KAMPALA — Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi has in a lengthy dossier accused President Museveni administration of resorting to extreme means to silence Ugandans who are demanding to end his 34-year “progressively brutal regime.”
People Power, a group he says President Museveni is scared of is a non-violent movement but only brings together Ugandans from different political parties, professions, regions, and religious groupings to unite in peaceful protest against a military dictatorship which violently restricts any form of democratic opposition.
“Anyone who associates with me has become a target for kidnap, imprisonment, torture and death at the hands of the Uganda security forces,” Bobi Wine said while addressing an international press conference.
The presidential hopeful added that the violent forms of intimidation are orchestrated mainly by elements serving in the Police, Internal Security Organisation – ISO, Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence- CMI, Military Police, as well as the Local Defence Unit- LDU
Missing People Power members
Bobi Wine has listed a number of People Power supporters allegedly, killed, Kidnapped/tortured by security forces.
On 24th February, 2020, Bobi Wine says a supporter and leader in the People Power movement Ritah Nabukenya, who was aged 28 was knocked dead when a police truck in Nakawa Division, Kampala.
Nabukenya a mother of two was a passenger on the rear seat of a motorcycle.
“Because Ritah [Nabukenya] and her rider were dressed in ‘People Power’ attire, they were easily identified as members of the group” he says, adding that “the driver of the police truck swerved to hit the motorcycle and eye witnesses later confirmed to the media that the police truck had deliberately targeted Ritah”.
“Our demands for CCTV footage from the incident have not yielded anything and the police spokesperson said that CCTV cameras were not operational at the time of the killing”
Nabukenya was laid to rest on February 25, 2020.
“On our way back from the funeral, thousands of young people lined the roads of the various towns we passed through to express solidarity with the movement and to recognise the sacrifice that Nabukenya had made.”
“When we got to Nansana town, uniformed police officers as well as elements of the Local Defence Unit (LDU) opened fire with live rounds on the crowd which had gathered peacefully.”
“Dan Kyeyune, who was aged 33, was shot through the eye and died instantly. At least two other people received severe gunshot injuries. Yet again, the police claimed that the CCTV footage of the incident was unavailable.”
These two incident according to People Power are in addition to Asuman Walyendo (shot dead on 19th July, 2018 in Bugiri district), Yasin Kawuma (shot dead in Arua on 13th August, 2018), Vincent Sserugaya (shot dead on 23rd August, 2018 in Gomba), Kalende Yusuf (deliberately knocked by a police truck on 27th August, 2018 in Luwero), Hannington Ssewankambo aka Sweet Pepsi (brutalized by the military on 20th September, 2018 leading to injuries which he would succumb to in October 2019), Lukoma Stephen Ssalongo (shot dead on 7th June, 2019 in Buvuma District), Michael Kalinda aka Zigy Wyne (kidnapped and severely tortured before dying on 4th August, 2019), and Hakim Ssekamwa (deliberately knocked by a police patrol truck on 6th August, 2019).”
“There are several other unreported cases where supporters have been abducted and murdered”.
The Kyadondo MP says all such cases, there has been a clear lack of interest in conducting investigations by state agencies.
He also says security operatives have kidnapped several supporters, tortured them and subjected them to all manner of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
To date, he adds, People Power coordinator Johnbosco Kibalama is still missing, having been abducted in June 2019.
“Although the Presidential Elections Act, 2005, permits intending presidential candidates to carry out nationwide consultations ahead of nominations, police and the military have blocked me from reaching out to the people of Uganda for these lawful consultations”
“We have so far made attempts to consult in eight districts and all of them have been met with extreme brutality against me and our supporters.”
“We are not permitted to carry out any public meeting. Recently on January 31st police fired teargas and live bullets to break up a thanksgiving ceremony where I was due to speak.”
“The regime has become paranoid to the extent that they are arresting people who associate with our movement even when they are not directly involved in our activities.”
