LUWEERO Two people sustained serious injuries following violent clashes between supporters of rival political parties in Luweero District on Monday evening.
The confrontation erupted at Kakuuto trading centre at around 6 pm when a group of National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters, armed with sticks, stormed a campaign rally by National Unity Platform (NUP) parliamentary candidate for Katikamu North Constituency, Mr Denis Ssekabira.
According to police, the NUP candidate had held a campaign rally at Kakuuto that had proceeded peacefully from approximately 3pm. However, at around 6 pm, Mr Gaddafi Nassur, the NRM candidate, arrived at the same venue, accompanied by supporters who confronted the NUP camp.
The Savannah Region Police spokesperson, ASP Sam Twiineamazima, said the confrontation was reportedly in retaliation by NRM supporters for an earlier attack by the NUP team the previous day at Butuntumula near the Sub-County headquarters.
“A clash erupted between the two groups, reportedly as a retaliation by the NRM supporters for an earlier attack by the NUP team the previous day at Butuntumula near the Sub-County headquarters. The confrontation quickly escalated into a serious fight,” ASP Twiineamazima said in a statement issued on Tuesday morning.
However, Mr Bernard Kalwanyi, a political assistant for Mr Gaddafi Nassur, disputed the police account, claiming the NUP camp started the fight.
According to Mr Kalwanyi, they had mobilised for a meeting at Kakuuto at 6 pm, but when they arrived at the venue, they found Mr Ssekabira finishing his campaign rally at the same area.
“This is when the supporters confronted each other and a small fight ensued. It lasted for some minutes before the NUP camp left, but they mobilised other members for reinforcement and pitched camp, throwing stones at us,” Mr Kalwanyi said.
He claimed five people were injured in the incident, with one person, only identified as Sebuufu, seriously injured and admitted at Luweero Hospital.
But Mr Jabel Tamale, one of the campaign managers for Mr Ssekabira, refuted Mr Kalwanyi’s account, insisting it was the NRM camp that instigated the violence.
According to Mr Tamale, they had a campaign programme in Bamugolodde Parish and had finished at Kakuuto village, heading to Kasiso when Mr Gaddafi and his team confronted them.
“They intercepted our vehicles, preventing any further movement, and the supporters who were armed with sticks started the fight. In the scuffle, several people were injured, but two from our camp sustained serious injuries. One was admitted at Luweero Hospital while the other was at Canaan Medical Centre,” Mr Tamale said.
He blamed the confrontation on Mr Gaddafi’s camp, which he said did not have any campaign programme in the area, well knowing that the NUP camp was campaigning there.
“While we were drawing the campaign programmes, we avoided being in the same areas campaigning to avoid such confrontations. Now I wonder why Mr Gaddafi would be in the area where he had no campaign programme,” Mr Tamale said.
According to the Police, during the violence, the campaign convoy of Ms Agnes Kirabo (NRM), who was returning from a rally in Kamira Sub-County, was caught up in the clash along Kasiso Road. The convoy was attacked by NUP supporters, resulting in significant damage to a vehicle registered as UBL 938X, belonging to Mr Yakobo Mukasa, the NRM Chairperson for Nyimbwa Sub-County.
Police reported that two unidentified men were seriously injured during the melee and are currently receiving treatment at Luweero General Hospital. Their condition remains unknown as investigations into the incident remain ongoing.