Kyotera residents admitted at Kalisizo hospital after the Kyotera shootings seek referral for further medical management.
At least one person identified as Richard Kayabula was shot dead and five others injured critically as police fired live bullets and teargas to neutralise a clash between the supporters of Democratic Party (DP) and National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Those admitted include Michael Nalima, 20, Hakim Walukagga, 25, and their colleague, who were injured in the process, plus two pupils of Nakatoogo Primary School who collapsed as a result of excessive teargas which was fired in their school.
The rival groups clashed at Nakatoogo trading centre in Nabigasa sub-county at a campaign rally for John Paul Mpalanyi, the Democratic Party Candidate for Kyotera Constituency.
The Insight Post has confirmed that Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, the State Minister for Microfinance and incumbent Kyotera constituency was supposed to hold his campaign in Lwankoni sub-county while Mpalanyi was officially to be in Nabigasa which is Kasolo’s stronghold.
A group from Kasolo’s camp stormed Mpalanyi’s rally to antagonise it hence sparking fights. However, police led by Judith Akello, the District Police Commander, arrived to thwart the clash.
Her men fired several times in the air and one of them reportedly shot Kayabula in the head.
Kyotera District Chairperson
Patrick Kintu Kisekulo, the incumbent- Kyotera Local Council (LC5) Chairperson, was at the venue campaigning for Mpalanyi when all this happened.
He says that Kasolo’s known squad trailed him and Mpalanyi for over an hour and later joined police to antagonize their joint campaign rally.
Kisekulo adds that upon arrival at the venue (Nakatoogo) the DPC accused him of kidnapping some people while at the rally which to him was very strange.
He further accuses police of being partisan in the way they execute their operations saying that police protected Kasolo’s campaign rally at Kalisizo playground on Thursday.
“The whole district security committee treats MP Kasolo as king and someone above the law. That’s why they allow him to do whatever he wants. He holds huge rallies without police interference but they focus much attention on the opposition,” he said.
Kisekulo appeals to Martin Okoth Ochola, the Inspector General of Police to intervene and reshuffle Kyotera police since they have become close associates of minister Kasolo.
According to Mpalanyi, he has on different occasions appealed to the district security committee, to intervene and address their concerns but his pleas were ignored which may cause more bloodshed and death.
He appeals to Elly Tumwine, the minister for Security, Major General Elly Kayanja and Salim Saleh to intervene the security situation in Kyotera before it runs out of hand
He further explains that his supporters and campaigners have been tortured and arrested on different occasions.
According to Henry Ssemakula, one of the campaigners of Mpalanyi-Kisekulo camp, they suspect the intention was to kill Kisekulo. He explained that the officer identified as Jeff fired in the air and then his colleague shot Kayabula several times.
However, Kasolo’s camp denies any involvement in the incident. Ismael Dafara, his campaigner said the claims are used against their candidate for political reasons.
“We are the ones who have been attacked on several occasions without police minding about our tormentors,” he said.
Regional Police
Muhammad Nsubuga, the Masaka Regional Police spokesperson, maintains that Kayabula was hit by only one stray bullet. He says that they are yet to subject their guns to a ballistic expert to analyse and identify the gun that shot Kayabula.
He adds that four people from Kasolo’s camp were arrested for attacking Mpalanyi’s supporters and they are to aid the ongoing investigations.
“As police we engaged all candidates and their supporters asking them to keep peace while campaigning them to control their supporters in addition to the community policing to talk to residents/supporters not to take the law in their hands but it seems they failed to act responsibly,” he said.
Although the stray bullet is an accident and their lives condemn the actions of a group that confronted DP supporters.
Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo
Kasolo is currently under panic defying the Coronavirus Disease (COVID19) guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and held a massive rally at Kalisizo playground.
The organisers transported people from different sub-counties on Fuso trucks and to fill the playground.
At the rally, majority of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters and candidates did not observe the Standard Operation Procedure (SOPs). Surprisingly, neither police nor army was present to enforce the standard guidelines.
However, his action has come around to hound him as he was summoned by his top party officials to explain his actions.
The minister held a rally at the time when the COVID transmission in Kyotera had reached stage four where it is difficult to identify the sick and trace their contacts according to the district health officials.
According to Kasolo, the Incumbent for Kyotera Constituency, he was provoked by the opposition candidates who have held several rallies that attracted crowds without police interference.
Health Officials
Edward Muwanga, the Kyotera District Health Officer (DHO) declined to comment on the matter when contacted about the risk of holding huge crowds but other health officials, who preferred anonymity not to be reprimanded by their superiors, adds that such crowds are a catalyst for COVID19 transmission and appealed to politicians from different political parties at all levels to observe the SOPs if at all they wish to hold rallies.
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