Police used teargas and live bullets to disperse the charged supporters and drove off via Namugongo-Kira-Seeta up to his home in Magere in Kasangati Town Council. Several people who had escorted Kyagulanyi followed suit.
Several people have been injured in clashes between security
officers and supporters of the National Unity Platform-NUP party presidential
candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine. The ugly scenes preceded the
nomination of Kyagulanyi who was forced out of his vehicle by military police
at Kyambogo University, a short distance from the nomination center.
He was bundled into a waiting security vehicle and driven
off. However, Kyagulanyi’s supporters intercepted the security vehicle near the
offices of the National Council for High Education demanding they release their
candidate. Police used teargas and live
bullets to disperse the charged supporters and drove off via
Namugongo-Kira-Seeta up to his home in Magere in Kasangati Town Council. Several
people who had escorted Kyagulanyi followed suit.
On arrival at his residence, Kyagulanyi, who had ordered by
security to enter his home, overpowered the security officers insisting that he
was heading to the NUP party offices in Kamwokya to launch his manifesto. He was joined by his supporters and started
moving towards Kamwokya in a procession on foot.
However, military police
blocked the road barely a kilometre from Kyagulanyi’s residence and dispersed
his supporters who had formed a human shield around him. Speaking to journalists, Kyagulanyi blamed the security
detail that was attached to him by the Electoral Commission for masterminding
his arrest shortly after his nomination.
//Cue in; “I have just…
Cue out…to my office.”//
The situation spiralled out of control when Kyagulanyi’s
supporters who had maintained their cool lost patience and started hurling
stones at the heavily armed security officers. The officers responded with bullets and teargas.
They grabbed Kyagulanyi and bundled him on a police truck and drove him back to
his home but the occupants refused to open the gate.
The police commanders started pleading with the other NUP
officials including the party vice president, for Buganda Region, Matthias
Mpuuga to talk to the rowdy supporters to calm down. Their pleas didn’t yield
efforts as more NUP kept arriving at the scene.
The NUP Bugisu Region Coordinator, John Baptist Nambeshe
blamed security for the fracas, saying there was no justification for blocking
their candidate from unveiling his manifesto just like the other presidential
candidates.
//Cue in; “This is very…
Cue out…chicken thief.”//
The Justice Forum Party President, Asuman Basarirwa equally
wondered why the police are applying double standards. He said today’s event is a clear indication of
the tough road ahead for opposition candidates in the 2021 general election.
//Cue in; “it is terrible…
Cue out…manifesto.”//
By the time of publishing this story, the security officers
were still waiting for reinforcement to handle the rowdy NUP supporters and force
Kyagulanyi to stay at his home.
Asked why they are blocking NUP leaders from
launching their manifesto, the officers said the details of their operations
will be communicated to the general public at a later
time.
