Police have dismissed claims that they were planning to invade independent presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi’s offices, as mere rumours.
The Kampala Metropolitan spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango, says there are some people spreading false information on social media that security officers would invade Mr Amama Mbabazi’s Offices at Nakasero, Lumumba Avenue.
He noted that there was no need for Police to camp at Mbabazi’s offices because they did not have a case against him.
“Those are lies and I don’t think that there was any plan by Police to invade Mbabazi’s offices. What I know is that Mr Mbabazi, while still a Prime Minister, had a security team that was given to him. Also, the Electoral Commission gave all presidential aspirants security. May be if you say that those were the people at his offices, then I can accept but I don’t remember police camping at Mbabazi’s office on Tuesday.” Mr Onyango said.
Mr Onyango’s remarks follow claims on social media Tuesday that police had plans of invading Mr Mbabazi’s offices following a statement by the IGP, Gen Kale Kayihura that he would arrest the security team of Mr Mbabazi, whom he referred to as a militia group.
This was after scores of people were injured in Ntungamo in a clash between supporters of Mr Mbabazi and National Resistance Movement (NRM).
While addressing journalists at Mr Mbabazi’s offices on Tuesday, the deputy youth leader of the Go Forward team, Mr Tony Kirembwe Ssebugwawo, said some police officers were spotted moving around their offices and could not ascertain their mission.
“Two people who disguised themselves as part of the Go Forward team entered our offices and when they were asked, they refused to reveal their identity”. As Go Forward, we are ready to take over power in a peaceful transition. The acts being done by NRM shows that they are scared of our presence and support. You all saw what hapened in Fort-Portal, Nansana, Masaka and now Ntungamo.
This means that it is an intended move to disrupt our campaigns.” Mr Ssebugwawo said.
He added that the NRM Deputy Secretary General, Mr Richard Todwong, owes Go Forward an apology for describing their candidate as unserious.
On Tuesday, tension brewed at Mbabaz’s offices. His team members could be seen holding private talks, with others shouting “let them come”. By 5pm, messages on social media had started flowing, notifying people that the former Prime Minister’s offices were under siege.
Addressing residents at the Ntungamo resident district commissioner’s office on Monday, Gen Kayihura said although it was wrong for the NRM supporters to block the route that was being used by the Go Forward candidate, the fighting that ensued could have been avoided had Mr Mbabazi chosen to only move with the security provided by the Electoral Commission.