The Uganda Police Force has denied claims made by Winnie Kiiza, the former Opposition Leader in Parliament that the army had taken siege of her home in Kasese, describing her claims as lies.
On Sunday evening, the Kasese Woman MP took to facebook and asked Ugandans to pray for her family, saying that two armed men spent the night at her compound in Kasese on Friday, supposedly waiting for her husband, Yokasi Bihande to come home and they shoot him.
According to Kiiza’s account, her family friends tipped them about the siege, which prompted the husband not go home that Friday night.
“As I am posting this message, again, nine armed men in military uniform have surrounded our house again in Kiburara Kasese. All of them armed to the teeth with machine guns and RPGs.
This kind of situation has been around my Kampala residence too in the last few weeks. Whoever they are after, God is watching,” Kiiza wrote.
The Kasese Woman MP sent out warning to the security forces reminding them that her family members are Ugandan citizens who are entitled to all citizenry rights, and expressed concern if her husband’s life is in danger.
Responding to her claims, Police acknowledged receiving allegations of armed personnel at Kiiza’s home.
“ The Uganda Police Force received allegations of armed people in the home of Mr. Bihande, husband to Hon. Winnie Kiiza, former LoP. This was Friday September 21, 2018. The Regional Police Command, Rwenzori East quickly responded and visited the home. Unfortunately, Mr. Bihande who was reported in the house. Last evening, Sunday September 23rd, 2018, similar allegations were made by Hon. Winnie Kiiza, alleging military presence at their home. Again, the police rushed there and found no military presence there. There was no one home,” SSP Emilian Kayima, the Police Spokesperson said in a statement.
He added: “The Regional police headquarters called Mr. Bihande and he declined to speak to the police done earlier. This left police doubting the authenticity of the allegations. We spoke with some domestic workers and neighbors about these issues and they denied knowledge of any military presence. As a result, we have taken a stand to open a General Enquiry File (GEF) to investigate these allegations.
It’s being handled by the regional team at Rwenzori East. Leaders, must at all times cooperate with security agencies to solve matters that bring about insecurity.”
