The Uganda joint Christian Council (UJCC) says there are many unanswered questions regarding the violence witnessed during the Arua Municipality by-elections and insists that government should institute an independent commission to investigate circumstances that led to the chaos and the events that followed including the arrest of Hon Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.
“The truth regarding what sparked off the violence on the eve of the Arua Municipality constituency by-election can only be established by an independent panel of inquiry established by the parliament of Uganda or through a judicial process presided over by the ordinary courts of law,” Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Constatine Mbonabingi, the Executive Secretary of the Uganda Joint Christian Council said during a presser on Tuesday at the organisation headquarters.
“At the moment we are dealing with allegations and counter allegations and there are very many unanswered questions. For example; who hurled the stone which allegedly damaged one of the vehicles in the presidential motorcade – and who witnessed the alleged hurling of the stone? Has the alleged culprit been arrested and if not, why? Under what circumstances was the driver of Kyagulanyi shot? These questions call for honest answers,” Mbonabingi added.
Uganda Joint Christian Council is a faith based ecumenical organisation that was established in 1963 and registered as a trustee under the Trustees Incorporation Act. Its current membership comprises the Church of Uganda, the Roman Catholic Church and the Uganda Orthodox Church, which together constitute about 78% of Uganda’s population.
The Council condemned attacks on media during the chaos and urged government to investigate circumstances that led to the arrest of Journalists who were detained in various facilities across the region.
They urged that suspects should be granted access to medical attention of their choice and that the Uganda People’s Police Force should explained how Hon Kyagulanyi’s driver was gunned down and Hon Zaake battered.
“We urge President Museveni to reach out to our opposition political leaders with a handshake – similar to one that happened in Kenya,” Mbonabingi said.
aaron@ugchristiannews.com
