East Africa

East Africa

Details: East Africa; 19 May 2023; 475

The inspector General of the South Sudan National Police Service on Wednesday disclosed plans to crack down on vehicles without number plates, and purposely obscured registration plates, and illegal number plates.

Gen. Majak Akech Malok while addressing the press on Wednesday said traffic accidents are on the rise and vehicles without number plates and those with covered numbers make it hard for the police to identify offenders.

Addressing journalists in a press conference in the capital Juba, Majak Akech Malok who spoke on behalf of the directorate of traffic police said they (police) have discovered that most car owners and motorists have decided to cover their number plates making it hard for traffic police to identify offenders.

He also said that some vehicles have only one registration plate and that some unscrupulous drivers use the number plates of grounded vehicles which is illegal.

“We have been getting challenges in the traffic police in Juba in particular. Some incidents are happening actually at a time when people are covering the number plates of their cars and they are not apprehended” he said. “Some drivers are even using plate numbers of cars that are already grounded at home and do not correspond with the logbook.”

Gen. Akech said that the drivers of cars that have unclear number plates can cause an accident and flee and evade justice.

“People are being knocked and the police are blamed for not apprehending the culprits,” he said.

The police chief appealed to motorists to abide by the law. - Radio Tamazuj

Details: East Africa; 18 May 2023; 522

Attacks by armed groups over the past two months have claimed the lives of more than 500 civilians and displaced more than a million others in the territories of Djugu and Mahagi in Ituri province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an official said Wednesday.

UN radio in DR Congo was quoting the chief office manager of MONUSCO in Ituri, Marc Karna Soro, who was addressing journalists in the city of Bunia.

It said that Soro, who had just returned from a mission in southern Irumu territory, spoke about the overall security situation in the province. He said that 530 people were killed in two months and more than a million displaced people are concentrated around various MONUSCO bases.

Eastern DR Congo provinces including Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu have long suffered from attacks by armed groups who kill civilians and loot property in addition to raping women and girls. Anadolu Agency

Details: East Africa; 18 May 2023; 462

Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire

What you need to know:

John Okudi, a 27- year- old security guard attached to Saracen (U) Ltd was allegedly shot on Wednesday by his colleague, Moses Okedi, following a disagreement in senior quarters in Amagoro Central ward in Tororo Municipality where they had been deployed.
Okudi’s death happened just days after another guard attached to Capital Guards and Patrol, a private security firm allegedly shot a colleague dead in their rented house in Kalule Zone, Lukuli Parish, Makindye Division on May 13, 2023.

Police at Wandegeya, Kampala are investigating a case in which a private security guard allegedly shot himself dead Thursday morning as gun violence continues to rock the country.
Rogers Atuhaire attached to SGA Security Company is alleged to have shot himself dead at around 9am at Buganda road zone, Nakasero III parish, Kampala central division.

“Atuhaire Rogers, who had been deployed at the beat for the past two days, was found dead at the scene. Initial reports suggest that the deceased was discovered by Okudu David, a day guard who had arrived for duty. David reported hearing the sound of a gun being cocked, assuming it was a routine safety precaution,” said Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire.

He said police found Atuhaire lying in a pool of blood, with a bullet wound visible on his throat, which had penetrated through his head.

“Investigations have revealed that Atuhaire was working alongside Mary Namumanya for the night duty. As part of the investigation process, witness statements have been recorded, and relevant exhibits have been recovered,” ASP Owoyesgyire added.

READ: Private guard shoots shopkeeper in attempt to foil traffic offender’s escape

Why some areas are prone to gun violence

Six people have been detained for questioning to assist in the ongoing investigations. A comprehensive and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident will be carried out and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses, according to the police publicist.

Atuhaire is the fourth security guard to die by shooting in just five days. Yesterday, a guard attached to another private security firm was arrested on murder charges after he allegedly shot and killed a colleague in Tororo District in eastern Uganda, police said Wednesday, as gun violence rocks the country.

John Okudi, a 27- year- old security guard attached to Saracen (U) Ltd was allegedly shot on Wednesday by his colleague, Moses Okedi, following a disagreement in senior quarters in Amagoro Central ward in Tororo Municipality where they had been deployed.
Okudi’s death happened just days after another guard attached to Capital Guards and Patrol, a private security firm allegedly shot a colleague dead in their rented house in Kalule Zone, Lukuli Parish, Makindye Division on May 13, 2023.

READ: Museveni demands answers after Indian money lender shot dead by policeman

Why some areas are prone to gun violence

John Mujumbi, a 25-year-old security guard attached to Capital Guards and Patrol was allegedly shot by his colleague and roommate, Peter Ochoroi, 26, at around 12:30pm following a disagreement on Saturday. The two were attached to the same security firm and had been sharing a rented room provided by their employer.

On the same day, Ben Amaku, a security guard attached to Security Group Africa Company Ltd was shot dead by unknown assailants. The shooting happened at around 1:50am at Novafinia medical centre located along Rhinocamp Road in Baruku central cell. By Priscilla Maloba, Daily Monitor

Details: East Africa; 18 May 2023; 469

Law Society of Kenya President Eric Theuri speaks to the press on May 17, 2023.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has announced a campaign to weed out fake lawyers and quacks across the country. The campaign, which was officially launched in Nairobi, will be effected across the country through LSK branches.

LSK President Eric Theuri urged Kenyans to be vigilant as they approach legal practitioner for representation in court or any other legal assistance. He added that they were working closely with law enforcement agencies.

“Before you engage a lawyer, please go to the LSK website and check his or her status on the online portal to confirm that he or she is licensed to practice in that particular year,” Mr Theuri said.

LSK members who have not renewed their operating licences have also been asked to desist from any legal activity until they are cleared by the council. By Kevin Cheruiyot, Daily Monitor

Details: East Africa; 18 May 2023; 499

The death toll in Kenya from a suspected starvation cult rose to 227 on Wednesday as police said they unearthed 15 more bodies from land associated with cult leader Paul Mackenzie.

Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha confirmed the grim update during a press briefing, further amplifying the magnitude of the heart-wrenching incident.

"The number of missing people has risen to 611," Onyancha added, referring to an earlier call by the police urging residents in the area to come forward and file reports on their missing loved ones

Police say that as the investigation progresses, the focus remains on unraveling the complex dynamics surrounding the cult, shedding light on the factors that allowed such a tragedy to unfold.

Hundreds of bodies have been found at Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County since mid-April during investigations into a cult run by Mackenzie, a pastor who leads the Good News International Church in Kenya.

He is accused of ordering his followers to starve themselves to death so they could go to heaven before the end of the world.

An investigation that started last month has revealed that some of the victims had their organs missing, which has led to suspicions of trafficking in human organs. - Andrew Wasike, Anadolu Agency