The residents of Uganda Polytechnic Kyambogo (UPK) have today engaged in running battles with security officers after being blocked from accessing the nomination venue at Kyambogo Sports Grounds.
This comes a week after some of the residents dragged Kyambogo University to Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court over a land dispute. They want court to block the university from evicting them.
Now, eight police officers and two soldiers blocked the angry residents who wanted to see president Museveni over the land dispute with Kyambogo University.
The Electoral Commission nominated President Museveni after 10am today.
However, the protesters who stood 50 metres from the Kyambogo University Police Station gate demanded to see Museveni after his nomination. However, an army tank was used to block Kyambogo University Road and as a result, the protesters were not visible from even the Kyambogo University Main gate, which is 60 metres from the entrance of the sports grounds.
Meanwhile, Museveni exited the venue from the main entrance of the sports grounds and was thereby unable to see the protestors. He however left the venue in the company of 10 supporters in the “yellow bus” and other officials from the National Resistance Movement-NRM.
The protestors are residents of 4 villages in Kyambogo Parish, that is K2, K3,K5 and K6 in Nakawa west constituency.
The angry residents say the land, being where the university is chasing them belongs to their ancestors, therefore, if they university is to chase them, they should be compesated or resettled. Mary Zawedde the area local leader says they are about 1300 affected residents and each should be given shillings 1 million as compensation.
Some of the residents agree with Zawedde on the need for compensation while others want relief aid such as food.
Other residents say the land doesn’t belong to Kyambogo University.
The residents are low income earners who engage in making clay charcoal stoves and are also private security guards at Kyambogo University and other nearby institutions.
Meanwhile Vincent Olowo a 30 year old resident decries the lack of electricity and water connection in the area.
*Messages to Museveni*
The residents held placards with messages such as “Dear President Yoweri Museveni, we need time if we are to go, give us like 2-5 years. And when we are going, please let them compensate us with reasonable amount of money” the placard reads.
Another placard says “Dear President why [are] the university top officials chasing us from this land where we were born, it’s now over 40 years.”
Some are now vowing to support opposition especially National Unity Platform (NUP) if president Museveni fails to intervene in their situation.
