At least six people have been admitted at Rakai hospital in critical condition following clashes between different candidates in the just concluded National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries.
The victims include Remegio Lubyayi, 45, of Buyamba sub-county, John Kakooza, and four others whose identities had yet not been established. It is said that the six were injured during a fight by groups of supporters of Amos Mandela, the Buyamba County MP and his arch-rival Gyaviira Ssemwanga.
Dr Yasin Kiyemba, the hospital medical superintendent, confirmed that the hospital was treating six injured persons. According to Dr Kiyemba, they received several patients with severe injuries from different sub-counties but some were discharged because of their injuries were minor.
He says that the majority of patients who are admitted in the meantime sustained injuries on the head, chest, back and other parts of the body and some complained of severe chest pain.
Zaabeti Nalubega, Lubyayi’s mother, says that his son was attacked by Mandela’s supporters accusing him of campaigning against their candidate, while Kakooza says he was attacked by supporters of Kooki County MP Boaz Kasirabo in Rakai town council. They reportedly suspected him of being among a group that tore a voters’ register early in the day.
However, two people have been arrested in connection with the incidents and detained at Rakai police station as investigations continue. Ben Niwamanya, the district police commander says they are still looking for more suspects to aid their investigations in the matter. He appealed to the residents and supporters of all candidates to refrain from taking the law in their hands.