We have not arrested any NUP member - Kyegegwa DPC

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS

Police and UPDF personnel deployed in Kyegegwa district on Monday, where National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi is scheduled to address his first campaign rally since his arrest - and subsequent release on bail - last week.

Ahead of Kyagulanyi's campaigning in Toro sub-region, NUP regional coordinator Innocent Natukunda said Monday morning that several party supporters who had travelled to Kyegegwa ahead of their candidate's visit had been arrested.

But the district police commander, Jesca Nawe, responded by saying no NUP supporter had been arrested in the district.

"Several of our supporters are unaccounted for. Security raided the hotels where they had booked at night and arrested them. We don't know where they are being held from," said Natukunda.

Nawe said this was not true.

She said: "We have not arrested any NUP supporter in Kyegegwa district. The security deployment is to ensure that there is calm."

Musician-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, who is better known by his music stage name Bobi Wine, is also the sitting Member of Parliament for Kyadondo East and in now contesting for the presidency with 10 other candidates, including the incumbent, President Yoweri Museveni of the NRM.

Kyagulanyi is scheduled to address his first rally of the day at the Kabuye Primary School grounds in Kyegegwa, after which he is to proceed to Kyenjojo district. There, he will drum up support for his campaign at St. Augustine's Grounds, Butiti.

He will then continue to his final rally in Fort Portal city at St. Leos College, Kyegobe.

From Kyenjojo, the opposition politician is expected to use a murram road, through Kyarusozi then connect to Kigoyera and Kabarole through Kijura and proceed to Fort Portal.

"The Police has blocked our presidential candidate from using the highway on his way from Kyenjojo. Thhey instead want him to use the long murram road, which is also in a bad condition," said Natukunda.

The deputy Resident District Commissioner, Festus Bandeba, said they had involved Kyagulanyi's advance team of the plan and expect them to follow the security guidelines.

"We don't expect any confusion because we have already informed them about the guidelines and we expect them to comply."