Bukoto residents clash over rally
May 25, 2010
THE anti-riot Police was deployed in Bukoto Mid-west constituency in Masaka district following clashes between supporters of the area MP, Isaac Ssejjoba, and the central region youth MP, Muyomba Kasozi
By Dismus Buregyeya
THE anti-riot Police was deployed in Bukoto Mid-west constituency in Masaka district following clashes between supporters of the area MP, Isaac Ssejjoba, and the central region youth MP, Muyomba Kasozi.
Over 10 people sustained injuries during the fight in Kiryankuyege village in Lwengo sub-county last week. The Police recovered pangas and clubs from the rowdy supporters.
The district Police commander, Titus Byaruhanga, said the Police would make arrests soon after the investigations are complete. “Whoever was behind this fracas will be arrested and charged. We must not take election violence lightly,†he said.
Immaculate Namazzi, the district Electoral Commission registrar, said she reported the matter to the Police election desk. The fracas began when Kasozi’s supporters started cerebrating ahead of his planned visit to the area, where he was due to hold a rally and give out bicycles to the community.
However, unknown people put barriers in the road heading to the rally venue in Kiryankuyege village, a move that sparked off the violence.
Kiryankuyege is Ssejjoba’s home village, but he was in Kampala at the time. Kasozi, who is the spokesperson for the NRM parliamentary caucus, declared his intention to contest for the Bukoto Mid-west parliamentary seat in 2011.
Ssejjoba (Independent), who won the seat after defeating the former area MP, Dr. Kezimbira Miyingo, who died shortly after the 2006 parliamentary elections, has also vowed to contest on the NRM ticket.
THE anti-riot Police was deployed in Bukoto Mid-west constituency in Masaka district following clashes between supporters of the area MP, Isaac Ssejjoba, and the central region youth MP, Muyomba Kasozi.
Over 10 people sustained injuries during the fight in Kiryankuyege village in Lwengo sub-county last week. The Police recovered pangas and clubs from the rowdy supporters.
The district Police commander, Titus Byaruhanga, said the Police would make arrests soon after the investigations are complete. “Whoever was behind this fracas will be arrested and charged. We must not take election violence lightly,†he said.
Immaculate Namazzi, the district Electoral Commission registrar, said she reported the matter to the Police election desk. The fracas began when Kasozi’s supporters started cerebrating ahead of his planned visit to the area, where he was due to hold a rally and give out bicycles to the community.
However, unknown people put barriers in the road heading to the rally venue in Kiryankuyege village, a move that sparked off the violence.
Kiryankuyege is Ssejjoba’s home village, but he was in Kampala at the time. Kasozi, who is the spokesperson for the NRM parliamentary caucus, declared his intention to contest for the Bukoto Mid-west parliamentary seat in 2011.
Ssejjoba (Independent), who won the seat after defeating the former area MP, Dr. Kezimbira Miyingo, who died shortly after the 2006 parliamentary elections, has also vowed to contest on the NRM ticket.