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KAMPALA - The Police have released the names of youth and supporters who were on Friday (July 28, 2023) arrested following chaos at the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) headquarters in Najjanankumbi along Entebbe Road.  

This followed chaos at the party headquarters as the National Council sat to deliberate on several issues including a report about allegations of receiving money from dubious sources.  

The Police deployed heavily in the area and fought battles with men holding sticks and throwing stones, stopping some delegates to access the meeting. 

The Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, who is the party vice President in charge of Buganda region was blocked from entering the party gates with his car and withdrew with his supporters, while the party spokesperson, Kira Municipality Legislator, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, who belongs to the faction opposed to the party secretary general, Nandala Mafabi did not show up.  

Sadiq Amin, the in-charge security had his clothes torn during several scuffles as he tried to shield some delegates and block others from accessing the offices. 

In a statement, the Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesman, Luke Owoyesigyire identified the 12 suspects arrested during the chaos that affected traffic flow on Entebbe Road. 

They include Swaibu Asaba, 21, Daniel Akampulira, 30, Mark Jjingo, 26, Vincent Akodoi, 23, Peter Erias Katongole, 29, Martin Kisekka, 26, Habibu Nsereko, 21, Eric Lubega, 19, William Ssenoga, 40, Aggrey Odyek and Simon Wanyera.  

He said they were whisked away to Katwe Police from where they were produced at Makindye Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kampala and remanded. 

He said they were charged with inciting violence and public nuisance. 

According to Owoyesigyire, the arrest followed an outcry from party supporters and leaders who had gathered around the FDC offices at Najjanankumbi, saying some of the suspects were holding sticks and beating whoever they came across.  

“The Police did not want a scenario that happened sometime back to happen again, and we responded in time and arrested some suspects to calm down the situation,” he explained. 

“The investigations are continuing, and we call upon whoever was assaulted or sustained any injuries or beaten to report to the police and get a medical form so that we can him or her on the list of witnesses,” he said.   

Amin later told journalists that some youth stormed the party headquarters on ground that they wanted to remove goons that had been planted inside the headquarters. 

He said the youths turned violent when they were blocked, causing the commotion.