By CHANGE OF GUARDS
The country is witnessing a disastrous and gross violation of human rights by the army in the ongoing eviction of people from the Lubigi wetland. The level of brutality and total disregard for human dignity has been a matter of concern for many citizens. The social and economic livelihoods of countless households have been adversely affected. Scenes of combat-ready soldiers and police personnel are psychologically traumatizing. However, behind this combat readiness, there is the invisible hand of Museveni’s monstrous Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).
The so-called eviction operations are commanded by CMI’s Maj. Joshua Karamagi, also known as Josh Karama. He is attached to the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) as the Commander of the so-called Environmental Protection Force (EPF). Instead, it is the combat-ready army and police who feature in these brutal evictions. In his late 50s, Maj. Karamagi hails from Tooro, where his home is located in Butebe, a few kilometers from Fort Portal along the Ntoroko Road. The secondary school graduate joined the army around the early 1990s under the Internal Security Organisation (ISO). He underwent basic military training at the ISO training school in Makajo. Upon completion, the entire batch was not absorbed by ISO but was instead disbanded and sent to the army headquarters for deployment. It is said that they fell victim to internal power struggles between the two ISO chiefs, Maj. John Kazoora and then Brig. Jim Muhwezi.
Some members of the group were adopted by DMI at Basiima House, and shortly after, it was used to pioneer the newly created Special Investigations Bureau (SIB) under the Military Police at Makindye. The then Private Joshua Karamagi was attached to the SIB office at the army headquarters in Bombo. During that time, he privately secured a short course in criminal investigations in the UK. The army granted him a study leave to attend the course. Upon completion, he returned to the country and resumed his service under the SIB. Since the SIB was incorporated into the CMI about 20 years ago, Joshua Karamagi has actively served under the criminal investigations unit. Through patronage, he has risen from the rank of Private to Major.
In line with Museveni’s policy of militarization of civilian institutions, Joshua Karamagi has been holding senior management positions in different institutions. For a number of years, he held the position of Investigations Manager at the Uganda Wildlife Authority. A few months ago, he was posted to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) as the Manager of the Environmental Protection Force. It is in this capacity that he has been at the forefront of the ongoing brutal eviction of the so-called encroachers on wetlands around Kampala city.
INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM
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