Three NUP Supporters Arrested in Hoima

Police in Hoima has arrested three National Unity Platform-NUP supporters on allegations of holding unlawful assembly. 

The suspects were rounded up on Wednesday by the Anti-riot police in Kiryatete in Hoima East Division. They were arrested at around 7 pm on Wednesday. 

The suspects are believed to be the ring leaders who mobilized NUP supporters from various parts of Hoima City to block the Hoima-Fort Portal road who were protesting the arrest of Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi wine, the President National Unity Platform-NUP. 

The NUP supporters blocked the Hoima-Fort Portal road using logs, stones and tree branches paralyzing transport.  They also lit fire burning car tyres and led processions on various Hoima streets. 

This forced Anti-riot police from Hoima Central police station commanded by Charles Mubaala, the officer in charge of operations at Hoima CPS to engage the NUP supporters in running battles from 3:30 pm until 7:30 pm.

Police fired live bullets and teargas to disperse the rowdy NUP supporters. 

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson says the suspects will be arraigned before the court to be charged with holding unlawful Assembly and obstructing police officers from carrying lawful duty. 

Kyagulanyi was arrested on Wednesday morning from Luuka district headquarters where he was addressing a mini-campaign rally.  

He was picked up by a team of police officers led by Frank Mwesigwa, the Zonal Commander overseeing elections in Busoga and Bukedi regions and whisked to Nalufenya police station in Jinja City.

His arrest and detention sparked off protests in various parts of the Country including Luwero, Hoima, Masaka, Mbale, Kampala, Busia, Tororo and Mukono among other districts.