Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate in the Kyadondo Eastby-election Mr Apollo Katinti has demanded the release of fellow candidate Mr Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu popularly known as Bobi Wine, on Tuesday arrested as he tried to address his supporters at Kasaganti where his last rally is scheduled to be today.
Mr. Katinti says it is unfair to go on campaigning when Bobi Wine in jail. Talking to NBS Television, Katinti who last years won the poll but couldn’t sustain the seat as High Court nullified his election over irregularities said has stopped campaigning until Bobi Wine is released.
“I call upon the police to release Arresting him on the last day of campaigns in unfair,” Mr. Katinti said after he stormed Kira Division police demanding for his opponent’s release.
Bobi Wine was briefly detained at Kasangati police station before being whisked away to at Kira Division police after his supporters turned rowdy, demanding his release.
“I have been talking to Dr. Kizza Besigye about our fellow candidate’s arrest and he might join us at Kira police station,” Katinti added.
FDC’s Dr Kizza Besigye and President Museveni are later today expected to face off as they grace the last campaigns of their flag bearers Sitenda Sebalu and Apollo Kantinti respectively.
Mr. Katinti alongside Dr Besigye will lead a procession from his place in Kasangati through Kiteezi, Luteete to Wampeewo where President Museveni will be addressing the NRM supporters at the play ground.
Mr Kyagulanyi before his arrest was expected to finalise his campaigns in Bulamu, Wampeewo and Manyangwa Gayaza. Mr Muwada Nkunyinji, another independent FDC leaning candidate is expected to hold his last rallies in Kiteezi and Bulamu.
Mr Sowedi Kayongo, also an independent candidate, will traverse Manyangwa and Kiteezi on the final campaign day.
The Electoral Commission (EC) came out to clarify that independent candidate Bobi Wine was out of order to have his last rally at a wrong venue.
Taremwa Jotham, the EC publicist said on that according to a harmonised campaign program with the commission, Bobi Wine wasn’t supposed to be in Kasangati.
“He is supposed to campaign in Gayaza. Therefore he was campaigning at a wrong venue,” Mr. Taremwa told Trumpet.
Meanwhile, rowdy supporters have blocked the road near Kira police station causing slow traffic flow.
Mr Frank Mwesigwa, the commissioner in charge deployment for Kampala Metropolitan Police, said they are ready to contain the rowdy supporters.
“I am from a meeting with Bobi wine. He is going to be released shortly and will not be charged but the rowdy supporters will be handled,” Mr Mwesigwa said about Bobi Wine’s arrest.
“We have agreed on a new venue in Bulamu, Gayaza. His earlier venue violated Electoral Commission campaign guidelines and he risked being disqualified,” Mwesigwa added.
By 11:40 am, Bobi Wine had been released by Police. He said “One thing you can’t change is change. They arrested me and they have released me. In order not to cause a presidential embarrassment, we have agreed to hold our rally in Gayaza.”
“I don’t want to be a remembered as a violent man. Campaigns have been peaceful. I want my supporters to remain calm.”
Police has so far arrested five people in Kasangati town as heavy police deployment dominates the final day of campaigning.
They are believed to be Bobi Wine supporters who vandalized a vehicle belonging to a woman suspected to be a police officer who wanted to disperse them from Kira Police Station. The car owner tried to take off, but they chased her and was rescued by the Police.
Over the weekend, Bobi Wine and Mr Sebalu’s exchanged blows and pelted stones when they used the same road.
However, this hasn’t been the only form of violence in the constituency during the campaigns. Several cases of supporters being attacked by opponents and tearing of candidates posters have been reported.
