Kabale Town, Rukiga Police On Alert

By K. Muhanga and D. Magara POLICE in Kabale on Thursday foiled a possible clash between supporters of rival candidates for the municipality seat after the two groups met at Katuna road junction in the centre of the town. Supporters of Sarapio Rukundo and those of Melvin Mpambara were coming from public rallies in different areas shouting slogans of their candidates and abusive songs. The saga started when the two groups met at the junction at around 6.30pm and started exchanging words causing tension. The two candidates were also in the convoys. The OC/CID, Mr. Godfrey Musana, who commanded a heavily armed Police unit to avert a possible clash told The New Vision that trouble started when each group failed to give the other way as they were coming from different directions. At a rally in Kirigime, Rukundo told his supporters that if elected to Parliament, he will intensify electrification in the district and would open up new roads. He said he would ask friends across the country to develop Kabale municipality. On the other hand Melvin Mpambara, his main challenger, told the electorate at a rally held at Kijuguta Primary school that if elected he would revitalise health and education programmes in the district. Mpambara also said that he would create more employment opportunities for the unemployed youth. Meanwhile, the Police have said they will maintain an anti-riot unit in Rukiga county where Manzi Tumubweine, the state minister for finance, is battling it out with Jack Sabiiti, the under secretary in the justice and constitution affairs ministry. Supporters of the candidates clashed early this week leaving several people injured. Police said a woman has been arrested over the violence. Ends