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NUP Denied Kololo Grounds for Fourth Anniversary

The government has rejected the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) request to host their fourth anniversary at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

On July 22, the NUP will be celebrating four years since their unveiling into the political space. To celebrate this achievement, the Kavule leadership had written to the defence ministry for permission to use Kololo. In a letter dated July 9, Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya expressed their desire to use the national grounds.

However, according to the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, the NUP should find another venue. In a response to the NUP leadership, the defence ministry said Kololo Ceremonial Grounds won’t be available on July 22. They attributed this to the ongoing infrastructural development at the venue.

According to Sam Kallu, who wrote on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the Kavule faithful should seek another venue. To the contrary, NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine says this is evidence of double standards at play. Kyagulanyi expressed his disappointment in the defence ministry through a post on X, formerly Twitter.

NUP President hints at double standards

“These same grounds have been hosting different events. Recently, they had an event to apparently recognize 40 years of NRM. In actual sense, these are 40 years of plunder and misrule.” – Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.

Kyagulanyi wondered why other organizations are allowed to host events at Kololo. According to Kyagulanyi, there’s an unwritten rule that the grounds can only be available to NRM supporters. This, he says, exemplifies nothing but state capture.Currently, Kyagulanyi and the NUP leadership are traversing Western Uganda on a countrywide tour. But according to Kyagulanyi, denying them access to venues has become a norm.

This has been evidenced in Bundibugyo district where they were denied access to Boma Grounds that they had paid for. Instead, they were directed to a venue 30 miles from town.Kyagulanyi believes this is because venue owners have been intimidated not to host them.

“Even those [venues] we had booked in Ntungamo and Isingiro were intimidated. They were forced to cancel their bookings with us. Regime operatives have all been directed to give us venues that are located in villages that are sparsely populated. It still baffles them that many people are still able to travel these distances to come and listen to us.” – Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.

NUP’s attempt to use Kololo Ceremonial Grounds isn’t the first time an opposition party has requested the venue. In May 2011, the Democratic Party attempted to hold a rally at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.


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