Heavy Security Deployment Forces Kamwokya Business Community to Stay Away

Several businesses in the Kampala city suburbs of Kamwokya are under lock and key because of heavy security deployments to foil protests by the National Unity Platform-NUP supporters.

The deployment comprises military police, UPDF, Anti-riot police and Field Force Unit-FFU officers.

The officers have sealed off Old Kira Road and erected roadblocks at Kyebando road junction and Kamwokya market since Wednesday.  

Several others are patrolling the area to monitor the movement of pedestrians, motorcycles and vehicles. Teargas and armoured military trucks keep switching positions.

According to some of the residents, the deployment started immediately after the arrest of the National Unity Platform-NUP presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. 

The residents say the heavy military and police presence has paralyzed business.

Aisha Nambi, a second-hand clothes dealer along Old Kira Road, says she hasn’t made a single coin since Wednesday and has nothing to feed her four children.

Nambi, who doesn’t subscribe to any political party, wonders why a fully nominated presidential candidate can be locked under unclear circumstances.  


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Raymond Mubiru, a Boda-boda rider in Kamwokya who was found pushing his motorcycle after developing a mechanical condition, says he has failed to repair his motorcycle because all garages in Kamwokya are closed.

Mubiru says none of the mechanics has shown up for fear of teargas and arrest by the security teams.

Luganda Audio 

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James OKello and Vincent Mubiru, both car washers opposite to the NUP offices, say they haven’t washed a single vehicle since morning. 

The two Bobi Wine diehards expressed disappointment by the endless police violence directed at their presidential candidate. 

Luganda audio voxpop 

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Our reporter saw military police officers asking Boda-boda operators and taxi conductors near Kobil pump fuel station to vacate their stages for fear that they could be part of the people threatening to demonstrate.

Kyagulanyi was picked up by police from Luuka district headquarters on Wednesday while addressing a campaign rally. His arrest sparked protests in different parts of the country where hundreds of people took to the streets demanding his release.