Arua residents blame chaos on Bryan White

A section of residents of Arua Municipality have blamed the recent pre-election violence in the area on Kampala socialite Brian Kirumira, commonly known as Bryan White, saying his activities need to be investigated.

Violence broke out in Arua on August 13 after clashes reportedly between the supporters of Independent candidate and eventual by-election winner Kassiano Wadri and those of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Ms Nusura Tiperu. It is alleged that the President’s motorcade was stoned in the fracas.

Yasin Kawuma, who was Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s driver, was shot dead and at least five others are nursing bullet wounds, while four Members of Parliament, the MP-elect Wadri and more than 30 others were arrested.

Also as a result of the Special Forces Command response to the alleged violence in which one of the Presidential convoy car was reportedly pelted with stones, Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake severely injured after being tortured. He is undergoing treatment at Lubaga Hospital in Kampala where he was reportedly dumped by his captors.
Bobi Wine was also tortured by soldiers after his arrest.

The statement
A statement issued by West Nile Initiative for Social and Economic Development (WISED) this week pointed at Bryan White’s actions in Arua before the elections as partly to blame for the violence.

WISED in the statement, said the socialite who was splashing out free money in the area, uttered statements that threatened violence against Bobi Wine and his supporters. Mr Kyagulanyi, who is now on remand at Gulu Central Prison on treason charges, was backing eventual winner, Wadri.

“Investigate the activities of Brian Kirumira aka Bryan White prior to the election. We have seen evidence of videos circulating in public where the said Bryan White is recorded a week to election meeting and distributing free cash to several youth groups in Arua and urging them to be ready to attack, fight and chase away some leaders who were set to go and campaign in Arua,” WISED recommended in a statement.

The residents, who condemned the violence and the arrest of Opposition leaders, are also demanding for immediate release of Mr Wadri so that he is sworn in as MP and start his work in the House

A video clip of Bryan White speaking to different groups of people that had gathered to listen to him and possibly receive free cash from him has been circulating on social media platforms.

In the video, Mr Bryan White tells the people of Arua not to listen to “lies” from Mr Kyagulanyi and his team because he has allegedly been under influence of drugs.