Police in Kabale district on Sunday swung into action and saved Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the State Housing Minister from a confrontation with angry youth.
According to witnesses, about 200 angry youths subscribing to Kanungu-Kabale Students Association- (KAKASA) converged in Kabale town on Sunday and led a procession to Vienna Guest where the minister was consulting selected individuals on the presidential age limit.
They accused the minister who also doubles as the Kinkizi East Member of parliament for holding selective consultative meetings in the constituency, claiming that on October 30th, the minister held a consultative meeting involving his campaign agents and relatives where they unanimously voted in favor of age limit amendment, an issue that has left most of the rest bitter.
The youth demanded that Baryomunsi holds fresh consultative meetings on the proposed scrapping of the presidential age limit with voters in every parish in Kinkiizi East County. However, heavily armed anti-riot police led by Majid Alituha, the Officer in Charge of Operations Kabale Central Police station stormed the hotel and dispersed the youth.
Elijah Twinomuhwezi, a student at Bishop Barham University College and a resident of Bushuura in Kirima Sub County in Kinkiizi East County in Kanungu, says it was wrong for the minister to consult his relatives and campaign agents on a national matter. He wants the minister to hold fresh consultations across the constituency.
Jacob Ampeire, the Guild President Bishop Barham University College-BBUC in Kabale, says the decision by the minister to only consult his relatives and campaign agents is a sign of immature politics.
Bright Twehikyiire, a student at African College of Commerce and Technology-ACCT, says the decision of the minister to avoid his electorate is a sign of disrespect and deprives them of their rights.
Majid Alituha, the Officer in Charge of Operations Kabale Central Police station, says they dispersed the youth because they didn't notify police about their protest.
Dr. Baryomunsi accuses his political rivals of mobilising the youths to disorganize his consultative meetings. According to Baryomunsi, he followed the right procedures to hold consultative meetings.
