By Spy Uganda
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has vowed to sue Government Spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo whom he accuses of beating him during Thursday’s NBS TV show.
For some of our viewers who didn’t watch the show, Ofwono and Lukwago caught in an argument on whether or not the NRM engaged in activities of ballot stuffing and arresting opposition supporters in the Soroti City East by-election.
After a sequence of counterarguments, Ofwono told Lukwago to shut up or else risk being thrown out of the NBS TV studios.
“Shut up, shut up. You’re the lawyer. Tell me which provision of the Constitutional electoral law supports your argument. “You can shout and we will push you out of here,” says Ofwono before he gets up from his seat to approach Lukwago in his seat.
At the time, the Minister of Information, Communication, and Technology, Chris Baryomunsi, who was one of the guests, could be seen seated watching the fiasco. The show ended abruptly leaving many viewers of what happened behind the scenes.
Here Lukwago Narrates It All;
”A FULL ACCOUNT OF MR. OFWONO OPONDO’S CRIME OF UTMOST SAVAGERY AT THE NBS TV FRONTLINE TALKSHOW.
Last night (Thursday), I happened to be a Panelist at the NBS TV Talkshow that runs from 10:00pm to midnight. The debate was about the sham Soroti East Member of Parliament By-election. Midway the debate, hell broke loose when the Government Spokesperson, who is a regular Panelist (Frontliner) on the show, ran berserk and started throwing tantrums. Out of the blue, he sprung up, charged at me and threatened to evict me from the studios. He pushed his hand into the pocket and around his waist, in a manner that suggested he wanted to draw a pistol at me.
I dared him to shoot at me. He instead pounced on my neck and attempted to strangle me. I did not fight back but instead struggled to wriggle out of his grip. He then punched me in the chest and grabbed both collars of my jacket while huffing and puffing like a cobra. The Moderator, Charles Mwangushya moved in to restrain him but to no avail. He was joined by a Co-Panelist, the Hon. Winnie Kiiza, former Leader of Opposition but the now wild Opondo would not relent as he continued to maul me, while battering and kicking me in the stomach.
Being civilized and mindful of the law of unintended consequences, which could turn out to be catastrophic, I chose not to engage in a fist fight. I instead concentrated on shielding my face with both palms. It was at this moment that another Panelist, the Hon. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister for ICT and National Guidance, who had all along been witnessing the melodrama, joined the duo to prevail over a rampaging Opondo.
The Talkshow ended prematurely and Opondo was shouting at the top of his voice that he was going to finish me off in the corridors of NBS TV or outside the building. He made frantic calls to people I did not understand, requesting for “reinforcement.”
The DPC, Kira Road Police Station, Ssebuyungo, together with the Commander Operations, Aden Muzawula, entered appearance with several police personnel. They made arrangements with Hon. Baryomunsi to escort me back home.
Today morning, I went to Kira Road Police Station and opened up a Criminal Case before the O.C C.I.D and other Police Officers. I also moved to NBS and met with the Management to secure the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage of the said ugly scene but my efforts are yet to yield positive results. In my language, we have an old adage that; “Olaba nkaabira mubikire, naye ate ankutukidde mungalo…!!!”
I will stop at nothing in search for Justice. In addition to the aforesaid criminal proceedings, civil action will also be pursued in Courts of Law in an effort to deal with impunity in our country.
For God and my Country
Erias Lukwago
LORD MAYOR.”
