Traders, Residents Unbothered by Heavy Deployment in Kasangati

Residents in Kasangati Town Council are unbothered by the heavy deployment by military and police personnel in the area.

The neighbourhood, which hosts two main opposition leaders; Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of the National Unity Platform and Dr Kiiza Besigye, of the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC political party, was earmarked as a security hotspot, during preparations for the swearing-in ceremony of President Yoweri Museveni, currently taking place at the Kololo Independence Grounds.

It has indeed seen an increase in security patrols in recent days, with operatives armed to the teeth,  combing through the villages. Military and police personnel are making foot and motorized patrols along the main. roads and several others have been deployed on each of the fuel stations, checkpoints and selected bodaboda stages.  

However, the masses are not moved by the deployment or even presence of heavy military equipment including,  but not limited to, anti-riot tower vehicles, which are stationed in different townships along Gayaza Road. Businesses are operating normally and residents are carrying on with their daily routines. The mood in the towns is spiced with the sounds of Bobi Wines music. 

Ali Musoke, a resident of Kasangati, says that they are now used to the situation. "Whenever they anticipate chaos, they rush to deploy in our town. In the past, we used to fear such deployment and we could close our businesses after seeing them. But now, we will keep working unless chaos erupts," says Musoke. 

Alex Stuart Mukasa, a bodaboda rider, notes that with the heavy deployment they might not be protests. " At first I wanted to remain home so as to be safe but with this deployment, there are limited chances of people protesting," says Mukasa.    

Just like Mukasa, many people interviewed noted that they had feared opening their business or moving on streets changed their minds after noticing that the situation was calm.    

However, Moses Jjemba, the Wakiso Deputy Resident District Commissioner in charge of Kasangati, says that the deployment is not necessarily about the swearing-in ceremony  but an advance team of the president who is expected in the area over the weekend.    According to his programme, the president is scheduled to Visit the National Livestock Resources Institute, Namulonge and Ugachick poultry breeders on May 13. 

The visit is part of an agreement between the President of Uganda and his counterpart from Guinea to develop a bilateral action plan for cooperation in the production, research and marketing of livestock and dairy products.