Police intercepting the rowdy protesters in Kisiita town council in Kakumiro. Photo by Emmanuel Okello.
Police in Kakumiro district have this afternoon dispersed rowdy protesters demonstrating against the arrest, detention and remand of Onesmus Twinamatsiko, the parliamentary flag bearer for Bugangaizi East constituency.
Twinamatsiko was arrested and arraigned before the Kibaale chief magistrates court presided over by Nasifa Namayanja on Wednesday. He was charged with assault and causing bodily harm to Robinnah Nabbanja, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda.
Though he pleaded not guilty to the charges and asked to be granted bail, the magistrate remanded him until September 10th for his bail application hearing.
The incident occurred on July 17th 2025 during the announcement of the NRM party primary results at the Kakumiro District NRM offices.
A scuffle is said to have broken out, during which Twinamasiko allegedly assaulted the Prime Minister in the presence of several party supporters and security personnel.
However, on Thursday afternoon, hundreds of residents in Kakumiro particularly those from Kisiita town council and sub county staged a demonstration demanding for the immediate release of Twinamatsiko.
The demonstrators who included youth, women and the elderly took to the streets of Kisiita town, but were blocked by the police who engaged them in running battles.
The protesters noted that the grounds on which Twinamatsiko was arrested and remanded are not clear and that they are politically motivated.
They demanded that President Museveni should personally intervene to resolve the ongoing internal conflicts among top NRM leaders in the district.
According to the residents, the arrest of Twinamatsiko was irregular and politically motivated, adding that it is a move to prevent him from being nominated for the parliamentary seat.
Police commanded by ASP Peter Muyemba, the officer in charge of Kisiita police station swung into action to disperse the rowdy residents.
For hours, the protesters were engaged in running battles with the police within Kisiita town council.
According to ASP Muyemba, it was illegal for the demonstrators to protest since they had not officially notified the police in writing.
He further stated that the residents cannot demonstrate over an issue that is now before the court. He says they won’t allow the protestors to cause mayhem in the area since some had their own motives.
-URN
