In short
Attempts by Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and Betty Nambooze, the Kyandondo East and Mukono municipality MPs to plead with Turyagumanawe not to fire teargas failed yield results.
Scores of students of Everest College and opposition supporters were injured on Tuesday evening in clashes between police and opposition leaders at the rally of Brenda Nabukenya, the DP candidate in the Luweero District Woman MP By-elections.
Anti-riot police led Grace Turyagumanawe, the Assistant Inspector General of Police cordoned off Kasana Playground at 7:30pm where Nabukenya’s rally was taking place and sprayed voters and opposition leaders with teargas and pepper spray to disperse the gathering. Police said the rally had gone beyond 6pm deadline set by the Electoral Commission.
Attempts by Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and Betty Nambooze, the Kyandondo East and Mukono municipality MPs to plead with Turyagumanawe not to fire teargas failed to yield results. It took police three hours to contain the situation as opposition supporters engaged the cops in running battles accusing them of breaking up a peaceful rally.
Ronald Ndawula, the director Everest College says several students at his school, which is a stone's throw away from Kasana playground, fainted as the tear gas canisters dropped right in the school compound.
The students were rushed to Kasana Health Center for treatment.
// Cue in;”We had ten….
Cue out;….tomorrow//
Luganda Byte.
// Cue in:”abazadde mbabulira…
Cue out;…babategera”//
Scores of residents were also injured during a stampede that broke out as people scampered to safety.
// Cue in;"Kimenyera ddala....
Cue out;....abantu baffa."//
Nabukenya and Norbert Mao, the DP president, Betty Nambooze, EALA representative Fred Mbidde and Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago escaped unhurt.
Suzan Namaganda, the Bukomansimbi district Woman Member of Parliament, says she was briefly detained Police and released. She says the police action was uncalled for and accused the force of inciting violence in the area.
// Cue in: ”I have been…
Cue out:…of Parliament.”//
Luganda byte
// Cue in; “Tukimanyi nga bino…
Cue out;…………..ku mazzi”//
Erias Lukwago, the embattled Kampala Mayor, described AIGP Turyagumanawe as unprofessional saying he should be dismissed with disgrace from the force because of his record, which is captured in the Ssebutinde report.
Our reporter was also roughed up by Turyagumanawe as he sought a comment from Lameck Kigozi, the Savannah Region Police Spokesperson. Earlier in the day, Police also blocked Nabukenya from holding rally at Kasana Taxi Park claiming that it would paralyze transport along the Kampala-Gulu Highway.
The Luweero district woman MP by-elections are scheduled for May 22nd 2014. The seat fell vacant after the court of appeal nullified the election of Nabukenya on the grounds that the election didn't comply with electoral laws. Other candidates are NRM’S Rebecca Nalwanga, Ramulah Kadaala and Faridah Namubiru, both independents.
