President Yoweri Museveni has blamed incarcerated Arua Municipality MP race candidate Kassiano Wadri of leading a group of criminals who attacked his convoy on Monday.
In a statement released this morning, the president writes that the elements of the Opposition, including Kassiano Wadri, Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) and others, “stoned our convoy, including my vehicle.”
Mr. Museveni further explains that stones they threw broke the rear glass window of the car where the president’s luggage is transported. He also explained a puzzle that had left the country in awe, indicating that the affected window glass is not armoured.
“There was no harm on the old man with a hat” he sarcastically added.
“It is a big shame to have such confused people who want to use violence to intimidate Ugandans. Nobody has a right to intimidate any Ugandan by word or action. Fortunately, my convoy did not react with fire in response to this attack. This was because we were not equipped for anti-riots. Our intervention could have resulted into people's death because we only had live bullets” Mr. Museveni said.
The president however says that Wadri’s crowd, with a tinga tinga (a grader), apparently continued to the town where they attacked people who were coming from the NRM rally.
“They injured quite a number of people with stones. It was in those scuffles that one of the attackers was shot dead.”
He blamed this on the weak management by the Police and the criminal behavior of some of the Opposition leaders. The commanding police officer has since been transferred to Masaka.
He also wondered why Mr. Wadri and his friends took supporters in processions through congested streets, claiming the legal thing was to go for the rally at the agreed venue and thereafter, everybody disperses to his/her home.
“Processions are illegal and the NRM leaders should not be part of them because they inconvenience the public” he proclaimed.
Mr. Museveni further blamed some leaders of acting with impunity and causing the death of one in Bugiri and, now, one person in Arua. “These acts are strongly rejected and will be punished according to the law. Anybody who organizes such groups is responsible for their misconduct.”
“We went to the bush to fight for the right of making political decisions by Ugandans without intimidation by word or action. Anybody who threatens this will have himself to blame” he concluded the statement.
As Arua Municipality goes to polls today to elect a replacement for late Col. Ibrahim Abiriga, tension remains high in town with security forces deployed at every corner to avert a repeat of Monday incidents.
One of the candidates Independent Kasiano Wadri remains in police custody. The race has attracted 12 candidates including Wadri (Independent), NRM’s Nusura Tiperu (NRM), FDC’s Bruce Musema (FDC), Jaffar Alekua for Jeema and DP’s Kennedy Madira (DP).
The other Independent candidate are; Francis Elton Nyero, Sunday Anguandia, Alfred Nyakuni, Jackson Atima, Simon Avutia, Safi Bavuga and Robert Ejiku.
