NUP last week wrote to the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs seeking to use Kololo for their fourth anniversary celebrations on July 22.
A furious National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi has slammed the government for denying is party’s request to host their anniversary fete at Kololo Ceremonial Ground, saying the decision “exemplifies nothing but state capture”.
NUP last week wrote to the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs seeking to use Kololo for their fourth anniversary celebrations on July 22.
But in a July 16 letter signed by Mr Sam Kallu on behalf of the ministry permanent secretary, the government told NUP to use alternative venues.
“Due to the ongoing infrastructural development at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, we regret to inform you that the grounds will not be available for your event,” the letter says in part.
It was an audacious request by the country’s biggest opposition party to use Kololo Independence Ground for their anniversary celebrations and My Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, and his team appear to have thrown a stone up to see if it will come back down due to gravity.
“The criminal regime is very predictable,” Mr Kyagulanyi fumed.
“These same grounds have been hosting different events, including recently when they had an event to apparently recognise 40 years of NRM – in actual sense 40 years of plunder and misrule.
“Different individuals and other organizations continue to hold concerts and other events there. Effectively, these public grounds are only available for use by everyone who worships Gen Museveni and his regime.”
The NUP principal, who is leading his party on a countrywide mobilisation tour in the western swathes, said drew parallels between the snub for the Kololo venue and the woes they are facing.
He said all venue owners in towns where they are canvassing support in have been intimidated not to host NUP.
“Even those we had booked in Ntungamo and Isingiro were intimidated, and forced to cancel their bookings with us,” Mr Kyagulanyi said.
In their request, NUP had said it was open to adjusting its programme accordingly if for any reason Kololo was not available on July 22.
The party beseeched the government for any other day on which the grounds are available before the end of August.
But Mr Kallu did not indicate any such possibilities in the horizons, leaving an ominous conclusion that the ceremonial ground might already be under fortified security, just in case.
“Eventually, we must fight hard collectively to end this humiliation in our own country,” said Mr Kyagulanyi.
Founded on July 22, 2020, ahead of 2021 general elections, NUP is due its fourth anniversary and has plans for a grand party.
The main Opposition party said it is organising the fete under the theme, “Four Years of NUP: The Milestones Reached, the Obstacles Encountered and a Glance into the Future”.
The plan is for the daylong event to start at 9am and close at 6pm.
Kololo Ceremonial Ground, a former airstrip, has been a no-go area for the Opposition.
The last attempt by an Opposition party to hold an event at the venue was in May 2011 when Democratic Party attempted to defy Police and hold a rally there.
Prior in 2007, the government allowed the Opposition to hold its peaceful protest activities at Kololo Airstrip on the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala.
Back then, Forum for Democratic Change led by Dr Kizza Besigye held a photo exhibition protest at the venue.