By Godfrey Muhumuza
Five people have Monday been arrested for allegedly protesting the continued stay in office of the Bunyoro Kitara kingdom prime minister Andrew Byakutaaga.
The group led by the Lenox Barongo Mugume, the Interim Minister in charge of Reparations stormed the Kingdom headquarters on Monday afternoon claiming that the term of Office of Andrew Byakutaga had expired and the high court in Hoima last year cleared the interim cabinet led by the Interim Prime Minister Dr. Baltazar Kasirivu Atwooki to take over Office following a consent judgment between Denis Asiimwe and the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Chief Prince Fred Mugenyi Ruchunya.
However, the current Prime Minister Andrew Byakutaga has several times come out to say that the Interim cabinet was appointed illegally adding that the Chief Prince has no powers to appoint Cabinet except the King.
He maintains that he cannot vacate the office until when His Royal Majesty the Omukama Dr. Solomon Gafabusa Iguru I, tells him to do so.
Before his arrest, Brian Makanika said that they came to the kingdom to ascertain the rightful prime minister after the swearing in of the interim cabinet headed by Baltaza.
The fracas led to the intervention of the Police led by the Hoima City Police Commander SP Jimmy Tumwiine who instructed officers to arrest the culprits however some of them resisted the arrest prompting the intervention by the UPDF Royal Guards from Karuziika Royal Palace.
It took the security officers about 20 minutes battling with the protesters until they were arrested and taken to Hoima Central Police Station where they are currently being held.
Badru Mugabi, the Hoima Resident City Commissioner (RCC) says the protesters staged an unlawful assembly resulting into their arrest.
Mugabi says they will now seek legal guidance from the office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the preferred cases suspects are presented to court.
