Calm Returns To Rukungiri Town After Saturday Killing

Mar 05, 2001

Rukungiri town is calm after the Saturday clash between the Presidential Protection Unit (PPU) and Col. Kizza Besigye's supporters, which left one man dead and several others injured, reports Matthias Mugisha.

Rukungiri town is calm after the Saturday clash between the Presidential Protection Unit (PPU) and Col. Kizza Besigye's supporters, which left one man dead and several others injured, reports Matthias Mugisha. Besigye's Rukungiri task force assistant administrator, Frank Begumisa, said the PPU shot at people when their plan to disrupt Besigye's rally failed. Some residents said whoever stoned the PPU Friday night was justified because the PPU had harassed them for a long time. As Besigye supporters planted banana stems in the town Friday morning, President Museveni's supporters demonstrated in town with a disco, provoking them. Regional Police commander Stephen Okwalinga then deployed anti-riot Police which arrested the demonstrators. Eye witnesses said Mrs. Susan Muhwezi, wife to Rujumbura MP Jim Muhwezi, intervened and they were released. They said the PPU then harassed Besigye supporters and battered Habib Mwanza whom they found carrying banana stems on his truck at 1:00pm before a fight erupted that night between supporters and the PPU. Ends

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