KAMPALA – Police at the weekend arrested Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa for allegedly holding an illegal rally and conducting acts likely to spread the coronavirus. Munyagwa had been preparing to open an office of the Forum for Democratic Change Party in Bwaise.
Mubarak was arrested and detained at Kawempe Police Station together with Aspiring Kawempe Division Mayor Mutazindwa Muhammed where they spent a night as efforts by FDC to have them released on Police bond have remained futile.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman Patrick Onyango confirmed the arrest, which was condemned by FDC.
“As Uganda Police and other security agencies continue frustrating FDC activies, they have cleared NRM politicians to conduct rallies and meetings without following any Covid19 Standard Operating Procedures,” FDC said in a statement.
Opposition leaders, including Bobi Wine and Dr Kizza Besigye at the weekend slammed government for double standards in implementation of guidelines to contain the spread of COVID-19 after the video showed supporters of Ms Anite, who is the area MP, in a procession chanting her name. The Electoral Commission has also banned mass rallies ahead of elections.
Several government ministers and NRM leaning politicians have come under the spotlight for breaking the government guidelines on social distancing. Several of them, including Health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, have been seen in such processions. However, the police have always moved fast to disperse similar gatherings organised by the opposition.
At the weekend, security blocked Kyagulanyi from appearing on a political radio talk show on the Mbale city based BCU FM. NUP spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi says Kyagulanyi was blocked by heavily armed Field Force Unit-FFU personnel backed by armed vehicles on his way to the station on Mbale’s Naboa road on Saturday morning.