Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | The Leader of Opposition in Uganda’s parliament Winnie Kiiza has said that compulsory DNA tests for all Ugandans will not work without political will.
Kiiza was Friday responding to President Yoweri Museveni’s remark after the body of 28-year-old Suzan Magara was found early this week. In his condolence message to her family, Museveni pondered on government getting DNA records of every Ugandan in order to effectively fight crime.
Museveni asserted that DNA records of everybody are good to compare with blood samples, sweat, sperm found at the scene of crime could curb such crimes.
Museveni argued that having the palm print records, of every Ugandan when coupled with the planned, CCTV technology in urban areas will go a long way in addressing these kinds of crimes.
But Kiiza who is also the woman representative for Kasese district doubts the effectiveness of DNA tests because of what she called an apparent fight between the Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura and the minister for security Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde and other security lapses.
“They will always apply these DNA tests as and when it suits them,” said Kiiza.
She cited an example of the death of former Butaleja Woman Mp Cerinah Nebanda which she said government failed to conclusively investigate.
“When Nebanda died, the first person who made a comment about her use of drugs was the inspector General of police General Kale Kayihura. But the report from independent investigators showed that they were no drugs in her blood samples,” said Kiiza
MPs want parliament recalled
Kiiza who was flanked by a host of other opposition MPs demanded that parliament be recalled from recess to discuss the growing insecurity and criminality in the country.
Kiiza said they are seeking the intervention of Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to task government to explain the gruesome unresolved murders.
She noted that Ugandans are living in fear over a series of kidnaps and unresolved gruesome murders the latest being Suzan Magara, a cashier with at Bwendero Dairy Farm (BDF).
She also demanded that the ministers of security, defence and internal affairs respectively should be relieved of their duties with immediate effect or be forced to resign for failure to contain the current murders of Ugandans and foreign nationals.
“Lt.Gen. Henry Tumukunde, Adolf Mwesige, Gen.Jeje Odongo and the inspector General of police Gen. Kayihura owe us a duty of protection but they are busy fighting. If the job is too much for them, they should resign,” said Kiiza.