By KT Reporter
Police in Sanga Town Council, Kiruhura District, are investigating five cases of assault involving supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) following clashes on Wednesday afternoon. According to Rwizi Region Police Spokesperson, Samson Kasasira, the victims include Cpl. Kenneth Nasasira, a Scenes of Crime Officer on official duty, Fenekansi Bandikubi, the Deputy LC III chairperson of Sanga Town Council, and three others yet to be identified.
The three are currently receiving treatment at Sanga Clinic. Kasasira said the incident occurred as NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu was passing through Sanga Town Council en route to Kiruhura and Kazo Districts, where he was scheduled to hold rallies at Rushere Town Council and Kazo Playground.
Kyagulanyi, who had earlier held a rally in Lyantonde District, was reportedly diverted by security from using Kaguta Road and directed to use a marrum route through Kikatsi Subcounty, about 17 miles off the Mbarara–Masaka highway. Bright Muhumuza, the Mbarara City North NUP parliamentary candidate, accused NRM supporters of provoking the confrontation.
“We were peacefully driving through when they attacked our foot soldiers. They threw stones at our motorcade. Whatever happened, it is the NRM and Police to blame,” Muhumuza said. Jonah Atusiguza, an eyewitness, said the clashes began when individuals wearing NRM-branded T-shirts armed with sticks and stones confronted NUP supporters before Kyagulanyi’s security intervened to protect the candidate.
Kasasira said investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the suspects involved. Meanwhile, security forces reportedly forced Kyagulanyi to take a 145-kilometer detour to Rushere through Kikatsi, Nyakasharara, Kashongi, Kitura, and Rwobuhura, significantly delaying his campaign program.
According to his campaign timetable, Kyagulanyi was scheduled to hold a morning rally in Rushere Town Council and another in Kazo in the afternoon. However, by 4:19 p.m., he was still on the road and only reached Rushere at 5 p.m., where he was allowed to briefly address supporters before being ordered to proceed to Kazo. Jolly Tukamushaba, the NUP Vice President in charge of the Western Region, said the forced detour consumed all the fuel they had planned for the day.
“I was forced to refuel in Kazo because the long route drained our fuel. This was intended to waste our time and stop us from holding a rally in Kiruhura,” she said. Mark Itogoro, the Mbarara City Mayoral candidate on the NUP ticket, said they were misled by security personnel who claimed that Kaguta Road was reserved for a team from President Museveni’s home in Nsweere.
“We agreed to their request, not knowing it was a trick to delay us. We were stopped from holding a rally in Rushere because of time, yet it was security that sent us on the longer route,” he said.
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