Police block Lukwago campaign rally
Mr Erias Lukwago (R) addresses his supporters in Kampala yesterday. Photo by Abubaker Lubowa
Kampala- Police yesterday blocked Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago from holding his first campaign rally for re-election.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said the venue where Mr Lukwago was to hold his rally (Nakasero Market Park Yard) is not suitable. Mr Onyango argued that having many people in the area, which is in the centre of Kampala, would paralyse the flow of traffic.
But Mr Lukwago said the police’s argument does not add up because it never voiced the same fears when the Katikkiro of Buganda Kingdom, Mr Peter Mayiga, went to the market to fundraise for the reconstruction of the Kasubi Tombs. He accused the police of frustrating him to “advantage” NRM’s candidate Dan Kazibwe.
“I have decided to suspend my campaign to show my displeasure with the way Gen Kayihura is conducting himself,” Mr Lukwago said yesterday in Kampala. Mr Lukwago, said he did not anticipated the police blocking his rallies given that the EC okayed his campaign schedule and venues.
Ms Sylvia Kirabira, one of Mr Lukwago’s supporters, said she is waiting to see if the police will block the rally of NRM’s candidate Dan Kazibwe aka Ragga Dee, should he go to campaign at the market.
Mr Mansoor Ssebuwufu, a trader in Nakasero Market, said he looks forward to the day Mr Lukwago will address them in the market
“Lukwago has our interests at heart. He speaks for us,” Mr Ssebuwufu told Daily Monitor yesterday.
