Members of Parliament under the Teso parliamentary group have decried the increasing level of insecurity and criminality in Teso sub-region at the inaction of Police.
The call was made on Monday by the Teso parliamentary group led by their chairperson, Patrick Okabe together with Ngora county MP, David Abala and Kibale county MP, Richard Oseku.
The legislators said that many business men and boda boda riders are being killed and robbed even in Soroti Municipality where police has relatively heavy presence.
They have demanded that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Gen Kale Kayihura immediately camps in Teso sub-region and withdraws the Regional Police Commander, and some police officers who are believed to be working with criminals.
MP Abala said that the criminal tendencies in the region are scaring off many investors that had expressed interest in Teso.
They accuse security officials of conniving with the criminal elements to lay off cases as well as “feasting” on exhibits.
They claimed that in some areas when stolen cows were discovered they were made to disappear by Police officers.
“In some cases police officers coach criminals on how to make statements at police when arrested which cannot implicate them in serious cases against them,” Abala said.
“How can someone disappear from a police cell? As leaders from Teso, we are concerned and this must stop; any police officer who is involved in the thuggery must be transferred,” Abala added.
Kibale county Richard, Oseku asked the Minister of Internal Affairs who also hails from Teso region, Gen Jeje Odong to get interested in the matter and end insecurity in the area.
“The only fundamental commodity that we have in the region is peace. We have lost a lot of development and if we add on insecurity to take away the peace, it becomes very pathetic.”
Oseku said that the insecurity is not only in Soroti, Ngora or Kumi but also in Palisa where robbery and killings have recently been reported.