KAMPALA — President Yoweri Museveni has on Sunday sent a strong warming against those involved in the recent riots that erupted in some parts of the country following the arrest of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential flagbearer Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine.
Museveni, addressing the country from Mbale State Lodge said some political actors, “acting with impunity” have been vowing to “render Ugandans ungovernable” and pointed out how some people, backed by foreign actors, attacked ordinary Ugandans, created illegal blockades in roads and vandalised many installations.
With footage of some of these activities of “imputy of lawlessness” shown playing on a screen, Museveni delivered some whiff of sarcasm, saying that is what some people term as democracy.
“That was democracy Opposition style in Kampala,” he said.
As many as 54 people died in the chaos, with 32 being rioters – killed during confrontation with Police, said Museveni.
“Some were hit by stray bullets while two victims were knocked by a vehicle after the driver was hit by a stone and lost control of the vehicle.”
According to a report he received, the five people who died in Nansana were rioters who had attacked Police.
On the direction of the President, footage is played showing security personnel shooting “as if at people” during the recent riots.
He said one incident happened in Nsangi, where a Police officer named Kidega was injured by rioters and that one of the white pickups seen in footage with personnel shooting “at rioters” was evacuating the injured officer.
“Stray bullets only come in play when shooting at the attacker but then some bullets miss the attacker and catch some other people,” he explained.
“If Hon Kyagulanyi was arrested, his supporters should have waited for him to go to court like he eventually. The feeling that Kyagulanyi is untouchable because he is a politician and prompts people to riot must NEVER be repeated,” he said, nothing that “the attack on people wearing NRM shirts, the attack on officers in uniform should NEVER happen again. Whoever has ears should listen. You are not doing anyone a favor to keep the law”.
