Teargas and live bullets rocked Wandegeya this afternoon as police tried to stop the National Unity Platform-NUP party President, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, and his supporters from driving to Bulange in Mengo.
Shortly after the High Court Civil Division judgment, throwing out a petition challenging his acquisition of National Unity, Reconciliation, and Development-NURP and its leadership, Kyagulanyi set out to proceed to Mengo for a meeting with the Katikiro, Charles Peter Mayiga.
Speaking to Journalists, Kyagulanyi described the court case as bogus, saying it was brought by the regime to curtail NUP’s progress. He said despite their court victory, the regime had successfully disrupted their efforts, which saw over 50 NUP aspirant decide to run as independents because of uncertainty.
“We told the world that this was a bogus case, and we are very glad that the judge agreed with us. Now we can say that this case was brought to cut our speed, to vulgarize us as the National Unity Platform, and antagonize us. In my opinion, our detractors in many ways have achieved their intentions, as you have been informed we lost more than 50 candidates who were not sure whether or not the legality of NUP will be upheld,” Kyagulanyi said.
However, Kyagulanyi, who was driving in the company of his excited supporters, was cut off by heavily armed Field Force Unity FFU, LDU’s, and Military police at Wandegeya traffic lights and Makerere main gate. The officers tried to stop the group from proceeding to Bulange in vain prompting the officers to use live bullets and teargas to try and disperse them.
Some officers tried to drag Kyagulanyi from his vehicle at Makerere University’s main gate leading to a struggle with his bodyguards. Some of the supporters joined the bodyguards to protect Kyagulanyi and overpowered the security officers who wanted to arrest. Kyagulanyi later managed to get his way to Bulange.
Police are yet to comment on the incident. Prior to the standoff in Wandegeya, there were chaotic scenes at NUP offices in Kamwokya shortly when news came through that court had thrown out the petition that sought to overturn Kyagulanyi’s acquisition of NURP.
Security blocked hundreds of NUP supporters along Kira road who wanted to access the party offices to celebrate their court victory.
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