Another Mbabazi campaign coordinator arrested for allegedly assaulting NRM supporters
Security officers arrest Mr Bright Muhumuza (in a suit) at Ntungamo Magistrate’s court on Tuesday. PHOTO BY PEREZ RUMANZI.
NTUNGAMO.
The coordinator for Amama Mbabazi campaigns in Ankole sub region Mr Bright Muhumuza has been arrested in Ntungamo.
Mr Muhumuza who is also one of the candidates for Mbarara municipality parliamentary seat was apprehended by Ntungamo OC CIID Gume Bosco on Tuesday outside Ntungamo grade one magistrate court.
He had gone to check on his Go Forward colleagues; Benon Turyamureba, Elia Mayinja, Abudulla Kasajja, Jamir Mutebi, George Sebatindira, Asadu Semakura and Frank Kabari who were charged with assault, causing grievous harm and malicious damage before the Ntungamo Grade I Magistrates Court presided over by Mr Richard Ndangwa.
The arrest and charges stem from the December 13 clashes between NRM and Go Forward supporters in Ntungamo Municipality after the former blocked the way for Mr Mbabazi’s procession as he left Kyamate grounds where he had addressed a rally.
Mr Muhumuza claims he did not know that he was among those wanted for the same cases. He arrived shortly after court had sent his colleagues on remand.
After checking on his colleagues, Mr Gume who was outside the court beckoned Muhumuza apparently to exchange greetings since the OC CIID had worked in Mbarara where Mr Muhumuza has been carrying out his political activism.
When he gave him a hand, Mr Gume posted him a Field Force Unit police officer who was standing near a Police Patrol pickup whom he said he should greet too. He was instead arrested.
Mr Gume then said, “You are wanted at the station to record a statement with us. You can leave your vehicle here we will bring it to the station.”
OC CIID added that Mr Muhumuza was identified by witnesses as being one of those who assaulted the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters.
According to the OC CIID , Mr Muhumuza will also be charged with assault, grievous harm and malicious damage.
“He was identified by one of the state witnesses (Ntungamo clash victim) as one of the people who beat him. He is to be charged in court,” said Mr Gume.
Speaking to Daily Monitor at Ntungamo police, Mr Muhumuza said he was not moved by the arrest, insisting that he was not part of the group that allegedly beat-up NRM supporters.
He instead said police was ignoring the real cause of the incident, only targeting Mbabazi supporters.
“Police are being selective. Why have they not arrested anyone of the NRM supporters who attacked us during our campaigns,” said Mr Muhumuza.
By press time on Wednesday, Mr Muhumuza was still in police custody.
This comes a day after Daily Monitor reported that 12 NRM members who were injured in the clashes and airlifted to Mbarara hospital on December 14 for treatment by police chief Kale Kayihura were on return to Ntungamo given Shs1.5m each. Other 13 that suffered minor injuries received Shs500,000 each last week.
