Gen.Tumukunde injured in poll fracas, son defeated

FORT PORTAL – Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde is nursing wounds sustained when he was hit by a teargas canister fired at him this morning by policemen overseeing Western youth parliamentary polls in Fort Portal. Both Army and police confirmed the incident.

The hotly contested race was won by Mwine Mpaka Rwamirama, the NRM flag bearer. The chaotic elections were marred by show of military by both sides.  Mpaka son to state minister for agriculture Lt. Col. Bright Rwamirama

Big losers are: Amanya Tumukunde(independent) Tumukunde’s son and Go Forward’s Macklyne Nahwera.

 Loser: Amanya Tumukunde. Photo by Sunday Rogers.

The Regional Police Commander for Rwenzori West, Denis Namuwoza, said Tumukunde used force to access the tally centre at Kagote SDA hall in Fort Portal.

“When he was denied entry at the gate at 1:00am (Tuesday morning), he assaulted a security officer in uniform and also drew a gun at him. This prompted the police to throw a tear-gas canister at him (Tumukunde) and a group of 25 rowdy youth that accompanied him,” Namuwoza said.

According to Namuwoza, Tumukunde transported the ‘goons’ from Kampala. “What was the General doing at youth rally at 1:00am?  “If he came to support his son (Amanya Tumukunde) that is fine, but that didn’t call for the bad behaviour he demonstrated while at the tallying centre,” Namuwoza said.

Namuwoza said that after the incident, Tumukunde returned to the hotel (names withheld) he had earlier checked in.

Sources told New Vision that Tumukunde was referred to Kampala by a nurse who administered first aid on him for proper medication.

 Winner: Mwine Mpaka Rwamirama.