Army sharp-shooters to protect Uganda MPs

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has ordered extra security for Uganda's 456 lawmakers, including the deployment of sharp-shooters and armoured escort vehicles.

The moves comes after a ruling party lawmaker was shot dead on 8 June, and the earlier killing of a senior police officer and prosecutor. The murders have remained unsolved.

In a letter to the finance ministry, Mr Museveni said he had discussed incidents of "criminality and terrorism" with the MPs.

He wanted the finance ministry to "act fast" and release money so that their security could be bolstered, Mr Museveni said.

The state-owned New Vision newspaper also quoted him as saying:

The MPs already have some police guards. Those will stay with them. I will, however, add two other elements: the sharp-shooters of the army and follow pick-ups that will be used by these sharp-shooters.

The pick-ups will be protected, in simple ways, against small arms bullets. I can assure you, they will not be interesting targets for terrorists using Kalashnikovs [AK-47 rifles].