Religious leaders task political leaders and security organs to redouble efforts in fight against women kidnaps, murders

By Najib Mulema

Religious Leaders under their umbrella body The Inter- Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) have tasked political leaders and security organs to redouble their efforts in fighting against women kidnaps and murders in the country.

In a statement dated 30 May, 2018, the Council Chairperson Sheikh Shaban Mubajje noted that citizens need to know the root cause of the kidnaps and murders as well as see that justice prevails for the relatives of the victims.

“As religious leaders we call upon the political leaders and security organs to redouble their efforts in the fight against insecurity in the country by speeding up investigations and judicial processes. Citizens are desirous to understand the root cause of the kidnaps and murders and also see that justice prevails,” said Sheikh Mubajje.

The clergy also called for a national dialogue which will create a platform for Ugandans to agree on a shared transformative and development agenda that accelerates the consolidation of peace, security, justice, sustainable development and rule of law.

Sheikh Mubajje further urged parents, faith leaders and communities to be more vigilant and become each other’s keeper.

“I take this opportunity to call upon all parents, faith leaders and the communities to be more vigilant and become each other’s keeper. Particularly, parents should, henceforth , inculcate a spirit of responsibility and security consciousness in their children. Empirically, it’s the young people especially girls whose lives are most threatened,” he said.

Last month, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Okoth Ochola revealed that since the year began, 42 kidnap cases have been registered whereby eight victims were murdered, eight were rescued alive and seven are still missing.

He also said 20 of the cases were self kidnaps.

Ochola attributed the rampant kidnaps to demand of ransom to finance terrorist activities, crimes of passion, self-kidnaps and kidnap for rituals.

The number of serious kidnap cases has been on the increase since the kidnap and murder of 28-year-old Susan Magara whose body was found dumped in Kigo along the Southern Bypass.