Clashes disrupt Kyagulanyi campaign rally in Gulu

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Groups identified by locals as “Ghetto structure” on Saturday (December 6) unleashed violence on National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu and his supporters, attacking them with sticks and vandalising their property, including vehicles.

​The clashes occurred after the army and Police had blocked all access roads leading to Awere Grounds in Gulu city, where Kyagulanyi had been scheduled to hold a campaign rally.

​The blockade forced Kyagulanyi to abandon his vehicle and walk on foot towards the venue, hitting a confrontational cul-de-sac. 

The clashes left several people injured, including Kyagulanyi’s aide, Daniel Brenny Ayerwot (aka Dan Magic), who was seen bleeding after the incident.

​Despite the incident, Kyagulanyi and his supporters insisted on proceeding to the campaign venue, eventually arriving at Awere Grounds in the evening amid heavy teargas and chaos.

​Kyagulanyi has accused security forces of orchestrating a coordinated effort to block his campaign activities in northern Uganda.

​“I am standing before you as a presidential candidate, and I am supposed to be campaigning here,” he told his supporters. “But you have all seen what they have been doing to me, and only me.”

​He said the group had earlier vandalised his campaign stage, damaged equipment, and smashed the car that transports his public address system, damaging its windows during the clashes.

“They destroyed the sound, destroyed the stage, broke all the glasses on this car," he said.

'Our time will come'

The NUP presidential candidate, who is giving the presidency a second shot, urged supporters to remain peaceful amid alleged brutality from security forces.

He told the crowd that Uganda’s problems were shared across tribes and regions, insisting that the struggle for change was national, not ethnic.

​“In the new Uganda, all of us are going to be equal," he said and called on Ugandans to unite and exercise their power at the ballot.

​The NUP leader concluded by praising the people of Acholi for what he described as courage in the face of intimidation.

​“Thank you for being fearless. You cannot stop the people of Uganda. Our time will come.”

​By the time of writing this story, it was unclear what had caused the blockade or the violence. Efforts to get a comment from the Police were unsuccessful.

The development came a day after Police admitted blocking the NUP leader from visiting Elegu, where he had been set to campaign on Friday. 

Aswa West Region Police said they blocked Kyagulanyi after he diverted from the venue designated by the Electoral Commission.

According to Police, the candidate had attempted to “abruptly divert” from the approved route and move towards the Elegu border.

“We managed to block the presidential candidate after he defied the venue designated for his campaign rally,” read a Police statement.

“He and his team attempted to proceed to the Elegu border instead. We stopped him from continuing in that direction and advised him to adhere to the venue approved by the Electoral Commission.”

Police maintained that their actions were aimed at ensuring all candidates follow the harmonised campaign programme.