{UAH} I lost my teeth in LDU attack

• July 22, 2020
• Written by ROSE MUGENA & YUDAYA NANGOZI

Jackson Kanywani

After ugly incidents tainted their four-months' stint in law enforcement, the Local Defence Unit men and women were withdrawn from checkpoints and night patrols last week, but most Ugandans in the central districts of Kampala and Wakiso, who suffered the harshest brunt of LDU brutality, are still scarred by episodes of their horrific violence.

Many have harrowing tales to tell. Jackson Kanywani has a tall tale of his own experience. Jackson Kanywani, an artiste from the western district of Ntungamo district, lost a set of teeth from his lower jaw on May 15 after a ferocious LDU attack.

The shaky set of teeth was removed during surgery at Kiruddu hospital, a government referral. Kanywani was in Kampala on business. He travelled from Ntungamo to the capital city in February to record campaign songs he composed for different candidates weighing a run in the 2021 general elections.

His run-in with LDUs came on March 31 at around 11am at a Clock Tower roadblock. The LDUs were particularly targeting boda boda riders carrying passengers. Since he was riding a boda boda without a passenger, he managed to go past the roadblock only to be hit in the face with a blunt object by an LDU officer.The Observer listened to two songs recorded at DMS studios in Kampala for President Museveni and Minister Rukutana Mwesigwa. He claims the candidates had put down deposit payments. Like many Ugandans, the Covid-19-induced lockdown restrictions announced in March this year found him in Kampala.

He was rushed to Kiruddu hospital by sympathizers where he was admitted for over a month. The Observer looked at his case file lodged at Clock Tower Police station and medical results from Nsambya police health centre confirming the assault.

Kanywani spends about Shs 80,000 each day on medication. He sold his motorcycle and goats back home to pay his medical bills.

The former president of Uganda Musicians Association Sophie Gombya said, "The pain of seeing Jackson hold his teeth in his hands is unbearable. I pray he gets paid by those that owe him money for his music…"

She pledged to mobilize some financial help for him. But in an interview last weekend, the army said it is not under pressure to withdraw or disband the LDU personnel currently deployed across the country. Army spokesman Brig Richard Karemire said LDUs are not yet out of control to warrant disbandment.

"We are not going to disband LDUs because they are still manageable. There are a few bad ones out of the very many good ones," Karemire said.

He added: "We shall deal with the public feelings [about LDUs] but not in the way they would wish. So, you will start with demanding to disband the LDUs because of a few cases, then UPDF and police. If we have anarchy, what will you say thereafter? We shall not allow falling in any traps based on public feelings."

In 2017, President Museveni ordered the recruitment of LDUs to counter the spiraling wave of robberies, kidnaps and assassinations in the Kampala Metropolitan Area.

Museveni's security plan entailed LDUs policing their mother villages with police and army support but UPDF has since changed the plan to include deployment of LDUs countrywide regardless of their origin.

With the outbreak of Covid-19 in Uganda, LDUs were deployed in March to enforce presidential lockdown restrictions meant to slow the spread of the virus. In some cases, lives were lost and many injured due to the highhandedness of some LDUs.

According to Karemire, at least 14 cases of LDUs assaulting civilians, one threatening violence and another demanding property with menace have been registered.

With deaths as a result of LDUs, he said: "Cases of death during this Covid-19 period are the least but even a single death is bad enough and regrettable. That is why all have been brought to account with now 12 LDUs already sentenced."

He said most cases of assault have been recorded in Kampala Metropolitan Area where a large number of LDUs are deployed.

ATTACKS ON SECURITY FORCES

Meanwhile, the UPDF has documented 89 incidents of attack on own forces by civilians from January 12 to June 2020. The attacks were registered from districts such as Kisoro, Isingiro, Arua, Kampala, Mukono, Abim, Kamuli, Kween, Napak, Ntoroko and Wakiso. Others are Buvuma, Kasese, Buikwe, Mitooma, Amuru, Masindi, Kabale, Sheema, Busia, Kotido, and Kiryandongo.

Out of the 89 attacks, suspects involved in 29 have been arrested while civilians involved in 51 incidents are still at large. According to the UPDF report, most incidents are related to civilians pelting stones at security forces enforcing curfew guidelines.

For instance, on April 19 at Bibia trading center in Amuru, RA/236807 Pte Alex Niwanyina was attacked while escorting the resident district commissioner to close shops operating during curfew time.

Niwanyina was allegedly attacked by a one Steven Olidio. Karemire said the officer was evacuated to Lacor hospital before being airlifted to Bombo military hospital for further management.

"It is very unfortunate that our officer was successfully operated but his eye was removed due to injuries he sustained while on duty," he said.

On May 11 in Kween district, the report indicates that security forces on night patrol were attacked by a group of 12 people armed with pangas. In retaliation, two security officers shot and killed one of the civilians and injured one Denis Mashonga in the thigh as their colleagues ran in disarray.

The officers involved in the shooting; RA/152751 CPL Robert Druga and LDU AX 026209 Timothy Mutai, were arrested while the deceased was evacuated to Kapchorwa main hospital.

Karemire said the force will continue to mete out harsh punishments to officers who commit mistakes despite criticism by human rights organizations and activists.

"As a people's army, we cannot hold with soft gloves anyone who mistreats people. These cases involving LDUs that everyone is talking about do not even contribute one percent of the overall total number of LDUs in the country. It is very wrong for the public to assume all LDUs are bad without adequate research." he said, urging civilians to avoid confrontations with security officers.

nangonzi@observer.ug

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"Everyone becomes an expert after the FACT"

Allan

 

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