There was tension on Wednesday in Kiruhura district after armed National Resistance Movement (NRM) youth attacked supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) as Presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu aka Bobi Wine attempted to hold a rally in the district.
In videos and photos that have since gone viral on social media, the armed youth who are seemingly being protected by security personnel are seen caning supporters of Bobi wine in the home area of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Bobi Wine was scheduled to address supporters in Kazo and Kiruhura districts but was blocked by the NRM youth who blocked his convoy from accessing the planned venues, first along Kaguta Road.
However to avoid confrontation, Bobi Wine’s team diverted and continued along the main road toward Sanga Town, however the armed NRM youth followed Bobi Wine’s convoy to Sanga where they descended on them, caning supporters which forced Bobi Wine to proceed to Kazo district where he addressed supporters.
NUP condemns violent acts during Campaigns
In a post on his X account, the leader of opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi questioned if the Police and UPDF would literally pay a blind eye to the attacks if the perpetrators were NUP supporters.
“Think about it; assuming these were NUP supporters with sticks, attacking and provoking supporters of the NRM candidate scheduled to campaign in a particular district, would police and the military engage them NICELY like they are doing with these NRM goons who attacked our supporters in Kazo and Kiruhura districts today?!!” he posted.
While addressing journalists at his hotel on Thursday before proceeding to Isingiro district as part of his western Uganda campaigns, Bobi wine who condemned the Wednesday attacks, alleged that some of the youth were mobilized by the Sanga town council mayor to rain havoc on NUP supporters.
“The attacks were aimed at tarnishing the image of our comrades from western Uganda and drive a divisive agenda premised on tribalism, but we urge the public not to be swayed by these cowards. In the aftermath of this criminality, the regime attacked hotel residences of my team and arrested about 20 of them on Wednesday night” he said.
Bobi wine further condemned security personnel for allegedly aiding the armed youth to beat up NUP supporters and raiding their hotel at night where NUP supporters were arrested.
“What transpired yesterday is well orchestrated political violence by the regime but fortunately all their criminality was filmed on camera. We are the ones who were attacked but unfortunately we are the ones that are being arrested” he said.
Bobi Wine added, “The attackers were protected by the regime police but surprisingly they came and raided us in the night. These same things happened in Lira. They are targeting my security and media team”.
The NUP Principle however noted that the party will continue with its western Uganda campaigns despite threats allegedly planned by top security personnel.
“We have also got information that the RDC of Isingiro has dressed up goons in brand new NUP shirts which were looted from our offices. He wants to deploy these goons dressed in our NUP T-shirts to attack NRM people and tarnish our party and paint a picture that we are the ones who are violent” he said.
The Police and UPDF are yet to issue a statement on the violent scenes by armed NRM youth that occurred in Kiruhura district on Wednesday.
Nup not available in kiruhura