Ugandan soldiers and police have been applauded by the Kampala business community for quelling a deadly and destructive Monday April 2019 protest.
Everest Kayondo, the board chairman Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) empathized with traders who operate business around Gayaza Road and are now counting big losses because of errant and violent supporters of Kayondo East Hon Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.
“If it was not for security that calmed the situation, the chaotic and violent protesters would have looted more merchandise than what they looted; prompting traders to close down.”
During the protest, a section of vendors could be heard expressing their grief after their business was paralyzed for more than three hours.
“As the goons rode from Gayaza via Kalerwe market, chanting “tuliyamba engule, kiggwa lero’, they threatened and intimidated the public, put stone blockades on roads, snatched people’s properties. Hadn’t it been for the police officers who fired tear gas to disperse them, most of us by now would be out of business,” a one Grace Namirimu, a vendor along Kalerwe road told this reporter.
A one Isma Katongole, a newspaper hawker in Kalerwe while in a chat with his fellow vendors in a cover they hid to evade the teargas aimed at the protesters, said, “Kakati Taata (loosely translated as Mr) Bobi Wine, you want us to join you to riot because you provoked the police to cancel your music shows, have you considered the majority Ugandans who can’t afford a daily meal?
As you earn over 20 Millions from Parliament, they can’t afford the affluent education your daughter Suubi and son Solomon Kampala have. They are only struggling to make ends meet.”
Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga told Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga commended the anti riot officers on duty for using “minimum force to restrain the violent demonstrators who were throwing stones, metals and water bottles at the police officers.
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