Police have said they arrested only 40 members of the National Unity Platform (NUP) in an operation to prevent thousands who had planned to throng Entebbe Airport to welcome Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.
Security agencies among others Crime Intelligence (CI), Internal Security Organization (ISO), Special Forces Command (SFC), Field Force Unit (FFU), and General duty police carried out operations starting on Wednesday where dozens of NUP supporters were arrested.
Even though Bobi Wine and other party members estimated the number of arrested supporters and leaders to be more than 300, Patrick Onyango has said only 40 people are in their custody.
Onyango said security operations were successful, and were concluded peacefully. He added that the joint deployments consisting of both overt and covert officers were strategically positioned, and snap checkpoints were established on all roads leading to Entebbe and along Gayaza road.
“A total of 40 suspects, including Member of Parliament Hon. Matovu Charles (Busiro South), were arrested for inciting violence. Various items intended for use in processions, such as red berets, handheld megaphone speakers, and white and red T-shirts branded “Kunga Uganda,” were recovered and exhibited,” SSP Onyango said.
However, NUP Secretary General, Lewis Rubongoya, dismissed the police figures saying since morning they have been moving to various police stations and they had already compiled names of more than 130 detained members.
“Many police stations in Kampala, Entebbe, Wakiso, and Mukono are all filled with our people. We have been moving since morning and we have a list of 130 people in cells. Some have been released but we know more than 300 were arrested,” Rubongoya said.
Both military and police agencies swung into action ahead of Bobi Wine’s return from Canada where he had been canvassing support for the party. Security forces said they never wanted to have a replica of November 2020 when protests that followed Bobi Wine’s arrest led to the shooting to death of more than 50 people.
Bobi Wine was whisked away as soon as he arrived at Entebbe Airport from South Africa.
He was driven to his home in Magere, Wakiso District. Onyango said so far statements have been recorded from all the 40 NUP members and are waiting to appear in court to face charges of incitement to violence.
“Relevant statements were taken, and all 40 arrested suspects underwent fingerprinting and profiling. These suspects will face charges in court as operations continue,” Onyango said.
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