Residents of Fort Portal City in Kabarole District, who experienced brutality meted out by security personnel between December 9 and 11 during the campaigns of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, aka Bobi Wine, have said the incidents will influence voting patterns.
They said the use of excessive force by security personnel could altered the mindset of some voters. In the 2021 General Election, Mr Kyagulanyi garnered 8,440 votes (23.22 percent) in Fort Portal, while President Museveni got 25,753 votes (70.8 percent). During Mr Kyagulanyi’s recent campaign tour of the Tooro Sub-region, which ended last Saturday, business activity in Fort Portal was largely paralysed.
Mr Kyagulanyi, who had planned to campaign in Bunyangabu, Fort Portal City and Kabarole District last Tuesday, was only allowed to hold a rally in Bunyangabu under tight security. His campaigns in Fort Portal and Kabarole were blocked from 3pm. In one incident at Buteebe Trading Centre, security personnel fired tear gas and beat up several people who had gathered to welcome Mr Kayagulanyi. Ms Generous Kabagenyi, a resident of Rwengoma, said her bean and maize gardens were destroyed during the chaos.
‘I have already changed my mind. I cannot vote for NRM anymore. People were beaten in front of my home, and my children inhaled tear gas. It felt like a war zone. If soldiers stop us from seeing Bobi Wine, then we shall respond in the ballot box,’ Ms Kabagenyi said. From Buteebe Trading Centre to Fort Portal City, a distance of about three kilometres, businesses were closed from around 7pm as security personnel used tear gas and force to clear the roads while escorting Mr Kyagulanyi to his hotel. Mr Haruna Kibirango, a Democratic Party (DP) member, said it was unfortunate that the violence occurred after President Museveni had concluded his campaign activities in Fort Portal.
‘These soldiers are decampaigning NRM. How do you beat people today and expect them to vote for you tomorrow?’ Mr Kibirango said, adding: ‘People who own roadside businesses work in the evening. That is when they were ordered off the streets. Many have loans, and during the running battles, some lost property.’
Ms Agnes Kabasomi, a resident of Kisenyi, said she had supported the NRM for many years, but the actions of security personnel made her reconsider. ‘I ask myself why we were beaten just for standing by the roadside to wave at Kyagulanyi. If waving at him earns beatings, then I will vote for him,’ she said. Mr Tom Mugisha, an NRM supporter, said Mr Museveni should institute investigations into the conduct of security personnel.
‘We are struggling to convince people to vote for President Museveni. They ask us why security beat them, and we have no answer,’ Mr Mugisha said. However, Mr Kikora Masereka, the NRM chairperson for Karagura Sub-county, said the ruling party should not be blamed for the actions of security personnel.
‘Voters need to separate the NRM from the UPDF. We are a political party, and I don’t believe the NRM instructed soldiers to beat people. The UPDF is supposed to be non-partisan, and whatever happened was carried out within their own command structures. As a party, our focus is on campaigning and securing votes,’ Mr Masereka said. Despite being blocked from campaigning in Fort Portal City and Kabarole District, Mr Kyagulanyi was also allowed to campaign in Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa and Ntoroko districts, but under tight security.
Police position
The Rwenzori West Police spokesperson, Mr Vincent Twesige, defended the actions of security personnel, saying Mr Kyagulanyi was blocked for failing to adhere to agreed campaign routes. ‘He did not follow the agreed routes to the campaign venues. Campaigns run from 7am to 6pm, and after that security is mandated to disperse crowds. Electoral Commission guidelines also prohibit campaigning in business areas,’ Mr Twesige said. He also denied claims that NUP supporters were arrested and are in their custody.