Mbale woman MP arrested over city status protest

MBALE: The Mbale District Woman Member of Parliament, Ms Connie Nakayenze Galiwango has been arrested for organising a protest against a Cabinet decision to postpone the elevation of Mbale Municipality to city status until 2021.

Ms Galiwango was on Monday morning intercepted on Republic Street by and whisked away by riot police officers while leading a group of her constituents in a peaceful demonstration armed with placards.
Some of the messages inscribed on their placards read, “Mbale a city today”, “We deserve it now not tomorrow”, “It’s the pride of eastern region”, “We are tired of government promises”, “we are disgruntled NRM supporters”, among others.

The District Police Commander (DPC), Mr Fred Ahimbisibwe, confirmed her arrest and said the lawmaker was leading an illegal protest.
“She did not seek permission of the police so the demonstration was illegal and contrary to the Public Order Management Act. Nobody is allowed to protest without clearance from the IGP,” Mr Ahimbisibwe, said.

This comes barely two days after police arrested 11 youth leaders for holding an illegal protest in Mbale town over the same reasons.
They were charged with offences ranging from inciting violence, blocking traffic flow, holding illegal assemblies and disobeying lawful orders but later released on police bond.
The angry youth were demanding that the Cabinet revokes its decision and list Mbale municipality as a city in the first lot, which include Arua, Gulu, Jinja, Fort Portal and Mbarara.
In the recently created cities by cabinet, Mbale and Hoima take effect in July, 2020, something that has provoked angry reaction from residents in Bugisu sub-region.

Ms Galiwango told Daily Monitor, shortly before she was arrested that the Cabinet made such a decision with ill- intentions to deliberately hurt the people of Bugisu region.
“This is quite unfair to the people of Mbale and other surrounding districts. We want city and we will not relent until we get it,” she said.

She explained that Mbale Municipality was among the Municipalities that were earlier earmarked to be elevated to a city status in the first phase but it was unfortunate that it was left out at last minute.
Mr Simon Peter Nabendeh Wamoto, the former RDC, Bulambuli District, said Bugisu sub-region has remained a ghetto to date yet the President was nurtured by the elders from the area.