Two campaign managers from ICT State Minister Alintuma Nsambu's camp are under arrest for bribing people to support his election bid.
Masekele Ssebwaama and his assistant Maria Kalule were detained in a citizen arrest conducted by members of an opposing camp. It is alleged that they were caught distributing sugar, salt and maize flour to people in Bukoto East, Alintuma Nsambu's constituency.
Ssenyondo Lukyamuzi the campaign manager of one of Nsambu's opponents, Florence Namayanja, says he has been keeping an eye on the State Minister's camp for a while. He says he finally found concrete evidence that Nsambu's campaign managers were distributing food to people in Bulando, Gulama and Bulayi.
Lukyamuzi claims that Masekele Ssebwaama and Maria Kalule were caught in the act. Their car keys were confiscated and they were detained until the police arrived on the scene and arrested them.
A blue truck, registration number UAM 064V, in which the two campaigners were traveling, was loaded wit a large number of sugar, maize and salt. It was impounded and taken to Masaka Central Police Station.
Musa Bwambale, the Masaka police officer in charge of electoral offenses, says the police is interrogating the campaigners. He refuses to divulge any more details on the case.
Alintuma Nsambu says the foot items were not bribes. He claims that they were part of a donation from President Yoweri Museveni to schoolchildren in Bukoto East.
According to Nsambu, the food was supposed to be distributed several months ago. However Ssebwaama and Kalule just recently got round to giving it to the intended beneficiaries.
The State Minister has ordered the police to immediately arrest his campaign managers. He says the police risk facing the wrath of parents if the food they expect is not received.
The Bukoto East campaigns have been on the police radar for several months.
Alintuma Nsambu is pitted against the outgoing Deputy Mayor of Kampala, Florence Namayanja, retired boxer Justin Juuko and Abbas Bwogi, an independent candidate.
Last month, the Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura disclosed that his office has received more than 50 complaints of election offenses from supporters of both Nsambu and Namayanja.
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