Anti-Riot Police Patrol Rukungiri Township

THE anti-riot Police have been patrolling Rukungiri streets since Wednesday to check the escalation of violence following allegations that a pro-Besigye supporter was on Tuesday night buried alive, reports James Mujuni. The Police on Tuesday fired tear-gas to disperse about 400 supporters of presidential candidate Col. Kizza Besigye, who protested the incident. The south-western regional Police commander, Mr. Stephen Okwalinga, said they were investigating the reports that Richard Bashaija was buried alive in a mud-filled ditch on Tuesday. Bashaija told the Police that he and his wife, Owembabazi, were attacked by unknown people in Kinkizi county where they had gone to campaign. He said his would-be killers forced him into the ditch and covered him with soil up to the neck. Okwalinga said, "The demonstration was scheduled to be massive but the Police reacted fast and dispersed the crowd. But from our investigations so far, the whole incident appears to be false." Witnesses said Bashaija, accompanied by several people, appeared in Rukungiri town covered in mud on Tuesday afternoon. Enraged residents took to the streets and hurled stones at government officials including the District Police Commander, Mr. Patrick Mugizi. They also attempted to vandalise vehicles. Ends