The home to former presidential candidate and National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu alias Bobi Wine has been reportedly sealed off by security operatives ahead of President Yoweri Museveni’s visit to Kayunga District.
According to Kyagulanyi, his home located in Magere, Wakiso District, has been sealed off by military blocking access and exit and arresting his guard.
“This morning, ahead of my planned visit to Kayunga District to campaign for our flag bearer, the police and military deployed overnight around my home in an apparent attempt to block me from leaving. The cowardly regime is on its way out. A matter of time.” Kyagulanyi posted on Twitter.
President Museveni who is also the Chairman of the ruling party -National Resistance Movement NRM, is expected to visit Kayunga District today to canvass votes for the party candidate, Muwonge Andrew, in a heated by-election to replace the District Chairperson who died a few months ago.
Kyagulanyi was also planning to visit Kayunga District to campaign for the party candidate, Harriet Nakwedde, as campaigns to elect the District LCV Chairperson close today ahead of voting on Thursday.
On Monday, the district security committee led by the area Resident Commissioner Ssempala Kigozi announced that Kyagulanyi will not be tolerated in Kayunga on the same day the president is coming to visit. Kigozi also warned that security would block Nakwedde’s final rallies if Kyagulanyi visited the area today.
“The military has increased deployment around my home. No one is allowed to leave or enter. Our security guard and gardener have been violently arrested, beaten and bundled into ‘drones’ outside our gate. Their phones confiscated.” Kyagulanyi adds.
Despite the security warning, the leadership of NUP maintained that Bobi Wine was to visit the area and address several rallies.
“…Ahead of President @HEBobiwine’s visit tomorrow, the intimidation by state operatives is all over, but the people are neither giving up nor giving in” NUP Secretary General Lewis Lubongoya tweeted on Monday.
According to NRM Director for Information and Publicity Emmanuel Ddombo, security and organizers of the president’s visit cannot tolerate a 2018 scenario in Arua Municipality byelection when Kyagulanyi’s convoy clashed with presidential guards leading to at least one death.
Speaking to this website, Ddombo accused NUP leaders of wanting to cause chaos in order to attract sympathy from the voters. Citing to the Electoral Commission campaign roadmap, Ddombo claims that Kyagulanyi was meant to visit the area on 10th December, 2021 but opted not to follow the law.
Earlier, media reported heavy security deployment in several areas of Kayunga district with visible presence of armed personnel and armoured vehicles in most parts of Kayunga town.
NUP Deputy Spokesperson Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro says Kyagulanyi has the right to access any area in Uganda at any moment because the laws are no longer respected even by those who are meant to enforce them.