The police have authorized the Masaka Recreation Center as the venue for the National Unity Platform (NUP) mobilization rally scheduled for May 31.
This comes at a time when NUP leaders and supporters in the area feared police would turn away, as was the case in Mukono town on May 29, where NUP leaders were forced to take their rally to the Ntaawo playground on the outskirts of town. of the playground planned for Njogezi.
NUP leaders had initially chosen Masaka Liberation Square as the venue.
According to Twaha Kasirye, spokesperson for the southern regional police, NUP activities will go ahead as planned as long as “the organizers strictly follow the guidelines given to them.”
“NUP leaders are free to go ahead with their rally as long as they follow traffic rules and other guidelines every time they pass in the direction of Masaka town. We do not expect processions in the busy city center and have made necessary deployments to “Ensure the safety of all people who will attend the demonstration and those who will remain in their shops working,” Kasirye said.
NUP leaders in Masaka have expressed their readiness to host their party president, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, and said they have mobilized party supporters to attend the event, among other things, performing community services, bulungi bwansi cleaning various parts of the city.
The NUP has considerable political support in the Masaka sub-region and the area is considered the party’s stronghold. Currently, most leaders at various levels, including local councils and parliament, subscribe to the NUP, except for a few who have distanced themselves from the party, such as former leader of the opposition in Parliament and lawmaker Nyendo-Mukungwe, Mr Mathias Mpuuga, Kimaanya/Kabonera legislator Dr Abed Bwanika and maverick Bukoto South legislator Dr Twaha Kagabo among others.
Alice Nanungi, a Masaka city councilor representing Niendo Ward and one of the main organizers of Friday’s rally, said the three lawmakers who have disagreements with the party are expected to attend.
These (Mpuuga, Bwanika and Kagabo) are flag bearers of the party and we hope they will be there to welcome our party president,” he said.
The strong relationship between Kyagulanyi and Mpuuga stems from the controversial Sh500 million “service award” the latter received while still serving as leader of the opposition in Parliament.
Kyagulanyi suspended Mpuuga as NUP vice president, a day after Mayiga suggested a possible mediated solution to the raging dispute within the NUP, where Mpuuga is accused of corruption.
Although several opinion leaders, including religious and cultural leaders of the region, have advised the warring parties to amicably resolve their grievances, this option has not yet been taken advantage of.
The NUP, Uganda’s youngest political party, has suffered political upheaval in the past five months, including alleged smears and mistrust among some members.
