PICTURES: Ssemujju arrested, driven home under tight security

Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has been dropped at his home in Kirinya by police after being arrested in Kasokoso where he had been involved in a stand-off with officials from National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) over planned evictions in the area. The residents of Kasokoso in Kira Sub-county had gathered to meet MPs Ssemujju and Ronald Balimwezo over the eviction threat hanging on their roofs. Ssemujju said NEMA has been evicting people without compensation Last month, NEMA evicted hundreds of households from Lubigi wetland with the environment watchdog vowing it would not give in to tears but continue with the campaign to reclaim wetlands. They were met with a heavy security presence. Authorities claim they were unaware of the meeting. Mutungo and Kasokoso villages have for years been in the scope of NEMA's eviction as the areas are in swathes of wetlands. Following the Lubigi evictions, many residents in similar situations have been living in fear and after getting the eviction notice, the tension has been high. Police fired teargas to disperse Ssemujju's mini-rally and end it before it had started. The Kira Municipality MP was whisked away in a police van Some of the residents who had gathered to listen to Ssemujju were arrested in the process Security engaged the residents in running battles as they fought to quell the mobilisation exercise MP Ssemujju was not arrested but driven to his home in Kirinya as security quelled any possible attempt by the residents to fight back Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago would arrive at Ssemujju's home to call on the legislator, who was under strict watch of security. Lukwago negotiated his way in.

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