Parliament Observes Silence Over Kirumira’s Murder, Demand Report

Members of Parliament (MPs) have put pressure on the State Minister of Internal Affairs, Mario Obiga Kania to table before the House a report on the gruesome murder of the former Buyende District Police Commander (DPC), ASP Muhammad Kirumira.

The pressure was first mounted by Lwemiya County MP, Theodore Ssekikubo who requested the Speaker to allow the House be informed on the security problems in the country and also discuss solutions to these problems following the recent murder of Kirumira.

In her ruling, the Speaker noted that it was not proper for Ssekikubo to hijack her on such an important subject without first informing her.

However, Ssekikubo’s move was defended by Kalungu West MP, Joseph Ssewungu who accused the Ministers of always waiting members to push them to respond on matters of national importance.

Ssewungu said it should be the initiative of Ministers to request space on the order paper to address the House on such matters.

“I can see the Minister Obiga Kania praying so hard that the issue doesn’t come on the floor of the House but why do Ministers wait for us to push them to address the matters of national importance?” Ssewungu said.

He was joined by Butebo Woman MP, Agnes Amedo who wondered why security officers never accorded Kirumira enough security yet he kept revealing that his life was under threat all along.

“Why wasn’t Kirumira accorded the relevant protection yet he kept revealing that his life was under threat well knowing that he was a key witness in some court cases,” Amede demanded.

Bukoto East MP, Florence Kamayanja noted: “Kirumira has been raising issues of threats. Something must be done in the country not to wait for unfortunate incidents to happen. We can’t keep lamenting after things have happened.”

The Minister however informed the House that the authorities were carrying out more investigations and would not want to report to the House with half-baked information.

Hon. Obiga said that the plan is that by tomorrow and Thursday, they will be producing facts on the murder of Kirumira.

Earlier, Parliament had observed a moment of silence for the late Kirumira whom the Speaker described as a very courageous and brave young man who stood out to fight corruption, indiscipline, impunity and fraud in the Uganda Police Force.