Kyagulanyi Blocked from Campaigning in 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.