Ssamula Mathias
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Monday’s National Unity Platform (NUP) mobilisation rally led by party president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu was violently broken up after security forces fired heavy tear gas and live bullets to disperse thousands of supporters who had gathered to welcome the opposition leader.
The crowds began forming early in the day as Kyagulanyi set off from the NUP headquarters in Makerere Kavule. By the time his convoy entered Kawempe, the streets had transformed into a sea of supporters—youths waving red cloths, traders abandoning their stalls, and residents climbing rooftops and verandas to catch a glimpse of the NUP leader.
Motorcyclists, taxi drivers, and pedestrians joined the procession, turning the densely populated suburb into a corridor of chants, music, ululations, and phone cameras.
A Charged Atmosphere
By midday, Kawempe playground—the designated venue—was overflowing. Supporters jammed the entrances, while others clung to building rails, shop fronts, and electricity poles for a better view.
Some waved placards with political messages, while others demanded accountability for funds meant for victims of previous security crackdowns.
Security personnel struggled to contain the crowd as Kyagulanyi’s convoy pushed closer to the grounds.
Kyagulanyi Issues Defiant Call for Unity
When Kyagulanyi finally addressed the ecstatic crowd, he was met with deafening cheers. His message was one of resilience, hope, and unity.
“The greatest investment we can make is building a new Uganda,” Kyagulanyi said.
“Everywhere I go, people tell me the same story—they are tired. Tired of injustice, tired of poverty, tired of fear. But what gives me strength is your unity. Do not lose hope. A new Uganda is possible if we continue standing together.”
He commended the people of Kawempe for turning up in overwhelming numbers despite harsh economic conditions and rising political pressure.
Chaos Erupts as Security Forces Move In
Just as Kyagulanyi prepared to wrap up his remarks, heavily armed security officers advanced toward the playground. Without warning, canisters of tear gas were fired into the packed crowd, turning excitement into pandemonium within seconds.
Gunshots followed, sending supporters running in every direction. Children cried, women fell in the stampede, and several elderly people were seen being helped to safety as thick smoke clouded the area.
Traders abruptly shut their shops as the chaos spread to nearby streets. Motorcyclists ferried the injured and suffocating away from the scene.
Defiant Supporters Remain on the Streets
Despite the security crackdown, hundreds of supporters remained along the roads, waving at Kyagulanyi’s departing motorcade and chanting slogans even as tear gas lingered in the air.
By press time, the number of injured and arrested individuals had not yet been confirmed, and NUP officials condemned what they described as “unprovoked brutality” meant to silence political expression.
Monday’s events mark yet another violent confrontation between security forces and the opposition ahead of the political season.
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