The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party leaders in Rukiga District have petitioned President Yoweri Museveni over what they describe as arbitrary arrests and intimidation following the recently concluded party primaries for the District Woman Member of Parliament flag bearer.
Led by District NRM Chairperson Frank Besigye Kyerere and the entire District Executive Committee (DEC), the leaders condemned the alleged assault of NRM supporters and the misuse of firearms by Andrew Muhwezi, husband to the incumbent District Woman MP and Amnesty Commission official Denis Nkwasibwe.
They accused the duo of using the names of the President’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) to justify their actions, a matter they said had already been reported to the Inspector General of Police.
Kyerere claimed that party supporters had been subjected to illegal arrests by unidentified individuals purporting to be from the Crime Intelligence Department headquarters in Kampala, allegedly acting under the guidance of Muhwezi and his political network.
He called for the arrest of Muhwezi, Nkwasibwe, and their associates, an investigation into their alleged possession of firearms, and possible withdrawal of the weapons.
Kyerere further appealed to President Museveni to personally intervene to “save the situation before it gets out of hand,” urging the President’s Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and ISO to explain the circumstances surrounding the arrests said to have been ordered by Muhwezi and his wife, Caroline Kamusiime.
CUE IN KYERERE…..ON THE MATTER…..RR/ENG//
Rukiga County NRM parliamentary flag bearer, Counsel Patrick Kiconco Katabaazi, also condemned what he described as systematic targeting of residents across several sub-counties in the district.
He warned that failure by security agencies and government to intervene could escalate tensions and lead to unrest.
CUE IN KATABAAZI…….ON THE ISSUE……RR/ENG//
The demonstrators later handed a signed petition to the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Zadok Kamusiime, who urged them to avoid protests and promised to address their concerns.
CUE IN KAMUSIIME…..ON THE MATTER……RR//
Efforts to obtain a comment from the accused individuals were unsuccessful, as they did not respond to repeated phone calls.
