Security Battles Protestors Along Jinja Road

There is heavy deployment along Jinja Road in Kampala as security forces anticipate another round of rioting in the city centre.

The stretch from Nakawa to Namanve is heavily guarded by the Military Police, Uganda Police and Local Defense Unit personnel, mainly around Spear Motors, Kyambogo Road, Kireka Trading Centre and Bweyogerere. The area has seen incessant patrols since the break of dawn following a day of running battles as crowds protested against the arrest of Presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu.

Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, was arrested yesterday from Luuka district for reportedly violating COVID-19 guidelines issued by both the Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Health. His arrest led to protests in over 20 districts in the country leading to loss of life and injuries.

From the trading centres of Kireka and Bweyogerere, burnt car tyres are still piled along the road, while the tarmac roads have turned black from the burning tyres.

By Press time, Security was battling residents along the Kireka railway crossing who had started burning car tyres and gathering boxes and furniture in the middle of the road. Although police had deployed less than 20 military men and policemen, two more trucks of policemen arrived in the area beefing up security in addition to a standby riot control tanker. 

Police fired teargas to disperse the youths who kept on gathering in the trading centre, while people closed their business early in fear of another day of chaos.

Denis Muwanguzi, who was found locking his shop says he is frustrated by the chaos. He says the problem is people are demanding for Bobi Wines freedom yet the government is not giving equal ground. He says the problem also is that many youths don’t have jobs.

He says he had thought of the opening, but now he will close until things normalize.

//Cue in; “Bagala balinze kimu…

Cue out...ebintu sibilungi.”//

Joseph Banansigawa, the chairperson of a bodaboda stage at the railway crossing in Kireka says that people are protesting because they want Bobi Wine freed, or elections cancelled if he cannot campaign. He says businesses have been greatly affected.

  //Cue in; “Leero tubadde tukedde…

Cue out…endooza ya batuuze.”//

Alfred Ego, a resident of Kireka says although youths are not participating, the teargas is affecting everyone even those who are in their homes and shops mainly. He says police should learn better ways of managing the crowd.

“Some people stay in the flats, along the roadside, and when police fires teargas, it affects those who are also trying to keep safe from the violence” Ego said.