Bukooli Central legislator, Solomon Silwanyi has refuted reports of being roughed up by voters in Bugiri Municipality.
Silwanyi was ‘blocked’ by a rowdy opposition youth group deployed at Police Post Polling Station in Naluwerere ward less then 100 metres away from the home of JEEMA candidate, Asuman Basalirwa.
Acting on allegations that NRM officials were bribing voters to ensure that their candidate, John Francis Oketcho finds his way to Parliament, the charged youth on seeing Silwanyi confronted him.
Sirwanyi says that, minutes later he saw media reports that he had been beaten.
What happened
“On arrival [at the polling station] the angry group blocked my way. I tried to force but they grouped up in big numbers so I had to vacate,” explained Silwanyi.
“When I saw them following me I decided to enter into a police patrol and I left the venue,” says Silwanyi who also refuted the reports that he was giving out money to voters.
But the MP could neither accept nor deny the allegations that during the scuffle he took out pepper spray which he used to rescue himself.
Deputy police spokesman, Patrick Onyango has also refuted claims that the MP was armed but said it was a minor scuffle.