NEWS- The Police and Uganda People’s Defence Forces UPDF soldiers in Kabale District on Sunday foiled a sports event organized by the Former Ndorwa West Parliamentary Aspirant Simon Agaba under the Patriotic League of Uganda-PLU Brand.
Agaba who recently started an annual event code-named Ndorwa West MK Football tournament, had planned to give out medals to participants in the concluded competition, during a largely attended event at Katwaro playground, in Ryakarimira Town Council, Kabale District. The medals were meant to replace the ones reportedly stolen by thugs during the final day of the tournament on May 26, 2024.
However, the Officer in Charge of Ryakarimira Police Post descended onto the football pitch accompanied by UPDF Officers armed with guns and sticks, ordered the footballers and their supporters to vacate the place with immediate effect.
This was shortly after Patrick Twesigye, the Nyakitokoro cell chairperson in Kacereere ward, Ryakarimira Town Council complained that he had not been informed about Agaba’s PLU event, hence declaring it unlawful and “not permitted” to proceed. Twesigye arrived at the venue donning a yellow shirt with names and portraits of Minister Bahati and President Yoweri Museveni.
Amidst the scuffle, a group of suspected thugs uprooted the goal posts while Agaba’s team engaged Police, UPDF, and other authorities in a heated dialogue.
During the heated argument, Agaba said he was annoyed to see an LC.1 Chairperson frustrating an event that had been cleared by the Kabale District Police Commander, and the Principal Assistant Town Clerk Ryakarimira Town Council.
Cue in……………Twesigye on tournment
Twesigye and the O.C Ryakarimira Town Council Police post insisted that there was no written document to substantiate Agaba’s claims. Their statements were confirmed by the Kabale District Police Commander, SP Joseph Bakaleke in a phone interview. The DPC said he had guided the organizers to postpone the event and inform relevant authorities about the date set, for security reasons.
Cue in………..Bakaleke on event
However, a section of Locals including Sadam Babwekyeka and Celement Tukundane blamed the entire fracas on the LC.1 Chairman, Twesigye whom they accused of sparking the chaos after receiving a sum of Shs.300, 000 from the State Minister of Trade and area MP, David Bahati.
Cue in………..locals on Bahati
One of the Football players, Derrick Ekinamushabire from Butanda Subcounty said Bahati had physically handed over the shs.300, 000 to Twesigye while he (Bahati) was coming from a fundraising ceremony in Kahungye Subcounty. Ekinamushabire claims the money was meant to bribe one group of players into withdrawing from the football match.
Cue in……….Ekinamushabire
This media house could not verify the accusations against Minister Bahati, but our reporter found the Ndorwa West Legislator at Katwaro playground, where the PLU event was being held. Bahati had made a stopover to address the people at the venue. As his cars started off, Simon Agaba also arrived, accompanied by a team of people donning white shirts and caps with Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and P.L.U inscriptions.
Bahati again lowered his car window and said “ogwe arikunuza omukoro kusha,” literally translated as “That one is only spicing up the goings-on.”. The chaos erupted for about 15 minutes later, after his departure.
This reporter was unable to contact the Minister who is also the NRM Chairperson Kabale District for a comment since his known phone numbers were unreachable by the time of filing this news report.
Meanwhile, Agaba was allowed to give out the medals, Brand New foot balls, and more jerseys to participants of the Ndorwa West MK Football tournament 2024.
Security officers allowed him to only address about 70 youths who were all players and their coaches, while the rest of the people were given matching orders, off the playground.