The family and friends of Richard Kayabula, who was shot dead by police during the Kyotera Parliamentary campaign rallies in 2020, has appealed to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations at Kibuli to expedite investigations into the death of their loved one.
The call was made by the family and district leaders during the prayer service for Kayabula at Mabunwe village on Tuesday.
It is seven months since Kayabula, 43, a resident of Mabunwe –Ntovu village in Nakatoogo parish, Nabigasa sub-county, died but there hasn’t been any reasonable progress in his case.
Kayabula was shot on December 4, 2020 as police dispersed supporters of the Democratic Party and National Resistance Movement who had clashed at the same venue in Nakatoogo trading centre.
At least nine police officers including the then DPC Judith Akello were arrested and their guns retained for ballistic assessment. They were later released on police bond after the file went to Kibuli.
However, the delayed investigations have impelled the family to believe that police is shielding the officers said to be responsible for his death.
According to Asmat Nabankema, a widow of four children, they want investigations into the matter expedited for justice as it has been with Gen. Katumba Wamala’s incident.
She said that Kayabula’s killers were police officers but none was prosecuted because the police are shielding them.
“I only want justice for my husband. The investigating body has not engaged us on anything pertaining to the progress of the investigations. Therefore we are stranded,” she noted.
She added that the family has been struggling since Kayabula’s demise who was the only breadwinner.
Nabankema further appealed to the government to support them in the lockdown period adding that her banana business got disorganised since she no longer received clients due to transport issues.
Kayabula’s mother -Teo Nalwanga used to rely on her son but she is currently struggling to make ends meet yet too weak to dig.
She added that Kayabula was a coffee dealer and transporter in addition to some retail businesses in Kyotera town but none of his business associates and employees came out to reveal whether he had left some money behind to help the family.
Nalwanga noted that Kayabula’s death was planned because he was shot three times on purpose.
“I cannot dig because I am weak and getting older every day. I relied on my son for every basic need but he is no more. So I need justice and government intervention to support the widow and the orphans,” she said.
Fortunate Rose Nantongo, the Kyotera Woman MP, said that police is silent about the case and there isn’t been any progress since the file was sent to Kibuli a few days after the incident.
She added that they have come out to support the family since Kayabula died in their campaign rallies.
“We decided to take up the responsibility of educating the orphaned children to relieve Nabankema of the burden,” she said, adding that they are to stand with the family until when they get justice.
According to Nantongo, the concluded parliamentary elections were bloody and filled with violence compared to the past elections. She advised the leaders to always use peaceful means of transition for the good of their people.
John Paul Mpalanyi, the Kyotera County MP, explained that they gave police a chance to do their ballistic tests yet some officers who were involved have been transferred.
He added that the case of a common person is always not prioritised like it is with the top government officials.
“Recently when Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala was attacked by gunmen, the police came out fast to trace the alleged killers. Why should such swiftness be accorded to only government officials in such a calibre and neglect the common man,” Mpalanyi wondered.
Mpalanyi explained that they are giving police a chance to investigate but they should speed up Kayabula’s file and produce the culprits to court for justice.
However, Mohammad Nsubuga, the Masaka Regional Police spokesperson, said that the investigations are ongoing and the family members should give the police more time.
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