By Our Reporter
Felix Kulayigye, the spokesperson for the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), addressed the situation following claims about the alleged abduction of Fred Nyanzi, the head of Mobilisation for the National Unity Platform (NUP), and brother of the party’s president, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.
NUP had also accused security forces, including the police, UPDF, and the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT), of entering their offices in Kavule and Kamwokya without a search warrant.
They also claimed that property was damaged, and several items, including laptops, documents, and over 40 million shillings in cash, were taken.
Kulayigye clarified that when Fred Nyanzi fell ill, he was taken to Bombo Military Hospital for medical care. He stated that Nyanzi was not abducted, as some had claimed, and was given medical treatment.
Regarding the raid on NUP offices, Kulayigye explained that the UPDF conducts searches based on credible intelligence. He pointed out that military drills had been observed at the NUP offices, which led to the search.
“In Kavule, it was no longer just a suspicion. We witnessed military drills taking place, but what if there was more?” he said, suggesting that the search was carried out due to security concerns.
He also rejected claims that the search was done improperly, saying it was conducted in the presence of NUP administrators. “The search was conducted in the presence of administrators, so why allow yourselves to be misled?” he said.
Kulayigye raised concerns about the way NUP trains its supporters, saying that it was unusual for a political party to train its members in a manner similar to military drills.“Where have you ever seen a party train its supporters like they’re in military training?” he asked, implying that such activities could be a security concern.
The UPDF spokesperson stressed that the military was not targeting NUP as a political party but was concerned about the actions of some individuals within the party that could pose a security risk.
“NUP itself is not a problem to UPDF; it is the activities of some of its members that attract our interest,” he explained.
Kulayigye concluded by emphasising that the UPDF’s main concern is maintaining national stability. “Our interest is to maintain the stability of this country. Politics of parties is none of our concern, as they are legal. However, if your actions threaten security, we take interest,” he added.
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