Uganda Government News: Two people killed as rioters’ burn police post in Kampala
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First published: 20090910 3:47:46 PM EST
By Walakira Nyanzi, Ultimate Media
Angry rioters have today burnt a police post on Nakivubo Avenue and destroyed a lot of property. They also burnt vehicles and beat up some police men and other security operatives.
In the scuffle over two civilians lost their lives and several people survived with fatal injuries.
The violence broke out after a combination of police and military men blocked the Katikkiro of Buganda Eng. JB Walusimbi from visiting Kayunga today morning.
The Katikkiro was blocked to go to Kayunga because the Banyara, a minority group in Buganda had threatened to harm him on arrival.
But the officials from Buganda kingdom deny the allegations.
They say it is the government of Uganda working on orders from ‘Above’ which did not want the Katikkiro and the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II to visit Kayunga district.
The Katikkiro was blocked at River Sezibwa which boarders Mukono and Kayunga district.
The Katikkiro and his team had gone to Kayunga to finalize the preparations for Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi’s visit on Saturday this week.
Mutebi is scheduled to visit Kayunga amidst protests from some Banyara and their supporters, which the officials from Buganda government say they are government officials.
The Military police officers told the Katikkiro and the people he had traveled with who included the Kingdom’s spokespersons Charles Peter Mayiga and Medard Sseggona Lubega that they have powers from ‘Above’ that no one from Buganda kingdom should cross over to Kayunga with out a permission from government.
The soldiers also told the Katikkiro that even if the Kabaka of Buganda will not be allowed to visit Kayunga on Saturday.
When the news reached Kampala the people stormed the streets and demonstrated.
Business came to a standstill as the rioters became violent.
The rioters many of them petty traders from Kisekka, St. Balikuddembe and Nakasero market were running on the streets of Kampala singing Buganda Kingdom anthem and throwing stones at police and other security personnel.
Police fired both rubber and live bullets unto the rioting groups. But also the crowds were ‘answering the bullets with stones’.
Most of the buildings, particularly those known that their owners are supporters of the ruling government had their glasses broken by the angry rioters.
The security operatives and police also fired tear gas canisters at the demonstrators who had already set ablaze a police post near the Old Taxi Park.
Several roads in Kampala Central division were blocked leading to heavy traffic jam. Some roads like Said Barre and Buganda road were blocked by Police while roads like Luwum and Kampala road were blocked by the demonstrators.
The demonstrators also sang songs which were denouncing President Museveni, his family and government.
Most shops in Kampala especially on Luwum Street, Kisekka Market and on Kampala road shut down. Violence also broke out in the outskirts of the city like Namasuba, Ndeba, Kalerwe and Kyebando among other areas.
Some of the demonstrators were seen oozing blood and the security personnel were also seen beating up people with batons.
The military men also detained a Photo Journalist, Edward Echwalu for over four hours.
Echwalu, a journalist working with Weekly Observer was later released. The journalist says he was arrested after he "took pictures of military men passing near a dead body".
During the demonstration the soldiers reportedly working on orders from ‘Above’ put Kabaka’s radio, the central Broadcasting station off air.
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