Pastor, five followers in trouble for allegedly planning mass protests over President's unfulfilled pledges

A reverend and five followers from Fort Portal City, western Uganda are cooling their heels in police cells after they were arrested for allegedly planning mass demonstrations over president's unfulfilled pledges.

Rev Kintu Willy Muhanga (former Fort Portal City Mayor) alongside David Musinguzi, Patrick Amanyire Kasoro, John Chris Tusiime, Henry Kyomuhendo Atom and Thomas Kakuru had reportedly started mobilising for protests to "pray over unfulfilled pledges".

The six were denied bail on Friday by Magistrate Annet Namakati at a court in Fort Portal City. This was after prosecutor Robert Arinaitwe pleaded with the court for more time to gather evidence on the case.

The religious leader and his followers were arrested on Wednesday, March 29, as they moved in parts of Fort Portal City and Kabarole District lobbying for protests over President Yoweri Museveni's unfulfilled pledges.

Among their list of demands was construction of Kijura Road, an industrial park at Kyembogo,  reconstruction of Buhinga Stadium and construction of Saaka and Kazingo security roads.

West Rwenzori police spokesperson Vincent Twesige said the reverend intended to mobilise over 10,000 people to march in protests.

"We tried to engage them in dialogue but they refused to listen. Today at 09:30 am the organizers stormed NARO offices at Kyembogo with intentions of attracting large crowds to vandalize property, cause damage to lives, threaten employees of NARO and most importantly on their agenda was to discredit the image and name of the government. We arrested the group to help with investigations," Twesige added.

President Museveni allegedly promised to tarmack the 30km Fort Portal-Kijura Road in 2012, reiterated the same in 2013 and even included the promise in his 2021 manifesto.

However, it appears that a land dispute between the local government authorities and community has been derailing groundbreaking of the project.