Kyagulanyi with hundreds of his supporters wanted to access the Masindi town for another rally prompting anti-riot police and the UPDF under the command of Vincent Irama, the Masindi District Police commander to block him.
Robert Kyagulanyi's convoy entering Masindi Town.
Anti-riot police and the Uganda Peoples Defense forces-UPDF soldiers
on Thursday blocked the National Unity Platform-NUP party Presidential
candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi from addressing a rally in Masindi town.
According to the Electoral Commission Campaign Road map, Kyagulanyi is supposed
to hold rallies in Buliisa, Masindi and Kiryandongo.
Kyagulanyi arrived in Masindi at around 1:30 pm from Buliisa
district where he earlier in the day held a rally at Ndandamira village. In
Masindi, he held his first rally at Kijura trading Center which is two kilometres
from Masindi town.
However, Kyagulanyi with hundreds of his supporters wanted to access the Masindi
town for another rally prompting anti-riot police and the UPDF under the
command of Vincent Irama, the Masindi District Police commander to block him.
This resulted in a scuffle between the security operatives and
Kyagulanyi’s supporters.
Police fired live bullets and teargas to disperse the supporters.
The security personnel forcefully escorted Kyagulanyi as he waved to his
supporters up to the Masindi-Kigumba-Kiryandongo junction where he headed for
another rally in Kiryandongo district.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson says
police was compelled to fire teargas and live bullets because Kyagulanyi and
his supporters did not want to follow the guidelines issued by the security,
Electoral Commission and the Health Ministry in regards to the prevention of the
spread of COVID-19.
Earlier in the day as Kyagulanyi headed for a rally in Buliisa
district, he was blocked from holding a rally at Biiso trading centre by anti-riot
police and the UPDF. They accused him of attempting to hold a rally in a place
that was not designated for him.
When he insisted the security operatives fire several live bullets
and teargas to disperse him and his supporters.