Kampala, (UG):- Government has told the leadership of Uganda’s leading opposition party NUP (National Unity Platform) to “seek an alternative venue” other than Kololo Independence Grounds for its July 22 at which it will mark four years since its formation in 2020.
Led by musician-cum politician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine, NUP earlier this month wrote to the Ministry of Defence asking for permission to celebrate its fourth birthday at Kololo, a request that has been declined citing that the facility is undergoing infrastructural development.
“Due to ongoing infrastructural development at the Kololo ceremonial grounds, we regret to inform you that the grounds will not be available for your event,” reads in part the Ministry’s response to the opposition.
The letter, dated July 16 and signed off by Sam Kallu on behalf of the PS Thursday triggered dissidents from NUP leadership with a section of top bigwigs voicing frustration over the outcome of his party’s request for the venue.
“These public grounds are only available for use by everyone who worships Gen. Museveni and his regime,” Kyagulanyi said via his official X account.
He added; “These same grounds have been hosting different events, including recently when they had an event to apparently recognize 40 years of NRM- in actual sense 40 years of plunder and misrule.”
Bobi further wondered why different individuals and other organizations continue to hold concerts and other events there yet his request which was formally sent to the authorities on July 9 has been turned down.
Kololo Grounds, which were given a new look in 2012, have a more than 5000-seater pavilion but with an open ground which can host an estimated more than 15, 000 people.
Relatedly, Kyagulanyi also voiced dissatisfaction over the continued infringement by security agencies on the party’s countrywide tours saying; “Even as we traverse Western Uganda for our #NUPCountryWideTour, all venue owners in towns have been intimidated not to host us.”
“Even those we had booked in Ntungamo and Isingiro were intimidated, and forced to cancel their bookings with us. “Regime operatives have all been directed to give us venues in villages that are sparsely populated,” the former presidential candidate posted.
“It still baffles them that many people are still able to travel these distances to come and listen to us.”
Since its debut as a political party in 2020, NUP has had a rocky relationship with state authorities, sometimes leading to death or large-scale arrests of opposition figures loyal to the organization.
NUP originally planned to stage the event at Kololo between 9am-6pm in Uganda’s capital, which is an opposition stronghold.
With a majority of his 3,475,298 votes (34.83%) from the central region, Bobi Wine emerged closest challenger to President Museveni following a deadly election in 2021 that claimed over 50 lives and left dozens of opposition figures detained across the country, according to poll observers.
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