Kyagulanyi tells supporters to avoid violence during elections

Nov 17, 2020

The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi, yesterday took his campaign to the Mount Elgon region.

Kyagulanyi, who started off his Sunday campaign programme in Kumi district in the morning, was supposed to address supporters in Sironko and Mbale city but was blocked at Buweri bridge in Sironko.

In Kumi, Kyagulanyi held a rally at Wiggins Secondary School grounds in Kumi district, where he promised to promote health services, education and bring an end to the rampant land grabbing in the district and the entire Elgon region.

"This is a mission to freedom when you look at the roads, hospitals and schools in this area, you may think Kumi is not part of Uganda. It is time for you to say enough is enough," he said. 

As he travelled to Sironko, at the Bugweri bridge, the Police and Kyagulanyi's team were involved in an altercation, which ended in a stalemate, forcing Kyagulanyi's entourage, to make a U-turn and drive to Mbale city.

His journey to Mbale city was equally not easy as his supporters who had gathered on the roadside to cheer him received a dose of tear gas from the Police. He was forced to divert from the main road to bumpy feeder roads, to avoid chaos.

Avoid violence

In Soroti city, where he spent the Saturday night before he set off for the Mt. Elgon region yesterday morning, Kyagulanyi asked his supporters to avoid violence.

"Don't throw stones, don't use violent language and discourage anybody from throwing stones at the Police and the military," Kyagulanyi said at Enaku village in Soroti district, where he addressed a press conference shortly after attending prayers at St Patrick Madera Church, Soroti.

Kyagulanyi, who was in the company of his wife, Barbie Itungo, however, condemned the Police and the army, for what he described as continued "tear-gassing of his supporters" during his campaigns.

Kyagulanyi, campaigning in Soroti, promised that he will compensate the people of Teso for the cattle they lost during the insurgency once he wins the presidency. He held campaign rallies in Katakwi, Amuria and Soroti.

In Soroti city, where he addressed supporters at the Mayor's Gardens, Police battled with his supporters, who stormed the city centre waving and dancing to Kyagulanyi's songs.

He was the second presidential candidate to campaign in the sub-region. The first was Patrick Oboi Amuriat of the Forum for Democratic Change, who started his campaigns in Soroti before proceeding to Lango sub-region.

In Katakwi, he promised to promote talent, athletics and arts in schools, as a way of creating more employment opportunities for Ugandans.

He also pledged to ensure equal distribution of resources, such as jobs, promotions in both the army and the Police, irrespective of one's tribe and religion. He further promised to tackle land grabbing and theft of cattle.

According to Kyagulanyi, Uganda's health sector has not been given the attention it deserves, which has led to the death of many Ugandans due to lack of health services.

Kyagulanyi on Friday campaigned in Moroto. Crossing to Moroto district from Kotido took him several hours as he was delayed by over six militarised checkpoints along the 108-kilometre Moroto-Kotido road. 

His supporters waited for him at the Naitakwae sports ground in Nadunget sub-county.

"I would like to see the ghetto artiste, who wants to become the president," one Lokorwa said, adding that for many years, he had been hearing his songs.

Kyagulanyi's song; We are fighting for freedom blared from the address system, keeping the crowd entertained as they danced to the tune.

First to speak was the NUP district Woman aspirant Zainabu Angella, who said Karamoja was hit by chronic animal raids.

"The day-to-day raids have constrained the livelihoods of the people," she said, adding that people had been left helpless.

Angella said most people had lost their wealth to the rustlers, before faulting the government, saying minerals are ferried out of Karamoja without proper accountability.

Kyagulanyi pledged a servant leadership if elected, saying he was ready to work with responsible people to rebuild the country and fiight corruption.

Kyagulanyi, police clash

In Mbale, where Kyagulanyi reached at about 5:30 pm for his rally, there was a standoff between him and the Police.

Kyagulanyi insisted on accessing the venue via Mbale City, which angered the Police. They attempted to arrest him, but in vain as his bodyguards shielded him from the policemen. In the scuffle, Police fired tear gas to disperse Kyagulanyi's supporters. The supporters, in retaliation, pelted the Police with stones.

This went on for about 30 minutes as the angry supporters clashed with Police officers, forcing some of them to hide inside Police tear gas trucks that had parked on the roadside.

Kyagulanyi's supporters and bodyguards whisked him away to an unknown place using one of the cars that were on standby. This was after the Police had broken his car windscreen and fired teargas inside. The car was abandoned at the scene and only picked later.

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