Masaka Resident City Commissioner, Ahamada Washaki (L) and NUP presidential candidate Bobi Wine
The Masaka City Resident City Commissioner, Mr Ahamada Washaki, and opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) leaders in the area have clashed over the venue where party presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu should hold his campaign rally.
Mr Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, is scheduled to campaign in Masaka City on November 29, and NUP leaders wanted to hold the rally at Masaka Liberation Square, in the heart of the city, where such political gatherings usually take place.
However, Mr Washaki insists that the planned rally will not be allowed at the planned venue [Liberation Square] due to its proximity to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, the presidential lodge, Katwe Market, and other sensitive government facilities—making it unsuitable for such political gatherings. The RCC has vowed to arrest Kyagulanyi if he dares to step into the venue on November 29.
“The city security authorities have already informed the organisers led by city Mayor Florence Namayanja that holding a rally at Liberation Square will disrupt work at the hospital and people’s businesses because the chosen venue is located in the central business district (CBD), but they have insisted on having the rally there, which we will not accept,” Mr Washaki told journalists on Thursday.
As the head of security in the city, Mr Washaki advised NUP leaders to reconsider their plan and get an alternative venue for their presidential candidate’s rally instead.
“There are several alternative playgrounds in the city, which include Kako, Kitovu Sports Arena in Nyendo/ Mukungwe, and Kitanga playground in Kimaanya /Kaboonera Municipality, among other venues, as some of the places where they can have their campaign rally,” he added.
However, Ms Namayanja, who is also NUP deputy coordinator in Masaka Sub-region, advised security authorities to devise means of keeping them safe at the Liberation Square instead of blocking their rally.
“Liberation Square is where political activities usually take place, and you will see President Museveni using the same venue on December 22 while campaigning in the area. Why block Kyagulanyi?” she asked.
So far, three presidential contenders, the Conservative Party’s Joseph Mabirizi, Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party, and Gregory Mugisha Muntu of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), have campaigned in Masaka City, but they have had confrontations with security operatives who attempted to block their rallies. Kasibante went to the extent of disembarking his car and walking on foot around various streets as he waved to bystanders.
Currently, Masaka remains a stronghold of NUP, a political party barely five years old. Most leaders at various levels in the city and the district, including MPs and local council members, subscribe to NUP.
During the January 2021 Presidential polls, NUP flagbearer Mr Kyagulanyi overwhelmingly defeated President Museveni in both the Masaka District and the city. According to Electoral Commission data, the musician turned politician got 53,444 votes in Masaka City while Mr Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, garnered 14,992 votes.
Political observers attributed NRM’s poor performance in the area to unfulfilled pledges, enforced disappearances of opposition supporters, rampant land evictions/grabbing, and growing corruption and impunity among some government officials.