Security warns against hooliganism in Igara East by-elections

The security personnel in Bushenyi, has warned against any further acts of hooliganism during the ongoing Igara East by-elections campaigns

Headed by the RDC Bushenyi Peter Mugisha, the security helm in the area has sent strong warnings to the two rival camps of candidates Andrew Martial and Michael Mawanda Maranga against indulging in attacks and counter attacks.

This comes after the supporters of the two candidates got involved in a scuffle in Bushenyi town on Tuesday evening where many were left injured and property destroyed.

The incident forced Mugisha to convene an impromptu security meeting, with the DPC Ronald Lutaro, who summoned the two candidates and handed them the warnings.

"We don't want to see this happen again and we have warned all of them against this hooliganism. We want to see a peaceful exercise," Mugisha said.

Cause of the scuffle

There are six candidates in the race, but the rivalry is between Mawanda and Martial who are seemingly the front runners in the race.

However, as both parties have resorted to using friends from outside the constituency to solicit for mandate, NRM's Martial has been using Ashraf Rweyeshera to canvas for votes. Rweyeshera is a renowned NRM activist based in Mbarara.

But it's sad that the residents in the area had been in fear of Rweyeshera, who claimed he was a high ranking military officer sent by president Museveni to solicit for votes for the NRM candidate and that whoever would not comply, would be beaten.

The Mawanda supporters, who have been demanding that Rweyeshera goes back to Mbarara, then went out of patience, when the said Rweyeshera attacked one Angella Ahabwe and assaulted her for having defected from Martial to Mawanda camp.

Ahabwe then reported to Police but this did not stop Mawanda supporters from tracing Rweyeshera from his hideout in a hotel in Bushenyi to forcefully take him out of the campaigns.

This attracted the attention of the DPC and RDC Bushenyi and arrests were made but the arrested were later released.

RDC Mugisha responds to Rweyeshera

According to the voters in the area, Rweyeshera is said to have been in possession of a gun and donning an army uniform on top of claiming he was a Major by rank and holding president Museveni's appointment letter authorizing him to canvas for votes for the NRM party flag bearer Andrew Martial.

However, RDC Peter Mugisha refuted Rweyeshera's claims as false and that the president could not do that.

"No no, the president cannot give you appointments to go for campaigns that are very wrong and if he is talking like this it's masquerading. We are still investigating and if we find it's true he has a gun, we shall arrest him and have that gun," Mugisha said.

Mugisha further added that Rweyeshera and all other Mawanda supporters who were involved in the scuffle, must report to police and make a statement.

Six candidates are tussling it out for the seat declared vacant after Andrew Martial's election was nullified by the court of appeal following Mawanda's petition.

The six include Andrew Martial of NRM, Michael Mawanda, Benjamin Katana, Bernards Kananura and David Armstrong all Independent candidates and Christine Bekunika of FDC. The elections will be held on Thursday Decemer 14.