On Saturday, the nation woke up to the news of the gruesome murder of Dr Ibrahim Gwaluka, who has been the in charge of Kigandaalo Health Centre IV, in Mayuge district, Eastern Uganda.
The deceased was also the treasurer of Uganda Medical Association (UMA) Busoga branch, a surgeon and an anaesthetist who has saved lives of many people in Busoga region.
According to Dr Basembeza Asuman, a friend to the deceased, the murder happened at around 8pm on Friday when Gwaluka and his wife returned home and found the assailants inside their fence.
He revealed to SoftPower News, that it was while Gwaluka was parking that the wife was dragged out of the car and reportedly kicked as she ran towards the house. The assailants then returned to the husband and severally shot him to death.
Dr Ekwaru Obuku, the President of the UMA who has in a statement condemned the act and described Gwaluka’s murder as a “big loss to the country”, has asked government to rise and protect citizens from such ruthless killings.
He also noted that the public according to him, seems to be losing confidence in the existing security measures by the state.
“Dr. Gwaluka’s death speaks volumes about our safety as Ugandan citizens. Our communities have resorted to organising own local neighbourhood patrols or security outfits, depicting a loss of confidence in the state security apparatus,” said Dr Obuku in a statement.
“We thus implore our security forces to guarantee the peace the NRM government claims to have restored. Indeed only recently, our country has been rocked with violent deaths by the gun, suggesting a return to the dark past. In fact, in 1979, doctors went on strike after rampant shootings of Ugandan Doctors,” he added.
He said that UMA expects the Police, DPP and the Judiciary to leave no stone unturned in investigating prosecuting and convicting the criminals who prematurely ended Gwaluka’s life.
The deceased graduated from Gulu University Medical School in 2012 before completing internship at Jinja Hospital where he emerged as a natural leader.