Religious leaders condemn electoral hooliganism

Aug 21, 2018

Religious leaders condemned the violence in which the driver of the Kyadondo east MP, Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi) was killed.

KAMPALA - A week after the chaos that erupted hours before the Arua municipality by-election, the religious leaders have spoken out against the mayhem in which one person was killed and scores injured.

The religious leaders, in a statement issued under the inter-religious council of Uganda (IRCU), condemned the violence in which the driver of the Kyadondo east MP, Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi) was killed and many sustained serious injuries under torture reportedly by security officials.

"The Inter-religious Council of Uganda condemns the violence and hooliganism associated with electioneering in which lives are lost, people are barbarically arrested and tortured and property destroyed," read a statement issued by the IRCU chair, Mufti Shaban Mubajje, in Kampala on Monday.

The chaos broke out in Arua town after President Yoweri Museveni and opposition figures, including Bobi Wine, Mityana municipality MP, Francis Zaake, had ended campaigns for their respective candidates in the by- election.

The Police said the violence erupted after supporters of opposition candidate, Kassiano Wadri, pelted the president's convoy with stones as Museveni left Arua after campaigning for his party flagbearer, Nusura Tiperu, on August 13.

The members of the security forces, later, are said to have raided a hotel in which Bobi Wine had booked into, shooting dead his driver, Yasin Kawuma.

Bobi Wine, who was arrested and reportedly tortured, has been charged with possession of illegal firearms.

He is currently detained at Makindye military Police. Zaake, who is also said to have been tortured by the security forces in detention after the Arua by election mayhem, is reportedly recuperating in a hospital.

"The fact that the recent by-elections led to loss of human lives and destruction of property; and the arrest and torture of peopl is a clear indication that there is a lot of unvented anger that often bursts out whenever a simple difference in opinion comes up," reads the IRCU statement.      

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