National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu on Monday launched his Mukono campaign under a cloud of tear gas, gunfire and heavy security deployment as crowds attempted to follow him through several parts of the district.
Kyagulanyi began the day at his home in Magere before heading to Misindye in Goma Division, Mukono Municipality, where he visited the residence of Omutakka Christopher Namutwe of the Mbogo clan.
Namutwe blessed him with a backcloth and a spear and urged him to remain firm in his presidential bid.
He later proceeded through Jogo toward Kalagala in Mukono North, where he held his first rally of the day.
But his movement was repeatedly interrupted as police fired tear gas and live bullets to disperse supporters who gathered along the route.
The clashes caused commotion in several trading centres as residents poured onto the streets to greet him.
Addressing supporters in Kalagi, Kyagulanyi accused the Electoral Commission of “keeping silent” as security forces allegedly harass his campaign.
He said several supporters had been beaten or arrested, citing earlier confrontations in Mabalala and Kawempe.
Kyagulanyi criticised the government for what he described as a waste of public resources, saying patrol vehicles and trucks were deployed simply to block his movements.
He insisted that his rallies had been peaceful and posed no threat.
“They drive around burning fuel following me, yet I don’t even have a knife,” he told the crowd. “It is the police breaking the law, not us.”
He added that while his campaign events in other regions had taken place with minimal interference, the security crackdown intensified once he entered Buganda—an action he said undermines citizens’ right to support candidates freely.
Kyagulanyi used the Mukono rally to drum up support for NUP parliamentary and local government candidates.
He endorsed Abdallah Kiwanuka (Mukono North), Sheillah Amaniyo (Mukono Woman MP), Betty Nambooze (Mukono Municipality), Robert Maseruka (Mukono South) and Sulaiman Kiwanuka (Nakifuma County).
He also warned against politicians misusing his portrait on campaign posters to attract votes, urging the public to back only officially endorsed NUP flag bearers.
