Relatives waiting for the suspects outside Kalangala police station

37 suspects were natives of the island district while the rest were from other parts of the country. According to Kalangala police, some of the suspects were transferred to Masaka Central police station. 

The suspects were released shortly after the arrival of the Works and Transport minister, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala who is also a native of Kalangala district. Katumba said that the suspects were released because they had no case to answer.    

Katumba said he intervened to have the suspects released because Kalangala police and residents did not even know what tear gas was since they have always been law-abiding but were provoked and incited by Kyagulanyi and his team. 

Richard Kabanda Kiggundu, one of the residents has condemned the arrest and subsequent detention of the suspects, saying his sister Sarah Nakabanda was on her way home when she was arrested.

Ronald Lwanga, the Kalangala district NUP registrar has asked police to exercise fairness while arresting Ugandans. Lwanga said arresting and detaining people for over 5 days and releasing them without charge defeats justice and fairness. 

Kalangala district police commander declined to comment on the release of the NUP suspects and instead referred our reporter to the Masaka regional police spokesperson Muhamad Nsubuga, who was not available for comment.Â