Tension is high in Bukoto South constituency in Lwengo following the arrest of three campaigners of Mathias Nsubugu, the Democratic Party candidate for alleged campaign violence. They are Dick Lukyamuzi Ssenyondo, the overall campaign manager of Nsubuga, Moses Kataabu, the campaign manager in Kiseka Sub County and Musa Jjingo.
The suspects were picked up on Saturday night following violent clashes between DP and NRM supporters in Kiwangala trading center. It is alleged that the violence broke out after Lukyamuzi and his group found Aisha Kabanda, a state house operative dishing out money, soap, sugar and salt to voters at around 1:00am. Eye witnesses say that the suspects assaulted Kabanda and inflicted on her bodily injuries.
Simon Peter Wafana, the Southern Regional police Commander says they picked up the suspects after Kabanda reported a case of assault at Kiwangala Police post against the trio. He says that the suspects are being held at Lwengo central police where they are facing charges of breaching the parliamentary election guidelines. However, the arrest of the trio has drawn angry reactions from Mathias Nsubuga, the DP candidate and his supporters who accuse Jonathan Baroza, the Lwengo DPC of bias.
Nsubuga says that he expected the DPC to arrest Kabanda for bribery and breaking the campaign guidelines which prohibit night campaigns. He says the arrest of his campaign managers is meant to divert him from campaigning as the election date draws nearer. Florence Namayanja, the Bukoto East MP who is also Nsubuga’s chief campaign strategist says she has mobilized about 1000 DP youths to walk from Nyendo-Masaka to Lwengo to compel police to release the suspects without charge. She insists the arrest of the suspects is politically motivated.
// Cue in: “The police post is so filthy……”
Cue out: “…….assaulted her.”//
But Jonathan Baroza, the Lwengo DPC says they will not release the suspects until they are charged in court. Baroza declined to comment on why police didn’t arrest Aisha Kabanda, who was allegedly found bribing voters and campaigning during odd hours. The Bukoto South by-election is set for July 12. The seat fell vacant after the court of appeal nullified the election of Muhammad Mbabaali over lack of academic qualifications.
The candidates are DP’s Mathias Nsubuga, NRM’s Alintuma Nsambu, and Julius Ssentamu for FDC and independent candidates Dan Katula, Robert Rutalo, Joseph Ssebayiki, and Yusuf Lubega Masengera.
