Mr Emusut, a human rights activist gunned down in Bukedea at 5.00 PM

Mr Emusut the human rights activist and an election observer in the general election 2011 who was short dead ( pumped with over 15 rounds of ammunition) in Bukedea last week. That activist life was prematurely and horrendously terminated in broad day light- at 5.00pm as he was cleaning his compound and known killers who are still at large.
According to police preliminary investigations the finger is being pointed at some senior politicians and district leaders. He was killed as a cover-up of gross human rights abuses and abuse of power for which some issues are in courts of law. This was the second attempt on his life. The broad daylight killing has paralyzed the district that now looks deserted and investigations intensify.

In the past two months, at the post election dialogue in Soroti Mr Emusut gave a graphic details of his harassment by security operatives as he observed the presidential elections. He stated that while observing the presidential and parliamentary elections as an agent at a polling station in Bukedea District,he noticed multiple voting by certain individuals, a practice referred to as circular voting. When he brought the issue to the attention of the Presiding Officer and the Police Constable they promised to contact the District Police Commander and RDC.

When the DPC eventually showed up he swiftly arrested the activist and whisked him onto a waiting police van. He was to remain on the police van the whole day and was later locked up in the police cell for 2 days allegedly for disturbing the peace at the polling station.
At about mid night of the second day the activist reportedly was ordered out of the cell allegedly to meet the RDC and DPC. Him and other inmates resisted this until a scuffle ensued during which the inmates overpowered the police officer who then left them alone. On the third day the activist reported that his home was to be searched allegedly that he was in possession of firearms. The search was done but no fire arms were found. He was released unconditionally without any trial.

PAC Uganda and other human rights activists helped the deceased to file complaints with the Uganda Human Rights Commission while his ordeal became an example of the electoral violence that was meted out on the people of the Teso sub region. PAC used this and other examples to highlight the inadequacies in the conduct of the 2011 general elections. The story was embarrassing. It is reported that the RDC was suspended thereafter. Therefore, the murder of this activist comes at the heels of the unfolding of this unfortunate situation. That is the price of exposing the rot in the conduct of public affairs in Uganda.

All activists we need to take up this story and use all available means and forums to condemn this horrendous act with all the contempt it deserves. Secondly we need to exert pressure on the authorities to investigate and bring the perpetrators of this satanic act to book.