By Andrew Irumba
Mbarara: The National Unity Platform (NUP) principal and hopeful next Ugandan President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu has today reversed the belief that his party has support only in central region after his youthful supporters today overpowered police and broke into Kakyeka stadium in Mbarara City to witness his manifesto launch.
This was after Uganda Police Counter Terrorism Director dubbed Ankole, Kigezi Commander, AIGP Abas Byakagaba ordered that the event will only be attended by 70 people in a bid to curb the novel Coronavirus’s transmission.
However, the presidential hopeful, flanked by his wife Barbie Kyagulanyi proved that Byakagaba’s directives were just drama after thousands of his supporters escorted him all along from Ntungamo to Mbarara although they could be seen being teargassed by police that was deployed at different road blocks.
On the venue, since morning, security officers had refused NUP supporters and journalists from accessing the heavily guarded Stadium till the arrival of the currently “strongest” opposition presidential aspirant dubbed Kyadondo East legislator Hon Kyagulanyi that hundreds of youth became unruly.
Earlier on, NUP vice President for Western Region Jolly Mugisha and other leaders had camped at Mbarara central police station claiming that their campaign materials have been confiscated by police with their other three supporters under unclear reasons.
‘’We are here asking police to give us our campaign materials like the umbrellas, banners, balloons that they confiscated last night but they are playing us pick play,’’ said Mugisha.
TheSpy Uganda has learnt that some of the suspects including Bright Muhumuza and Pius Twesigye, both coordinators of National Unity Platform were granted bail by Grade One magistrates’ court after spending three days in Police custody.
On thereother hand, the ankole NUP supporters have given Robert Kyagulanyi a new name, “Musinguzi” literally meaning ‘victory’ as a symbol of acceptance and support towards his 2021 presidential bid.
“To us, the people of Western Uganda, you’re like a newborn baby to a woman who has been barren for a long time and all of a sudden God gives her a child. We, therefore, name you, “Musinguzi, ” said Jolly Mugisha, the NUP coordinator Western Region.
