The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Police fired bullets and teargas to disperse students moments after security stopped former Uganda presidential candidate Kizza Besigye from addressing the final Makerere University Guild Presidential election campaign rally on Thursday.
Chaos rocked the university’s Freedom Square where the final rally was taking place after Besigye showed up. A scuffle started after a section of NRM supporters belonging to the party’s flag bearer Ruth Nsubuga’s camp started hurling stones at FDC supporters.
Head of security at the university Jackson Mucunguzi said Besigye had appeared in defiance of an order not to involve himself in student politics.
“We deployed here to keep peace because a section of students said they don’t want Besigye here. He defied and came but you have seen how students were pelting stones at him. He should leave student politics,” said Mucunguzi.
Besigye was at the university to garner support for Paul Kato, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag bearer in the guild presidential elections that are slated for Friday.
Besigye had allegedly been sneaked into the campus in a Prado belonging to a Makerere LC councilor. Besigye’s car was later towed away to an unknown destination and the main rally proceeded without incident.
“All is set for the 83rd Makerere University Guild elections set for Friday at the respective colleges following conclusion of campaigns. Voting kicks off at 8am,” said the university’s electoral commission spokesperson Abaasi Kizito. Fourteen candidates will be vying for the top post, with the favourites being FDC’s Kato, NRM’s Nsubuga, DP’s William Karamaji and Zilitwawula Abdul Kareem, an independent.
The outgoing guild president is Democratic Party’s Roy Ssemboga.
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editor@independent.co.ug
