National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders in Rukiga District have petitioned President Yoweri Museveni, accusing security personnel and political actors of engaging in arbitrary arrests and intimidation after the party’s parliamentary primaries.
Led by district chairperson Frank Besigye Kyerere and the entire District Executive Committee (DEC), the leaders condemned what they described as the assault of NRM supporters and misuse of firearms by Andrew Muhwezi, husband to incumbent Rukiga District Woman Member of Parliament Caroline Kamusiime.
They further accused Muhwezi of invoking the names of the President’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) to justify his actions.
Kyerere questioned why the incumbent MP had not waited for the NRM tribunal to determine her petition challenging the primary results, instead choosing to also file a complaint with police.
“As the District Executive Committee, we are going to write to the NRM party Secretary General as well as the President to seek redress,” Kyerere said.
Rukiga County NRM parliamentary flag bearer Patrick Kiconco Katabaazi condemned what he called “systematic targeting” of residents across the district, warning that failure by security agencies and government to intervene could escalate tensions and spark unrest.
The leaders handed a signed petition to Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Zadok Kamusiime, who confirmed receipt and pledged to forward it to relevant authorities.
“Now that you have delivered the petition, we are going to write a covering letter and deliver it to the top authorities. Even at our district security committee, we are going to discuss it and see what can be done,” the RDC said.
Efforts to reach Muhwezi for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to repeated phone calls.