By VOM News Room.
Communities in Kisoro Municipality have expressed worry for their personal safety after Criminal gangs have continued to terrorize residents despite several pleas to Kisoro Police to intervene in the matter.
At least 20 people have been attacked and maimed between the hours of 9pm (21:00) to 5:30 am by unknown groups of people wielding sledge hammers, pangas, slashers, knives and wooden plunks.
People’s properties including mobile phones, money and other hand held items have been stolen in the last one month.
The most recent attack has shocked many after a Radio Presenter with Voice of Muhabura Onesmus Omunya’Uganda was attacked earlier this week at 6am as he was heading to the radio for his morning show.
The Presenter, managed to fight them off however he sustained an injury to his right foot.
Omunya’Uganda is not the first radio presenter to be attacked as MC Sunny star and Kenneth Kazoora Bizimungu were attacked by thugs several weeks back.
“I have been attacked twice, Bizimungu explains, the first time I was leaving Karumena village slightly after Midnight, four guys wearing hoodies demanded for my phone. One of them had a panga”. Bizimungu narrates.
Bizimungu says, he recalls asking for his SIM Card and the next thing he felt was him hitting the ground and being rained on with sticks, punches and kicks on his back and legs.
“I narrowly escaped death that night. The other time, I was heading back home around 9:30 pm when I met a click of young boys standing in the dark, I simply got down on my knees and gave them 2000 shillings, the only money I had, Bizimungu explained.
According to Bizimungu, the thugs even recognized him as a Sports presenter and news anchor.
Many others have fallen a similar fate or worse but have not reported to the Police.
Those who spoke to vomuhabura.com, claim having little to no confidence in Kisoro Police.
During a village meeting held in Karumena village, Central division, Kisoro Municipality, residents led by the LC I chairperson Daudi Line claimed not to know the Kisoro District Police Commander (DPC) because he is not social and approachable.
According to line, security patrols were visible during the lockdown but after lifting the curfew, Police presence is scanty and very thin on the ground.
Kisoro DPC Richard Musisi has been accused of being unfriendly to the public and the media.
Any attempts to get a comment or response from Musisi equals a direct referral to Kigezi regional Police Spokesperson Elly Matte, who is not always readily available to comment on security matters concerning Kisoro district.
Youth engage in Drugs and Alcohol
A survey conducted by Voice of Muhabura has been revealed that many youth between the ages of 19 and 25 years in Kisoro Municipality are spending more time drinking Waragi, locally known as Busanza while others are using Marijuana (weed).
These individuals, move out in the cover of the night to terrorize anyone they meet on the streets.
Kisoro Resident District commissioner Hajji Shafiq Sekandi has said his office is planning to meet all LC Is and LC IIs in Kisoro Municipality to find a lasting solution to the criminality in the town.
Kisoro LCV chairperson Abel Bizimana says all houses, business and residential must have a functioning security light during the night to chase away darkness which has been a contributing factor to increased crime at night.
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