By KT Reporter
A joint security team have battled supporters of the National Unity Platform presidential aspirant Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu as they attempted to escort him to Lweza, for his nomination.
The security forces, comprising police, military and the Special Forces Command-SFC used teargas, live bullets to disperse NUP supporters at different locations along Bombo Road and the Northern Bypass. Our reporters following Kyagulanyi report that heavily armed security personnel were seen arresting several boda boda riders who were determined to follow Kyagulanyi’s convoy.
Teargas and bullets were also fired to disperse the crowds of NUP supporters even before they left the party offices at Makerere Kavule along Bombo road. Meanwhile, Kyagulanyi, escorted by his wife Barbie Itungo and several party officials, first paid tribute to NUP supporters who lost their lives during the 2021 presidential campaigns.
Kyagulanyi and his wife placed flowers on the photos of the fallen supporters. He said the tribute was in line with the remembrance of their colleagues who were killed in the same struggle they have embarked on today. He urged NUP supporters to remain peaceful despite confrontations with security forces along the way. “We set off, but I urge you to remain peaceful; they will look for all possible ways of arresting and confronting us. I urge you to go to Nateete, where our nomination rally is going to be. We’re going to the nomination venue, then we shall meet you at the venue in Natete,” Kyagulanyi said.
Earlier, there had been tight security around the NUP headquarters at Kavule, although the police and the army were just controlling the traffic and çrawds which were converging at the party. Hundreds of the supporters were seen singing songs praising Kyagulanyi and the National Unity Platform. Our reporter at the Electoral Commission nominations grounds at Lweza reports that at 1.13 pm, Kyagulanyi’s entourage arrived at the EC. Minutes before, however, security had to keep swelling crowds off Entebbe road.
Like others, Kyagulanyi had more than the maximum number of vehicles, including a media van from NTV and a party-branded ambulance. Efforts by Party Spokesman Joel Senyonyi and Vice President Buganda Muhammad Kivumbi to let in more vehicles fell on deaf ears. Questions arose as to why the ambulance was full of people if it was for medical emergencies.
The van carrying Ssenyonyi and Kivumbi was later allowed in, but with instructions not to reach the EC offices.
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