The pink-coloured leaflets with Museveni’s cross-stroked-picture started circulating last week in Masaka City and nearby communities. They are inscribed with messages branding Museveni a dictator and castigating his administration for failing to end poverty, nepotism extrajudicial killings, and human rights abuses.
Last month after the Electoral Commission declared the incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni winner of the presidential elections, protests broke out in Masaka.
Security personnel comprised of the military and police swung into action to stop the growing protests, and accordingly, dozens of people were arrested and four others shot dead.
Patrick Ssejjengo, a resident of Kijjabwemi cell in Masaka town is one of the many victims whose relatives are missing after they were abducted by unknown people.
He narrates that a week ago, his brother; Robert Jjita was picked by suspected security operatives who were driving in a minibus motor vehicle commonly known as “Toyota Drone” with concealed number plates and has since never returned.
Michael Mulindwa Nakumusana, the Nyendo-Ssenyange Division LC 3 chairperson accuses security personnel of torturing Grace Nakalyango after she was allegedly found wearing red clothes during the protests.
Blaise Kamugisha, the National Chairperson of the Crime Preventers Forum, reveals that the money that will be allocated to them is a pledge President Museveni made to them to support their economic empowerment.
Kasirye, who was travelling with Kyagulanyi in the same motor vehicle, was hit in the head leading to severe breeding, according to eyewitnesses. Gonzaga Mitimbo Kagumba, a political Assistant to the Masaka Municipality MP, Mathias Mpuuga says Kasirye was shot in Kyabakuza trading centre on the outskirts of Masaka Municipality.
The NUP leaders led by Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, the MP for Masaka Municipality and party’s Deputy President in Charge of Central Region says that they will pursue the matter in courts of law and other tribunals that preserve Human Rights.
According to Mbayo, some security personnel were exposed during last week’s protests which were sparked off by the arrest of the National Unity Platform-NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu during his campaign trail in Luuka district.
The protests were sparked off mechanics in Nyendo town; a suburb of Masaka city who blocked the main road with burning car-tyres and logs, before paralyzing traffic flow, promoting security to intervene.
Processions remain banned across the country as the country struggles to contain COVID-19 which is now spreading sporadically in communities. But at the same time, Uganda is going through an election season, which attracts crowds from various political camps, which are sometimes hard to contain.
“We gave them up to November to return to the main park because we shall not allow any vehicle to load and offload passengers anywhere other than the taxi park" the city clerk said.
The driver of the Fuso truck identified as Aggrey Muzaya, the turn boy and a woman suspected to be the owner of cargo died on the spot. The injured people include the driver of the trailer identified Amis Baheza and his turnboy Salim Tenywa and two women-only identified as Monica and Tunamuhikire.
The Southern Region Police Spokesperson, Muhammad Nsubuga, says the two firearms were recovered from the former Crane bank building in Masaka town where the suspects have been working as security guards.
Aaron Naturinda, the Masaka District Criminal Investigations Officer, says they have kicked off investigations as they hunt for Nuwashaba to explain what could have happened.
During a security meeting, Henry Mayanja, the Chairperson Katwe Boda boda stage accused police officers of exercising utmost brutality while enforcing curfew, which has fueled frustration among those who fall prey to their operations.
An asymptomatic female COVID-19 patient undergoing treatment at the hospital lost her cool on Sunday and recorded a video bemoaning the unconducive situation at the ward, which she says isn’t appropriate for patients.
According to Mutebi, Nsubuga was the first to be taken from his home at Namaseenene on May 18th by four operatives, two of whom armed. Nsubuga’s mother, Scholastica Nanteza, says her son was shot twice in the leg as he attempted to run to his house.
Part of the disputed land hosts the Regional Offices of the Inspector of Vehicles and testing ground for drivers. However, the police are also setting up a regional control room for security surveillance CCTV cameras system on the disputed land.
Several traders had reopened their shops in response to a move by President Yoweri Museveni to ease COVID-19 restrictions with effect from Tuesday, May 26.
