NUP's Kibalama changed his phone number because he was receiving threats- Police

Police have said Nkonge Kibalama was advised to change his known phone number because of threats he was receiving from various corners of the country.

Kibalama, the founding president of the National Unity and Reconciliation Party (NURP) but later metamorphosed into the National Unity Platform (NUP) party after handing it over to Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine was reported missing from his home and that security personnel wearing military uniform had been deployed at his house.

However, the army said he was in the hands of security for his own safety.

According to Police spokesperson, Kibalama’s life was in danger and security had to devise means to have him protected.

“He is still under the protection of security. We can only confirm that he is available at his home in Buwamb( Wakiso district). At some stage he had to change his telephone contacts because there were a number of people who were bombarding him with calls. He has a new line he is using and contacting only those people he feels are necessary and essential to him,” Enanga said in response to a question about Kibalama’s whereabouts and status of his life.

“He is not complaining. He is very safe and secure at his home in Buwambo.  If he is not able to contact, you at this stage then you are not essential to him at this stage.”

Last month, Kibalama said his life in danger after getting several death threats from strangers.

“A group of people crept into my home but because of my personal security, I managed to detect them and sneaked out of the home and went to sleep in a hotel around town. This was not the first time because they have been calling me and threatening me,” Kibalama told Daily Monitor in August.

This was after he transferred leadership of his National Unity, Reconciliation and Development Party (NURP) to Kyagulanyi and later changed to National Unity Platform.

Consequently, the party colours and symbol were changed.

However, a group of people claiming to be NURP members led by Lillian Odinga and Edward Seremba dragged Kibalama, Bobi Wine and other NUP leaders to court over the illegal transfer of the party.

Kibalama who had made an affidavit defending the actions of transferring the party into Kyagulanyi’s hands however made a u-turn in a second affidavit he filed before court.

He said there was no extra-ordinary delegates conference that elected Kyagulanyi as the NUP president.

In a video that made rounds on social media last week, Kibalama said he made a number of mistakes in transferring the party to Bobi, including accepting certain promises without double thinking.

“Of course when someone turns up with an offer as good as $5m anybody would go with it. That is how we fell into the trap, it was a good promise and we hoped so, but since we had not worked with this group we did not know them until we got closer and saw for ourselves,” Kibalama claimed.

Speaking at court on Friday, Kyagulanyi said Kibalama was forced to make the statements.

“I watched the video with disbelief but I know he was under duress. The issue of promising him money is utter rubbish but all is meant to ensure our supporters cast doubt in us. We shall not bow down," Kyagulanyi said on Friday.