FDC's Amuriat blocked from holding Kasese rallies

Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party president, Patrick Oboi Amuriat's planned mobilisation visit to Kasese was aborted on Monday.

This was after Police blocked him shortly after he crossed into Kasese via Rwimi Bridge.

Accompanied by several party officials including the Busongora North MP, William Musabe Nzoghu, Amuriat was intercepted around Kikongo trading centre and ordered to return to Kampala.

"We blocked him because he did not have Police permission to hold public rallies as required by the Public Order management law," a senior security source told New Vision.

In a dramatic twist, Amuriat sneaked from his official car and assisted by Nzoghu, reportedly entered Kasese using a motorcycle through side roads in Kitswamba, Maliba and Bugoye, the security source said.

On re-joining the main Kasese-Fort Portal Highway, he was re-intercepted and escorted back to Fort Portal.

Amuriat, who replaced Mugisha Muntu at the helm of the party in a power struggle that has rocked FDC, was slated to hold public rallies in various parts of the district on Monday and Tuesday, according to several radio announcements.

A written programme signed by the district party chairperson, Saulo Maate and seen by New Vision, shows that Amuriat was scheduled to meet FDC leaders and hold a public rally in Kisinga Town Council in Bukonzo East constituency and in Karambi near the Uganda-DR Congo border in Bukonzo West constituency.

On Tuesday, he was slated to meet party leaders and hold a public rally in Maliba Town Board and later a climax rally at Nyakasanga playground in Kasese Municipality.

The radio announcements indicated that Amuriat would be accompanied by former party president Dr Kiiza Besigye.

Backing the radio announcement, the district chairperson, Sibendire Geoffrey Bigogo, appealed the party supporters to turn up in big numbers for Amuriat's meetings.

However, speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior FDC official in Kasese, said Besigye's name had been tagged to Amuriat's visit to mobilise party members sceptical of the current party leader.

"After axing our very own (Winnie Kiiza) from the position of Leader of the Opposition, Amuriat enjoys little support in Kasese," he said.

Recently, Kiiza's husband, Yokasi Bwambale Bihande, announced that he had quit FDC to join Muntu and form a new political organisation.