TENSE: Lawyers Storm Nalufenya, 5 Dead In City Riots, Candidates Suspend Campaigns

BY PATRICK JARAMOGI

KAMPALA, Uganda|SHIFTMEDIA| Tension remains high in Uganda’s capital Kampala and surrounding districts of Mukono, Wakiso, Masaka, Buikwe, Mityana and Luweero following the continued detention of National Unity Platform President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.

Ssentamu was arrested as he started to speak at a campaign rally in Luuka district on Wednesday morning. He is currently still being held at the Nalufenya Police Station in Jinja.

Heavy police and military presence remains high in most streets in Kampala, with most shops closed and the city visibly isolated.

The protests that rocked Kampala and leading districts left 5 people shot dead by police and over 50 injured in the scuffle. In Masaka 150 pro-NUP supporters are still being detained at the Masaka Central Police Station and in Nyendo Police station.

Among them the NUP Masaka coordinator, and parliamentary candidates Dr Abed Bwanika and Florence Namayanja, and leading NUP coordinators. Masaka DPC David Katunda says the instruction to detain the suspects and the operation were led by the Regional Police Commander Enock Baine.

Similarly, National Unity Platform Coordinator Mathias Mpuuga’s home was raided in the wee hours of Thursday under the command of the RPC Enock Baine.

“My home was raided shortly after midnight, the police fired teargas and pepper-sprayed my entire house. My dogs were pepper-sprayed, my children suffered teargas inhalation. The police cut my gate, cut my doors and windows before they sprayed teargas,” said Mpuuga early today.

Mpuuga said most of the NUP supporters and coordinators who were preparing for Robert Kyagulanyi’s rally in Masaka have been arrested and detained.

Police Spokesman Fred Enanga confirmed the deaths and arrests saying they will be charged with violating the set SOPs put in place by the Ministry of Health.

Police identified the dead as Mwanje Sandi, a 35-year-old male adult of Katwe, Juma Sendagire, a 27-year-old male adult of Lusanja Kitezi and Amasi from Kubbiri.

Presidential candidates suspend campaigns

Following the arrest of a fellow presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) candidate Gen. Greg Mugisha Muntu announced that he was suspending his campaigns until Kyagulanyi was released.

Similarly, independent candidate John Katumba early on Thursday followed suit, suspending all his campaigns.

Katumba says the arrest of Kyagulanyi is unfair and a sign of an unleveled ground.  Gen Henry Tumukunde also suspended his campaigns until further notice.

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Patrick Oboi Amuriat (POA) who was also arrested in Gulu City on Wednesday before being released is to announce the next move, whether to suspend campaigns or quit the campaigns today.

Lawyers storm Nalufenya

Meanwhile, dozens of lawyers have camped in Nalufenya Police station where they are seeking to have Kyagulanyi released of arraigned in court. On Wednesday Democratic Party president Norbert Mao kick-started a campaign to mobilise lawyers to secure legal presentation for Kyagulanyi Robert.

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Reports we are getting right now from our troops on ground indicate that riots have started again in parts of Kireka, Nambole, Nasser Road in Kampala and in Nyendo in Masaka…………………Loading