Masaka City leaders, schools, targeted in new threatening leaflets

In the leaflets, one handwritten written and the other printed, the unidentified persons start off by saying that they are not thieves, rather they are simply fighting for their lives.

To that end, they warn a few individuals, who are listed in the leaflets by name, against interfering with their aims related to remuneration and sourcing necessities.

The names listed are: Walugembe, Jamirah, Ssali, Muwonge, Andrew, Sanyu, and two individuals identified only by their surnames: Sekatawa and Nalukaaga.

In the printed leaflet, they list names of individuals that they intend to attack and tell them to prepare.

"Hajji Gava Mwebe, Namigadde, Nyanja Paulo, Hajji Ntege, Musumba Gasana, Musumba Kawalya, Masereka Dan, Deo, Afande Rwamuchwa, Afande Bosco, Afande Zake, Mugumya, Kibanja, Kisaakye, Kakooza Matia, Lule Musa, Naava, Were, Wilson, Walukagga David, Master Geoffrey, Yiga, Peter, Ssonko, Ssempungu, Paskali, Kakande, Agaba, Sserunjogi, Bell Master Musa, Dalausi, Namugga, Happy Kasozi and Afande Medadi," the leaflet reads.

They also state their intentions of burning down four schools, a hospital and Equator University. The schools include Sumaya, Bright Future, Bright Angels and Jordan.

One of the targets of these threats is Masaka City journalist Sylvia Cissy Naava. Naava said she is living in fear for her life and those of her family.

“I cannot tell whether I am targeted because of my journalism or the community politics I am involved in since I am an active leader in many women groups,” she said yesterday.

Former Mayor of Kimaanya-Kabonera Municipality, Matia Kakooza, who is also listed in the leaflets, said that he suspects the threats are coming from an infamous local recruiting company.

“Together with police, we raided a residential home where about 200 youth were residing after being promised jobs by a non-existing company. These fraudsters could be the ones circulating such leaflets trying to threaten us but we are not shaken,” he said.

Masaka City Police Commander Moses Nanock confirmed the clues on the suspects. He also said that this time they are on high alert to prevent the bloodshed that happened last year in which 26 people lost their lives.

“We are not taking the threats lightly and have already deployed at the institutions mentioned in the leaflets,” Nanock noted.

Similar leaflets, by a group identified as Uganda Coalition Front for Change, were seen in Mityana Town last month with messages of waging war against the government of Yoweri Museveni.