Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party presidential candidate Maj. Gen (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu and Renewed Uganda presidential candidate Lt. Gen (Rtd) Henry Tumukunde have suspended campaign activities in solidarity of their colleagues arrested by security on Wednesday.
Forum for Democratic Change candidate, Hon Patrick Oboi Amuriat and National Unity Platform’s Robert Sentamu Kyagulanyi were arrested by security agents on Wednesday sparking a wave of protests across the country as supporters demanded for their release.
The police arrested Kyagulanyi in Luuka district accusing him of flouting COVID-19 prevention guidelines while Amuriat was arrested for allegedly disrespecting the campaign schedule.
The army and police spent a better part of the day battling rioters who lit fire and destroyed property in major towns in a scuffle that ended in bloodshed. At least four have been reported dead with several others still nursing injuries.
The two army generals announced they are suspending campaigns until their colleagues are released and their campaign freedoms are guaranteed.
“We have decided to pause our presidential campaign activities until our colleagues, @HEBobiwine and @PatrickAmuriat are released and their freedom to campaign guaranteed. We call upon government to recognise that this isn’t business as usual.” Muntu posted on Twitter.
Earlier, Muntu condemned what he called the impunity of security operatives meted on presidential candidates claiming their actions were bringing the country “closer to a breaking point”
“The impunity with which security operatives are operating in the continued harassment and now arrest of @HEBobiwine is leading this country closer towards a breaking point.
We join @NUP_Ug and all fair-minded Ugandans in calling upon his immediate release” he posted on Wednesday.
In a separate statement, Gen. Tumukunde also announced suspension of campaign activities until the two colleagues are released.