The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has called for the creation of village vigilante groups to counter the murders in the Masaka region.
The people in greater Masaka comprising Bukomansibi, Lwengo and Masaka districts have been spending sleepless nights for several weeks following attacks by machete-wielding thugs seemingly targeting elderly people.
According to the Internal Affairs Minister Gen David Muhoozi, the thugs have hacked 26 people to death. In a report he tabled before parliament on Tuesday, General Muhoozi explained that there is heightened security in the region, which has led to the arrest of 11 suspects in connection to the attacks.
He also revealed that he is considering tabling a proposal in the cabinet for possible compensation of the affected families. The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Anita Among directed that politicians from Masaka led by the Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga, return to the region and help resolve the matter alongside security.
She directed that like Arrow boys was formed to fight rebels in Teso region, vigilantes from the village are formed to counter the murderers.
Among said that it is only through working with the community that the machete-wielding assailants can be defeated. She also directed the provision of a special budget to handle the security situation in the region.
It is not the first time that machete and iron bar hitmen have targeted different parts of the country. Specifically in Lwengo and Bukomansimbi, from 2016-2018, over 100 people were killed and dozens of others injured forcing the then police chief General Kale Kayihura to camp there.
