Authorities in Ryakarimira Town Council, Kabale District, foiled sports activities organized by Simon Agaba, a former aspirant for the Ndorwa West County seat, on Sunday evening, citing a lack of proper coordination.
Agaba, who is also a member of the pressure group “Patriotic League of Uganda” (PLU), had organized inter-sub-county and town council football games and wrestling at Katwaaro playground in Nyakitokoro village, Kacerere ward, Ryakarimira Town Council.
These activities were intended to culminate his county tournament and garner support for his 2026 parliamentary campaign for the Ndorwa West County seat.
As the teams from Kahungye and Kibuga sub-counties prepared for the final game, two unidentified groups of football players began using the playground, causing confusion. This led to spectators destroying one of the goal posts.
Nyakitokoro village LC1 Chairman Patrick Twesigye ordered all parties to vacate the playground, but his directive was met with resistance. Twesigye explained that he was acting on orders from town council authorities, but the crowd did not comply.
Consequently, police officers from Ryakarimira Town Council and Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) soldiers from the Ryakarimira detachment intervened and dispersed everyone. Agaba and his group accused incumbent Member of Parliament and State Minister for Trade David Bahati of orchestrating the disruption, as Bahati was in the constituency at the time.
Earlier, Minister Bahati, speaking as the chief guest at a fundraising ceremony at Kahungye Catholic Center in Rwanyana Parish, Kabale Diocese, urged the public not to pay attention to any political campaigns until the Electoral Commission’s designated period. Bahati argued that premature campaigns are intended to sabotage the work of incumbents. Agaba had lost to Bahati in the 2021 general elections.
