The State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, has clarified the circumstances surrounding the raid on a hotel in Lira City where National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu was staying.
The raid, which took place on Tuesday night, was conducted to apprehend fugitive suspects who attacked a police officer and stole crowd control infrastructure.
During the Thursday Parliamentary sitting, Butambala County MP and Acting Leader of the Opposition, Muwanga Kivumbi, informed the House about the raid, describing it as a disturbing incident.
"Security forces raided the hotel that was housing the NUP Presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, breaking into the rooms, pepper spraying, and teargassing the occupants and arresting the entourage of their candidate," Kivumbi said.
He questioned the Minister for Internal Affairs about the crime Kyagulanyi had committed to warrant a raid in the wee hours of Tuesday in Lira City.
In response, Gen. Muhoozi explained that the operation was in pursuit of fugitive suspects who had attacked a police officer, Julius Isabirye, and robbed crowd control infrastructure.
"The operation was conducted to apprehend fugitive suspects that attacked a police officer and stole crowd control infrastructure," Muhoozi said.
Regarding the damage caused to the hotel during the raid, Muhoozi assured that an assessment would be done and action would be taken.
"An assessment will be done, and action will take place," he said, in response to concerns raised by MPs about compensation for the damaged hotel.
The incident has sparked debate and raised questions about the role of security forces in Uganda and their relationship with opposition leaders.
The government's explanation of the raid as a pursuit of fugitive suspects has been met with skepticism by some MPs, who see it as a targeted attack on the opposition leader.
