JINJA, UGANDA: Police in Kiira region is holding at least 13 supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform-NUP for staging an illegal assembly at Young Men’s Christian Association – YMCA conference center in Jinja City.
The youths led by one Ben Kabaka, the Iganga District NUP Coordinator and youth leader in the area had converged on Sunday afternoon to discuss their operations when police bumped into them bringing their assembly to a short stay.
Before being arrested, Kabaka had informed journalists at the center that they had engaged Kiira region police personnel about their planned event but he was shocked when two plain-clothed men stormed into their meeting and ordered them to vacate the premises.
However, Kabaka argues that it wasn’t justifiable for them to vacate the grounds without receiving an explanation from the police.
It is from this point that the two men rang their fellows from the Field Force Unit-FFU personnel to storm the venue and disperse them with teargas. However, some of the youth leaders stayed put prompting police to arrest them and led them to Jinja central police station awaiting prosecution.
Kiira regional police spokesperson, James Mubi confirmed the arrest, saying that police were processing the files of the suspects for their prosecution.
Police also impounded a vehicle of Benz registration number; UAH 996F and a coaster registration number UAZ 918B, which they towed to the Nalufenya police parking yard.
In a related development, 20 other youths were Monday morning arrested for holding processions in the city as they jubilated their team’s victory over Manchester United in the Premier League fixture on Sunday evening.
The group of jubilant Arsenal fans were intercepted by police as they drove in a convoy of about five vehicles in an attempt to join Iganga Road from Main Street.
By press time, police were yet to release an official statement on the arrest of the soccer fans and what charges await them.
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