Arua Municipality chaos: Police speaks out on what happened

Aug 13, 2018

One person is "fatally injured" during a scuffle as security forces intervene following an attack on President Yoweri Museveni's motorcade by "hooligans".

ARUA MUNICIPALITY BY-ELECTION

An anticlimax to the final day of campaigns in Arua Municipality had the Police later come out strongly against "hooligans" who attacked President Yoweri Museveni's convoy, but underlined that the situation had been contained.

Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima, in a recorded audio message made public Monday evening, also said one person had been fatally wounded, albeit pending confirmation by doctors.

The victim, according to Kayima, had not been identified yet.

Police said the President's entourage was attacked on his way from campaigning for the NRM flagbearer Nusura Tiperu.

She is contesting for the Arua Municipality parliamentary seat alongside 11 other candidates, all hoping to replace slain area MP Ibrahim Abiriga (NRM).

The others include Bruce Musema of the Forum for Demoratic Change (FDC), Democratic Party's Kennedy Madira and Jaffar Alekua of Justice Forum (JEEMA).

While Kassiano Wadri is the clear best of the rest (independent candidates), the former Terego County MP is seen as one of the top challengers for the seat.

The other independents in the race are Jackson Atima, Robert Ejiku, Francis Nyero, Sunday Anguandia, Alfred Nyakuni, Simon Avutia and Safi Bavuga.

Ahead of voting on Wednesday, the candidates and their respective camps spent the whole of Monday scrambling for last-gasp votes in a crowded race that has dominated the talk of the town as well as other parts of the country.

But the final campaign day culminated into chaotic scenes, punctuated by flashes of violence, including the reported attack on Museveni's motorcade as well as the reported death of one person.

Kayima later said Police had managed to quell the situation and that a number of arrests had been made to aid in investigations into the disturbing episode.

Here is the Police spokesperson's transcribed audio message in full:

 

 

Hello, this is Emilian Kayima, the PRO Uganda Police Force. I want to give a situation report of what transpired this evening in Arua as all candidates finalised the campaigns to the elections of Wednesday 15th August, 2018. At around 6:30 this [Monday] evening, the President's motorcade was attacked by hooligans at Prisons cell in Arua Municipality, as the President left Boma grounds, where he had held the last rally for his candidate.

One of the President's lead cars was attacked and smashed by these hooligans that were donning colours of one of the contestants in this election, Mr Kassiano Wadri. Security forces quickly intervened to calm down the situation, and the situation became riotous as many were pelting stones at the convoy of the President - which unacceptable.

Unfortunately, in the scuffle, one person was fatally injured in motorvehicle registration number  UAT416K, a Tundra. He is believed to be dead, but doctors will confirm this. And his identities are yet to be known because we have not recovered any documents on him.

However, it should be noted that earlier in the day, at around 4pm, as the President proceeded to Boma grounds to have this final rally, a grader intercepted his convoy again. And this grader has since been apprehended and brought to the Police station in Arua. Its registration number is UAP 064R, and the motive is clear: it is bound to have been intended to commit a crime.

It must be noted again, in the same vein, that this grader was wrapped in the same colours as those that were attacking the President's convoy, and those that smashed one of the lead cars at Prisons cell.

We condemn these acts of violence that do not show how mature we are politically. The scene of crime has been secured and is being managed very well by our Police officers on the ground. And the situation has been contained. A number of suspects have been arrested to help in the investigations and further details to this situation will be provided in due course.

I thank you.

 

 

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