Mbabazi bodyguard shot in Jinja scuffle

Kampala.

A member of Mr Amama Mbabazi’s security team reportedly sustained injuries as police for the second day battled presidential aspirant Amama Mbabazi’s supporters who protested the Force’s blocking of his consultative meetings.

The heart of the battle was in Jinja Town where Mr Mbabazi was expected to conclude his first leg of consultations that started in Mbale then to Kapchorwa and on Wednesday in Soroti.
The guard, only identified as Kule, was reportedly shot in the leg.

The communication director of the Go Forward team, Ms Josephine Mayanja Nkanji, confirmed the incident but said she was still gathering details.

However, the Kiira regional police commander, Mr Edgar Nyabongo, could neither deny nor confirm the incident when contacted.

A scuffle also ensued as police arrested and briefly detained Mr Mbabazi’s head of security only identified as Aine. He was later released.

Despite earlier warnings from police which foiled his consultative rally in Soroti, Mr Mbabazi maintained that it was his constitutional right to consult as an aspirant.

“They are only complicating my process. You don’t have to belong to any party to consult. Even independents can consult. The only way you can educate ignorant people is showing them the right thing. The law permits me to consult,” Mr Mbabazi said.

On the issue of the venues for his consultations being already occupied, Mr Mbabazi dismissed it.
“We paid money for the venue and it was received, if it was pre-booked by police, why would they receive our money?” Mr Mbabazi asked shortly before setting off for Jinja.

Reports of an eminent violent protest in Mbale, if Mr Mbabazi was blocked, prompted the Elgon regional police commander, Mr Jacobs Opolot, to assure Mr Mbabazi’s team of a safe passage out of the district.

“I will give you a lead car and a blocking one behind up to Mpologoma and my vehicles will come back. As your servant, accept my security, I am a very conscious person who does not undermine situations,” Mr Opolot said. He declined to elaborate to the media why he had taken the decision.

With police escort in handy, Mr Mbabazi moved uninterrupted from Elgon Hotel to Namutumba where he encountered his first challenge on the journey to Jinja.

A group of his supporters blocked the road, demanding that he speaks to them but police swung into action and forced his convoy of about 10 cars to proceed. For a while, people chased it but could not keep pace.

When he reached Bugembe Town, police was overwhelmed by the people who wanted to move with Mr Mbabazi to Jinja. It is here that hell broke loose with police firing teargas at the enthusiastic supporters.

Defiant
But the supporters were unwavering in pursuit of the aspirant. Police then diverted Mr Mbabazi’s convoy from the Main Road to Masese Road and rushed him to Kazimingi Trading Centre where he was due to address a rally after Kakindu Stadium was sealed off.

Here, hundreds were already waiting and kept chanting “Go Forward” with their thumbs up and pointing index finger, the Go-Forward symbol.

Soon after arriving, police commanded by Mr Nyabongo started to disperse the crowds with batons and teargas.
Like in Soroti, the crowd responded by pelting stones at police officers for about 20 minutes until the police operations boss arrived with re-enforcement of more officers and riot gear. As the commanders engaged Mr Mbabazi’s team, police continued to fire teargas and live ammunition at the crowd.
Some protesters would pick the yet-to-explode teargas canisters and throw them back at police.

Police had to force Mr Mbabazi’s convoy through Kyabazinga highway to Travel Hotel where he was expected to address a select team of opinion leaders in the area and some supporters.
But he was denied access to the hotel by management. He then proceeded to Nile Village Hotel where he continued with his consultations.

When contacted for a comment, the police director of operations, Mr Haruna Isabirye, said: “I don’t know whether it is Mbabazi’s aide, but two offenders who were involved in public disorder in Jinja have been arrested but nobody was shot,” said Mr Isabirye.

“We are preparing their files and they will appear in court soon because we are still within 24 hours,” he added.

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