Bush war generals condemn Kyagulanyi, Amuriat arrests

2021 ELECTIONS|

Independent Presidential candidate Lt. Gen (rtd) Henry Tumukunde of Renewed Uganda and Maj. Gen. ( Rtd) Mugisha Muntu and former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Kizza Besigye have condemned the manner in which security agencies arrested the National Unity Platform (NUP) Presidential nominee Robert Kyagulanyi and FDC's Eng. Patrick Amuriat.

In a statement released, Tumukunde condemned the arrest in the strongest terms possible noting that these actions have put a stain yet again on the dictatorial tendencies of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.

"We must respect the sanctity of our electoral systems. By nature, all campaigns are characterized by disagreements. We must respect other people's views. When one is presidential aspirant or duly nominated, they be accorded their respect,"  Tumukunde stated.

Tumukunde called on the government to reign in the security forces and ask them to act sensibly.

"Uganda risks being ridiculed by our population and the international community at large if such actions continue unabated," Tumukunde further added.

Muntu on the other hand stated that, "the arrest and detention of Amuriat and Kyagulanyi continues an undesirable and untenable trajectory. To security agencies, recognize this reality as sure as the sun rises, there will be change. Your actions determine how it will impact you, not if it will happen."

Besigye noted that police banned processions on days for presidential nominations but that the ruling junta held processions as they looked on and they hadn't arrested anyone.

"Meantime, same Uganda police brutalized presidential candidates they suspected could have a procession before or after nomination! We've an NRM/M7 Junta Police not Uganda Police. Same with other institutions of State- EC, BOU, DPP...," Besigye tweeted.

Kyagulanyi was arrested on Tuesday outside Kyambogo University premises shortly after he had been nominated.

Police smashed his car windows and pulled him out before driving him to his home in Magere.

Police later justified the arrest noting that Kyagulanyi had not honoured the instructions police had communicated to him.

Kyagulanyi wanted to go to his party headquarters to launch his party manifesto but police said this was a ploy by him to lead processions to town.

Amuriat on the other hand was arrested on Tuesday morning following a showdown between security and FDC party members.

Police accused Amuriat of attempting to organise a procession to lead him to Kyambogo where he was supposed to be nominated on Tuesday.