National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu was this morning dragged out of a radio station in Hoima by security officers.
Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine had booked a show on Spice FM as one of the measure to get his campaign message to the population in the area but as soon as he went on air, the army and anti-riot police commanded by the Albertine region police commander, Deo Obura, stormed the studio and ordered that the show must stop.
The talk show which according to payment receipts was to last one hour only lasted 5 minutes.
According to Kyagulanyi’s lawyer, Anthony Wameli, no reason was provided by police as to why the show was stopped. The payment receipt, a copy of which this website saw indicates that Bobi had paid 1 million shillings for the show.
Kyagulanyi’s campaign in the region has registered several setbacks following several confrontational incidents with police including one of yesterday when his convoy was intercepted by armed security agents and blocked from accessing Kakumiro town. Police reasoned that the road he intended to use was under construction prompting his convoy to turn back and use a longer route only to arrive towards close of campaign time.
Reports also confirmed that security seiged New Double Dream Hotel in Hoima city on Wednesday evening where Bobi and his campaign team had booked to spend a night. He however was later allowed to move out though the motive of the operation remains unclear.
In an interview on Thursday, Kyagulanyi faulted the Electoral Commission (EC) chairman Justice Simon Byabakama for turning a deaf ear as he and other opposition presidential candidates continue to be harrassed.
On Wednesday, Byabakama told news reporters that while opposition politicians continue to raise claims of harrassment, he has not received a formal communication over the same. Byabakama said he only reads the claims in the media.
In his interview, Kyagulanyi however claims he submitted a written protest note to the EC. He also stated that he spoke to the EC Chairman on phone and the latter responded saying he knew nothing about harassment claims and even arrests.
