Akifeza’s campaign vehicle shot at as youths demand allowances

Kisoro Police Monday evening arrested two security guards after a shooting incident near Pride Microfinance in Kisoro municipality.

The two security officers, identified as Niyonteze Emmanuel and Turyatunga Evarist, are alleged to have shot two bullets to disperse people that were causing commotion near the banking institution, at around 9:30pm.

It is said that the rowdy youths that included boda boda riders, surrounded one of the campaign vehicles registration number UAV 360Z, belonging to Akifeza Grace Ngabirano, one of the 8 women campaigning for the NRM flag in the Kisoro Woman MP by-election.

www.vomuhabura.com has established that Ms Akifeza was not in the vehicle at the fateful moment. It was with her driver, only identified as Kato.

Sources say the boda boda riders were submitting a list of those who had spent the day rallying behind Akifeza in Muramba and Nyarusiza Sub Counties, but had not got their allowances as promised.

An eyewitness said, “it is at that moment that the security guards ordered them to leave but they refused, insisting they wanted a refund of their fuel. Kato is the one who appealed for help from the security guards.”

In one of the audio recordings circulating on social media, the riders can be heard complaining, “we followed her to Nyarusiza and Muramba but she has run away without giving us our allowances as we agreed.”

They surrounded the vehicle and ‘vowed not to leave until we get our money.’

The driver, Kato, is said to have been registering a group of riders to accompany Akifeza on her campaign trail.

Eyewitnesses say that when the rowdy riders refused to leave, the security guards discharged bullets, with one hitting the vehicle.

No injuries were reported, but one of the vehicle’s windows was damaged.

Kisoro District Police Commander (DPC) SP Ben Nuwamanya confirmed the incident, saying police swiftly arrested the pair.

SP Nuwamanya adds that the security guards recorded statements and were released on police bond.

“We released them on bond because the owner of the vehicle forgave them.”

By publication time, the damaged vehicle was parked at Mubano Hotel. Akifeza, one of the leading candidates, was yet to make a comment on the incident.