Riots: Police names ringleaders, popular musician implicated

KYAGULANYI PROTESTS|POLICE|RINGLEADERS

KAMPALA - Popular musician Mathias Walukagga is among the 300 suspected ringleaders that co-ordinated riots that started in Luuka district and spread across urban centres in the country, including Kampala city.

According to Police, the others are Malingolingo Nkedi, who is contesting for councillorship in Nansana Municipality, Ashraf Machete, the commander of Freedom bodabodas, who are about 50 in number, Nusfa Nakato, who is vying for councillorship at Kampala Capital City Authority and Saul Kulya, the KCCA councillor for Kawempe North.

Also implicated are Rodha alias Maama Kampala, a mobiliser for NUP cells in Bwaise and Kyebando industrial area, as well as Thomas Bagonza, the NUP candidate for councillor, Bwaise II, in Kawempe.

The riots began after the arrest of the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine at Luuka Ssaza grounds over his continued blatant disregard of the Electoral Commission (EC) guidelines.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said the named ringleaders, who are all still at large, co-ordinated the "violent, political and criminal demonstrations".

According to Enanga, the violent acts were escalated after bloggers posted fake news that Kyagulanyi had been killed.

Deaths, arrests

Enanga said 45 people had died as a result of the riots on Wednesday.

Security deployments

Enanga said the NUP cell at Kisekka market began the protests with the burning of tyres, before they spread to other areas.

"All indicators reveal that these events were not just impromptu actions, but part of a loosely coordinated campaign by the political group in the central, Kampala Metropolitan (Kawempe, Rubaga, Makindye, Nakawa, Kira municipality, and Wakiso), Greater Masaka, Busoga and Elgon. 

"Some used the protests as an opportunity to loot from motorists across the suburbs of Kampala, smashing windows and stealing items from cars and shops," Enanga added.

He, however, said they will continue to work with all partners to enforce laws prohibiting acts of violence.