Kyadondo East Member of parliament Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine is set to start his presidential bid consultations today but Gayaza parish grounds where he is supposed to kick off the meetings, has been cordoned off by police.
It has also been reported that Police ordered tent and music service providers off the grounds.
Police also argues the grounds are open and consultations should be in closed spaces.
In another development, two People power coordinators have arrested and they include Kasangati mayor who heads Bobi Wine’s elections teams.
People Power yesterday claimed that some hotel and venue owners have declined to host them claiming they have been intimidated.
A week ago, the Electoral Commission gave Bobi Wine permission to carry on with his nationwide consultations in preparation for 2021 general elections.
However, the commission put conditions to the exercise which include informing the police as required by public order management act.
Speaking to the spokesperson of the pressure group, Joel Ssenyonyi over the weekend said that they are set for the launch of the consultations today beginning with Kyadondo.
“On Monday at 10:00am, we shall be in the Kyadondo and that is where we are going to begin from. We have notified police, we have also notified all the local authorities in the places we are going to and we are set,” he said.
He also said that some hotels and venue owners had refused to host them claiming that they have been intimidated by the security forces.
“Some of them had actually agreed to give us those spaces and we had even deposited some money to book the spaces and then security forces went there and intimated those people,” he said.
However, the police spokesperson Fred Enanga said Bobi wine is yet to complete all the requirements before he is allowed to proceed with his consultations.
“The Electoral Commission indicated to them that consultations are not public rallies, they should get permission from the venue owners,” he said.
He noted that the pressure group other than the letter that was shown to the force, People Power should get supporting attachments from the owners of the venues.
