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Uganda police probe grenade attacks on MPs' homes

Tuesday October 03 2017
bobi xplosive

Ugandan MP Robert Kyagulanyi points at the window that was smashed by one of the suspected grenades on October 3, 2017. PHOTO | MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI | NMG

By MONITOR
By The EastAfrican

Update:Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Emilian Kayima, has confirmed that the explosives used were factory made hand grenades with less shattering effects.

Police in Uganda are investigating attacks on the homes of two lawmakers opposed to the scrapping of presidential age limit after suspected grenades were thrown at their residences early Tuesday morning.

The attacks on the homes of Allan Ssewanyana and Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu --popularly known as Bobi Wine-- come barely a week after another report of assault on Moses Kasibante's home (an opposition MP representing Rubaga North).

The two opposition legislators, Mr Ssewanyana (Makindye West MP) and Mr Kyagulanyi (MP for Kyaddondo East), have been outspoken against efforts to change the Constitution to allow President Yoweri Museveni to extend his 31-year stay in power.

“We have received information of explosions at the homes of Allan Ssewanyana and Robert Kyagulanyi. Our teams have started investigating the said incidents,” police spokesperson Asan Kasingye said on Tuesday morning.

Politically motivated?

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Two grenades were thrown at Ssewanyana’s home and three others at Kyagulanyi's.

“People have thrown grenades at my home. I need rescue,” Mr Ssewanyana posted on his Facebook page.

Mr Kyagulanyi said the grenades smashed the window of his son's bedroom.

“Grenades have for the second time in two days been thrown at my house and exploded. Property damaged and no one hurt! But what kind of country are we now living in?” Mr Kyagulanyi posed in a Facebook post.

Mr Kyagulanyi further noted that he has been receiving death threats, adding: "Reason? Opposing the removal of age limits in the Constitution!"

The police spokesperson Mr Kasingye has dismissed the claim that the attacks are politically motivated.

“What they believe is not what is actually true. We are investigating,” Mr Kasingye said.

Fracas

Last Wednesday, about five opposition MPs were treated for injuries sustained while they were roughed up and dragged out of parliament by the president's special forces.
Some 30 mostly opposition members were hurled out of the chambers into waiting police vans after clashes erupted over the motion to remove the age limit.

READ: Army invasion of parliament against constitutional separation of powers

ALSO READ: Opposition MPs are playing right into Museveni’s hands

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