Uganda Police has apologised to the Catholic church for firing tear gas at religious-cultural event attended by retired bishop Emeritus John Baptist Kaggwa in Mityana over the weekend.
Police on Saturday fired teargas to disperse Buganda Kingdom’s Mbogo Clan members who had convened at the clan’s ancestral ground, located at Mugulu in Ziggoti Town Council in a thanksgiving service for their clan head, Gajuule Kasibante.
The mass was led by retired Masaka Diocese Bishop, John Baptist Kaggwa but mid-way through the proceedings, police surrounded the place and asked the masses to leave the premises because their gathering was illegal.
Several members of the Mbogo clan, including Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament Francis Zaake and Mityana Municipality Woman Member of Parliament candidate Joyce Bagala were denied entry and police fired teargas to disperse them when they refused to leave the venue.
Presidential hopeful Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine is also a member of the Mbogo clan and he was denied entry to the clan meeting.
Speaking to journalists today, Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said they anticipated a larger gathering somewhere else as opposition politicians like National Unity Platform party leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, Flag bearers Francis Zaake, and Joyce Bagala had showed up with a fleet of Boda bodas.
Enanga said the tear gas that spread to the church was not intentional, calling on those who intend to organise cultural and religious events to coordinate with police.
Over the weekend, the Katikiiro of Buganda kingdom, Charles Peter Mayiga condemned the security raid on the clan meeting, saying that such actions undermine culture.