Okiria appealed to the President as the Commander-in-Chief to withdraw the SFC soldiers from Nantaba because he argued she has failed to make good use of their guarding services.
Just days into the political campaigns for parliamentary aspirants, the exercise in Kayunga district has turned bloody, with Special Forces Command (SFC) guards for the district woman MP, Idah Erios Nantaba said to have twice assaulted supporters of rival aspirants leading to hospitalization of two of them.
Eyewitness testimonies claim that in the latest incident at Tweyagalire village in Kitimbwa sub-county, the SFC soldiers reportedly grew angry when at question time, voters asked Nantaba why she drags land wrangle issues in her campaign as a bait for wooing voters, without taking positive actions towards ending such wrangles.
This is said to have infuriated the soldiers who began pinpointing the questioners and started beating them using electricity wires, with claims that they were containing a situation where some voters were alleged to be inciting violence and causing havoc. Ever since she lost her cabinet slot, Nantaba has retained her SFC body guards.
Four victims identified as a 27-year-old Tonny Okiria, a barber in Nkokonjeru village, Bernard Etyawo and two unidentified women were seriously beaten and rushed to Kitimbwa Health Centre for treatment.
One of the victims who sustained deep cuts on the head, said they were asking questions and that instead of the MP Nantaba answering their questions, they were instead beaten up by her soldiers.
Okiria appealed to the President as the Commander-in-Chief to withdraw the SFC soldiers from Nantaba because he argued she has failed to make good use of their guarding services. The assaulted residents reported the case at Kayunga Central Police Station.
An unidentified campaigner faulted the victims for allegedly attacking the soldiers which infuriated them into beating them up. He said their camp has got information that a group of lumpens had been paid to cause havoc at Nantaba’s rally.
At Kayunga police, the DPC Hussein Mugarura confirmed that they had received news of the incident, but declined to divulge more, referring reporters to Ssezzibwa Regional Police Spokesperson, Hellen Butoto, who said she was waiting for full details.
The RDC Mariam Sseguya cautioned perpetrators of the violence to desist from such actions or risk being arrested and tried for disorganizing election processes.
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Last Tuesday, in a slightly related incident, Kitimbwa sub-county council speaker Francis Ntambi was assaulted at Nantaba’s rally for unestablished reasons.
Nantaba (independent) who is seeking for the fourth term, is facing off with Jacklyn Birungi, the NRM flag bearer and daughter to the district NRM chairperson, Moses Karangwa Kaliisa, a sworn enemy of Nantaba, Harriet Nakwedde of the NUP, Agatha Nalubwama and Margaret Nabirye.