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Lira/Kampala
The Police yesterday arrested IPC presidential candidate Kizza Besigye’s head of security in connection with Wednesday’s fracas between NRM and opposition supporters in Aloi Sub-county, Alebtong District.
Inspector of Police Charles Tumuramye, who intervened and saved the situation from turning bloody when the clash took place, was picked from Erute North Constituency where he was overseeing Dr Besigye’s security and taken to Lira Police Station for interrogation.
Arrest
Mr Tumuramye was arrested by a police team led by the Regional Police Commander for Central North, Mr Raymond Otim. Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said yesterday that Mr Tumuramye, who was still under police detention by press time yesterday, will be charged with assault because he led “a group of IPC supporters to beat their NRM counterparts.”
“He was not supposed to do that,” Ms Nabakooba said, adding, “he has been arrested and many other police officers on Dr Besigye’s campaign trail will also be arrested after investigations are complete. He is the one who led the group.” But other sources yesterday credited Mr Tumuramye with acting
professionally since he stopped the two groups who were baying for each other’s blood from causing further injury to themselves.
On Wednesday, as supporters of Dr Besigye in Lira were preparing to receive their candidate, they were tipped-off that NRM officials from Kampala were in Aloi Sub-county allegedly dishing out cash to residents, asking them not to attend Dr Besigye’s rallies.
The gentleman who tipped-off the opposition supporters first offered to take journalists on the IPC campaign trail to the Aloi Sub-county where each resident who agreed not to attend Dr Besigye’s rallies was allegedly, given Shs10,000.
It was during this process that the anxious NRM officials attacked the journalists. Matters quickly got out of hand when Dr Besigye’s supporters joined the fray.
Mr Francis Owino, the NRM chairman for Aloi Sub-county, and Michael Kamurizi, a Red Pepper journalist, were among those who sustained serious injuries in the ensuing melee. The spokesperson of President Museveni’s campaign team, Mr Ofwono Opondo, admitted on Wednesday that NRM members were distributing money but said it was meant to facilitate their mobilisation work.
Ms Nabakooba said yesterday that the police will not investigate the source of the money because its primary target is to get those who got involved in the chaos. “We understand that money was meant to facilitate NRM mobilisers and we are not interested in that.” Ms Nabakooba said.
It is illegal under Section 62 of the Presidential Elections Act for candidates and their agents to provide money, gifts or other considerations to a voter with the intention of inducing that person into voting for a particular candidate.
The Police yesterday arrested IPC presidential candidate Kizza Besigye’s head of security in connection with Wednesday’s fracas between NRM and opposition supporters in Aloi Sub-county, Alebtong District.
Inspector of Police Charles Tumuramye, who intervened and saved the situation from turning bloody when the clash took place, was picked from Erute North Constituency where he was overseeing Dr Besigye’s security and taken to Lira Police Station for interrogation.
Arrest
Mr Tumuramye was arrested by a police team led by the Regional Police Commander for Central North, Mr Raymond Otim. Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said yesterday that Mr Tumuramye, who was still under police detention by press time yesterday, will be charged with assault because he led “a group of IPC supporters to beat their NRM counterparts.”
“He was not supposed to do that,” Ms Nabakooba said, adding, “he has been arrested and many other police officers on Dr Besigye’s campaign trail will also be arrested after investigations are complete. He is the one who led the group.” But other sources yesterday credited Mr Tumuramye with acting
professionally since he stopped the two groups who were baying for each other’s blood from causing further injury to themselves.
On Wednesday, as supporters of Dr Besigye in Lira were preparing to receive their candidate, they were tipped-off that NRM officials from Kampala were in Aloi Sub-county allegedly dishing out cash to residents, asking them not to attend Dr Besigye’s rallies.
The gentleman who tipped-off the opposition supporters first offered to take journalists on the IPC campaign trail to the Aloi Sub-county where each resident who agreed not to attend Dr Besigye’s rallies was allegedly, given Shs10,000.
It was during this process that the anxious NRM officials attacked the journalists. Matters quickly got out of hand when Dr Besigye’s supporters joined the fray.
Mr Francis Owino, the NRM chairman for Aloi Sub-county, and Michael Kamurizi, a Red Pepper journalist, were among those who sustained serious injuries in the ensuing melee. The spokesperson of President Museveni’s campaign team, Mr Ofwono Opondo, admitted on Wednesday that NRM members were distributing money but said it was meant to facilitate their mobilisation work.
Ms Nabakooba said yesterday that the police will not investigate the source of the money because its primary target is to get those who got involved in the chaos. “We understand that money was meant to facilitate NRM mobilisers and we are not interested in that.” Ms Nabakooba said.
It is illegal under Section 62 of the Presidential Elections Act for candidates and their agents to provide money, gifts or other considerations to a voter with the intention of inducing that person into voting for a particular candidate.
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