10 charged with violence in Butaleja

Butaleja

Ten alleged supporters of Ms Florence Andiru Nebanda, the NRM flag bearer in the Butaleja by-election, have been charged
with alleged violence.

The suspects were arrested on Thursday from Napologoma Trading Centre about seven kilometers from Butaleja Town Council
after they were found armed with stones and sticks to allegedly cause violence on supporters of rival contestants. Mr
Godfrey Odongo, the Malaba regional police spokesperson, said the suspects were arrested as they were moving around with
several sticks and stones loaded in a pick-up truck. They were charged with being armed in public contrary to Section 76 of
the Penal Code Act.

Detention
Mr Odongo said they are being detained at Butaleja Central Police station waiting for advice from the Resident State
Attorney. Mr Mamble Wahakabi, the Butaleja District Election Commission registrar said her office has registered several
cases of campaign violence since the exercise kicked off two weeks ago.
Ms Nebanda has been on the spotlight over alleged electoral violence by her supporters.

Last Tuesday, two supporters of Ms Betty Hamba, an independent candidate in the race for Butaleja Woman MP seat, were
allegedly beaten into unconsciousness. Ms Hamba was in the company of her supporters after a campaign rally in Busolwe
Sub-county when Ms Andiru’s supporters reportedly waylaid the group at 7pm as they reached Butaleja Town Council. They
were pelted with stones and two windscreens were smashed. The skirmishes extended to Nabiganda Trading Centre after Ms Hamba’s supporters in a revenge attack, reportedly burnt down Ms Andiru’s campaign posters.

They again engaged in clashes that reportedly continued past midnight until the police intervened. Two houses were burnt
down in the clashes. One house belonged to Ms Hamba’s supporter identified as Bumali Hifunda of Nabiganda B Village and the other to Mr Ramasahan Muyangu, a driver of Ms Nebanda.

More accusations
Ms Nebanda’s supporters have also been accused of attacking and assaulting Ms Sarah Logose, another Independent candidate and her supporters.

Ms Logose claimed she was attacked by a group of youths at Kaiti Trading Centre on January 28 as she went to attend a radio talk show on a local radio at around 3pm. She said she lost about Shs1 million in the attack in which she claimed the youth tried to strangle her before she was rescued by the Bunyole East MP Emmanuel Dombo and Busia RDC Imran Muluga.

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