By Andrew Bagala

President Museveni has directed the Finance Ministry to immediately buy escort vehicles for all the 456 MPs while the army will provide them with “sharp shooters” to protect them from what he called “terrorists.”

He ordered Finance minister Matia Kasaija to immediately set aside money to acquire a fleet of escort vehicles for MPs which will be boosted by marksmen from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

“MPs have been singled out for intimidation and possibly attack. I have decided to protect MPs as we wait for the putting in place of these security measures. MPs already have some police guards. Those will stay with them. I will, however, add two elements; the sharp-shooters of the army and follow-pickups that will be used by these against small arms bullets,” Mr Museveni said in the letter to Mr Kasaija.

“I therefore direct you to immediately acquire a fleet of new 4-wheel drive pick-ups with open carriage beds. Provide additional money for these vehicles quickly. The army will use them to guard the MPs and when the new systems are put in place, these vehicles will be given to army officers as part of the UPDF fleet,” he added.
Mr Museveni said the UPDF sharp-shooters will get personal body armour and helmets that are bullet proof. He concluded telling Mr Kasaija: “Act fast. I thank you and I expect speed.”

His letter is copied to the Vice President, Mr Edward Ssekandi, the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen David Muhoozi, the Minister of Defence, Mr Adolf Mwesige, and Mr Keith Muhakanizi, the Secretary to the Treasury.



In his June 20 letter, Mr Museveni stated that crimes like the killings of six Muslim sheikhs, State prosecutor Joan Kagezi, the kidnap and murder of Susan Magara and the killing of Assistant Inspector General of Police Felix Kaweesi “were committed with the possible collusion of the police.”

In many of the killings, the officials under attack have been seated with their bodyguards in the same car. This, perhaps, is why the President has chosen a separate vehicle for bodyguards.

The legislators started raising alarm bells over their security in December last year following the passing of the contentious Constitution Amendment Bill that amended Article 102(b) and removed age limit on the presidency to allow Mr Museveni contest for reelection as many times as he wishes.

Fears over MPs’ safety were heightened when Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga was gunned down in Kawanda suburb in Wakiso on June 8, 2018.

His murder followed a wave of high-profile assassinations and killings which sent the country into a state of trepidation, prompting Mr Museveni to unveil a 12-security master plan that he touted as the magic bullet to the spiral in crime.

When MPs met Mr Museveni on June 28 to discuss escalating insecurity in the country, they voiced skepticism about guards from the Counter-Terrorism Police and requested for army escorts instead.
Finance ministry spokesperson Jim Mugunga declined to comment on where the Treasury will get the money to enforce Mr Museveni’s directives on MPs’ security. He referred all inquiries on the matter to Mr Kasaija.

Expenditure


Some car dealers we talked to say on average, such vehicles cost $46,000 (about Shs173 million), implying that the government will have to fork out Shs78.8 billion

Mr Kasaija could not be reached for a comment as he did not pick up our calls.
Butambala MP Muwanga Kivumbi, however, expressed worry on what implications such heavy deployment of military guards around Parliament will create for the country.
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