Mbabazi group hoodwink police in Museveni wear

Mr Mbabazi supporters who turned up for a meeting to discuss his visit in Mbale Districton July 9 on Tuesday. PHOTO BY DAVID KAZUNGU

Mbale- They are arrested each time police is tipped off about their meetings. But this time around, Mr Amama Mbabazi’s supporters in Mbale on Tuesday wore President Museveni’s T-shirts at a meeting convened to organise for the former prime minister’s visit in the district scheduled for July 9.

Mr Abdallah Naleka, who claimed to be Elgon Region team leader for Mr Mbabazi’s vote-lobbying team, told Daily Monitor that they wore the T-shirts to avoid police interruption because the police seem to be at peace with it.

Police and plain clothed security operatives led by Wanale Division internal security officer Patrick Kisembo did not block the meeting.

“We were tipped off by our informers that Mbabazi supporters were here distributing his posters, T-shirts and caps but we are confused because there are no Mbabazi materials here and everybody is either wearing President Museveni’s T-shirt or plain clothes. We could not tell whose supporters they were,” Mr Kisombo said.

Asked whether the group would be arrested if they were found distributing Mr Mbabazi campaign materials or wearing them, Mr Kisembo said that was a security decision to make and not for public consumption or for the press.

Mr Naleka said they are opposed to the NRM decision to restrict Mr Mbabazi from consulting them about his candidature for the NRM flag bearer in Mbale, saying the party is known for fostering democracy in the country, a legacy which should not be destroyed.

“We are saying Mbabazi is an NRM member and he has a constitutional right to consult us on his candidature. We can either advise him to pull out or give him the go-ahead, therefore blocking him will mean that NRM as a party is undemocratic,” he said.