The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has directed Uganda Police Force to bolster security at Kenya’s High Commission in Kololo, Kampala.
Police started deploying forces at the diplomatic mission on Tuesday night.
Officials said Gen Muhoozi, who serves as the chairman of the Interagency Security Committee (ISC), made the order to prevent any retaliatory attack by Ugandans following the burning of Uganda House in Nairobi by Kenyan rioters yesterday.
“It is our responsibility as the host country to secure Kenya’s diplomatic mission and its staff,” Muhoozi was quoted as saying.
The ISC, comprises the CDF, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Commissioner General of Prisons (CGP), Directors General of Internal Security Organisation (ISO), External Security Organisation (ESO) and high ranking officials from UPDF, Police and Intelligence Services.
Kenyan rioters yesterday set a section of the recently-renovated Uganda House in the capital, Nairobi, on fire.
The property is located on Plot No. 209 / 905, Kenyatta Avenue and Standard Street, Nairobi.
Uganda recently spent over Shs 70bn renovating the magnificent structure which houses the diplomatic mission.
Other sections of the building are rented out to private businesses.
One of the eyewitnesses said Ugandan officials at the Mission in Nairobi struggled to secure a fire truck to extinguish the fire at Uganda House.
“I am told there are only three water bowsers in this city (Nairobi),” said the eyewitness, emphasising, “So we are losing Uganda House. It is hurting.”
Battles
At least 13 people were shot dead on Tuesday during protests against the finance bill which Kenyans say will increase their tax burden and worsen their standards of living, according to Kenya Medical Association.
Protesters also stormed Kenya’s Parliament and destroyed property worth millions of shillings.
President Ruto warned that the government would “thwart any attempts by dangerous criminals to undermine the security and stability of our country”.
Ruto last week said the Finance Bill had been amended to remove the proposed 16 per cent VAT on bread, transportation of sugar, financial services, foreign exchange transactions as well as the 2.5 per cent Motor Vehicle Tax.
He further said there would be no increase in mobile money transfer fees, and Excise Duty on vegetable oil has also been removed.
The president said levies on the Housing Fund and the proposed one on Social Health Insurance would not attract income tax, putting much more money in the pockets of employees.
However, Kenya’s former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga have asked Ruto to listen to people’s cries and suspend the Bill to allow dialogue take place.
“I therefore call for calm and for the leadership to show restraint and do the right thing by listening to the people and not be antagonistic to them,” said Kenyatta in a statement yesterday, emphasising, “Violence on either side is not the answer.”
Opposition leader Raila Odinga said the Finance Bill is “neither an emergency nor a life and death matter for the government and Kenyans” and should be recalled.