support to government.
The Leader of Opposition made the appeal on Sunday as Parliamentarians paid tribute to Abiriga who was shot dead on Friday together with his bodyguard and young brother as they drove to their home in Kawanda, Wakiso district. Abiriga died at age 62.
“When the murder of children started, we referred to them as ritual murders, child sacrifices and we brushed it off. When the murder of women happened, we said they were prostitutes and the issue of illuminati came up,” Kiiza said.
Similarly, she added, the deaths of Muslim clerics was attributed to religion and terrorism and that no action was taken by government.
“Joan Kagezi and Felix Kaweesi were gunned down and the rhetoric was ‘we shall bring perpetrators to book’. We demanded reports but no no report has been availed,” Kiiza said.
“Now, the death is in our house. Here we are mourning one of us who has been gunned down in a similar manner”.
She called on the MPs, security agencies and the entire government to rise up to the occasion and start speaking to the insecurity in this country.
Killings have no colour, no status and no shame; that’s why they have gone for the children, the women, religious leaders and MPs, she said.
“The sole responsibility of protecting the lives and property lies in the confines of government. The NRM government has for a long time been celebrated for security. But of recent, security is a privilege,” she saidm
She blamed the insecurity on the so many guns in the private possession, unregulated private security firms, unemployment.
Mrs. Winnie reiterated that people have been voting NRM because they can at least sleep adding that “unfortunately now, sleep is just a privilege, and if you wakeup you’re not sure whether you will end the day.”
She described Abiriga as truthful, straightforward and that his good character was demonstrated by mass attendance of the MPs during Sunday’s special sitting.
“Why are we all here? We are here to thank God for the gift of Abiriga. He was had to annoy. He was an easy person to work with whose character was humble,” Kiiza said.