They did the same on several Kampala city roads and even managed to stop in the middle of the road at City Square near Mapeera building, just a few meters from the Central Police Station (CPS).
Traffic policemen were seen begging them to leave so that vehicles can move normally as they continued chanting Museveni’s name and campaign sogans. After putting traffic flow to a standstill at City Square, they repeated the same at Kampala–Entebbe road junction.
Not even the Field Force Police and Local Defence Units who had earlier been deployed in anticipation of protests could stop them. Security personnel just looked on as they rode at snail pace. The Electoral Commission over the weekend banned physical campaigns in at least 12 districts including Kampala and Wakiso which are considered as high-risk areas for the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).
On Sunday, presidential candidate Robert Kyagulany’s personal bodyguards Francis Senteza Kalibala aka Frank was allegedly ran over by an army vehicle as security attempted to block Kyagulanyi’s campaign convoy from accessing Kampala city.
Kyagulanyi’s campaign team were attempting to rush an injured journalist Ashraf Kasirye, who was in critical condition after being shot in the head to get medication.
Ever since the campaigns began, police have severally been brutal towards opposition candidates, accusing them of trying to paralyse business and traffic by passing through towns and cities. On Monday, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Patrick Oboi Amuriat was hospitalised after being pepper-sprayed straight in the eyes as he drove from Bugiri to Tororo for campaigns.
Meanwhile, the police in Katwe are investigating an attack on a boda-boda rider who was ferrying Museveni’s posters on Sunday night. Deputy Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, said Baker Musisi, was attacked by men on two motorcycles at Luwafu road, in Makindye Division.
Owoyesigyire said Musisi was riding his motorcycle UEA 144B TV Star black in colour when he noticed that two motorcycles were trailing him. The victim, according to Owoyesigyire, stopped to inquire on why he was being trailed.
Musisi in his statement recorded by Katwe detectives alleges that he was wearing a helmet but the force of the iron bar broke its shield and injured his left eye. Musisi adds that he was robbed of his wallet containing Shs 50,000, his national identity card, Techno phone valued at Shs 450,000 and Museveni’s campaign posters.
“He was later found by passers-by and rushed to the hospital. Police at Katwe has intensified the hunt for the suspects and so far one has been arrested with the help of CCTV footage. The suspect is being held on allegations of robbery and assault,” Owoyesigyire said.
