RECAP: Bobi Wine In Kasese, Promises to “Free” Omusinga Charles Mumbere

The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu was on Tuesday 24^th November 2020 in Bundibugyo, Bunyangabu and Kasese districts for his campaign rallies.

The presidential candidate arrived in Kasese on Tuesday evening amidst heavy police deployment and rains.

While speaking to his supporters, Bobi Wine promised the people of Kasese to bring back their King Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere, who was arrested on 27^th November 2016 after clashes between Mumbere’s guards and the Uganda Police. 

The clashes resulted in the death of about 100 people and other 130 people were arrested alongside the King, who was charged with treason, terrorism, murder, aggravated robbery and being in possession of illegal firearms.

Since then, Mumbere has been battling the case, although he was released on bail.

However, his bail restricts him to Kampala and surrounding areas, over 350 kilometers away from his Kingdom.

In a bid to disperse the crowds of Kyagulanyi’s supporters by firing tear gas and live bullets, police on Tuesday shot and injured 3 people including a woman who was wounded in the leg and rushed to the hospital.

The security officers were heavily deployed along the Fort Portal – Kasese road.

Bobi Wine was later blocked from accessing Messiah Radio Station where he was scheduled to address the people of Kasese. He expressed his dissatisfaction through a post on his social media page.

“In Kasese, yet again the military and police unleashed incredible violence on unarmed citizens, leaving many with grave injuries. Their crime? Trying to come out and listen to our message. Messiah Radio, which we booked for an evening program has been ordered to cancel the show,” Bobi said in a tweet.

The heavy deployment in the areas where opposition candidates are campaigning has been criticized by Bobi Wine and other candidates including Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Mugisha Muntu Greg and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Patrick Amuriat Oboi, who say it is a ploy to instill fear in their supporters and interfere with their campaigns.

On the morning of the campaigns, in anticipation of election violence as in Luuka, Kyenjojo and Mbale districts, several business owners in Kasese town suspended business to avoid the risk of loss from their property being destroyed during the chaos.

Bobi Wine has proceeded to the districts of Kagadi, Kibaale and Hoima to continue his campaign trail on Wednesday.