Police this morning surrounded the home of former Hoima mayor Francis Atugonza where they conducted a search.
This was on the grounds that laptops, phones, and clothes belonging to highly-placed leaders, including Deputy RDC Perusi Kabale, allegedly stolen from Kyankwanzi.
Police said tracking coordinates linked them to the mayor’s home located in Kasasa Lukoge, Hoima City.
While mr Atugonza linked the incident to possible politics and internal conflicts within the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom – where he serves as head of royal guards – Mr Bosco Botoro, the officer in charge for Hoima City West, rubbished these claims.
Botoro said the search was part of an investigation into missing items, and no political or cultural motive was involved.
According to Mr Atugonza, he was alerted by his children who were heading to school at 6am that men in both police and army uniforms were outside the house.
“When the children told me about the presence of security, I wondered. I peeped through the window and realised it was true that my house was surrounded by officers,” Mr Atugonza said.
“When the security intensified, I moved out, spoke to them, and they asked me to open the quarters where my workers sleep. They said they had come to search because we stole phones, laptops, and other items from Kyankwanzi, some belonging to Deputy RDC Perusi Kabale.
“This surprised me. I gave them a way to search, and they did not find anything they were talking about.”
Mr Atugonza ruled out the possibility of the motive being political, explaining that he left the Forum for Democratic Change 15 years ago and has never joined any other political party or taken part in political activities.
He speculated that it might be linked to the kingdom fracas, where he was appointed by the chief prince, Okwiri Mugenyi Rukunya, as minister for production and head of royal guards.
“I have a feeling this may be the result of the wrangles in the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, where I was appointed as minister for production by the Chief Prince,” he said.
“I also serve as head of royal guards, a title I got from the king many years ago. But if it is kingdom matters, then it will be shameful. We can’t handle our cultural issues using Police.
“We need to fight irregularities in the kingdom the right way. If it is about kingdom matters, security is welcome to even search the big house anytime. We will not give up on fighting to better our kingdom.”
Botoro, who later joined the police officers from Kyankwanzi, said the search was purely about a number of items like phones, laptops, and other belongings that were stolen in Kyankwanzi, with links leading them to Atugonza’s house.
“Let’s not blow this out of proportion. It’s nothing political or cultural. This is not our case,” he said.
“The officers came from Kyankwanzi after getting coordinates on the stolen items, some of which belong to Deputy RDC Perusi Kabale, including her diabetes medicine she bought from abroad, which was stolen on Saturday.
“The search was done not on Atugonza, but on the quarters where his workers sleep. Unfortunately, nothing was discovered, and the investigations will continue. We call for calmness.”
