Leaders arrested at Kingfisher oil rig launch get police bond

Kingfisher oil rig while at assembling stage. (Image: File)

The two local leaders of Kyangwali Sub-county arrested at the launch of the first oil production rig on Tuesday last week, have been released after four days in Kikuube district main police custody.

Mr William Ugenrwoth, the Nsunzu B Village Chairperson in Buhuka parish told Kazi-njema News that he was released on police bond yesterday Sunday at around 2pm together with his co-accused, Mr Nestori Tumwesigye, the councillor for Kyangwali sub-county.

The Kyangwali Sub-county Chairperson, Mr Emmanuel Bisemeza, stood as surety to get the duo freed on police bond yesterday (Sunday) at around 2pm. The duo will report back to police after two weeks, according to details on the police bond.

Mr Ugenrwoth was arrested shortly after he took steps from the general guests’ tent advancing the tent where Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was seated listening to the speeches about Uganda’s oil industry progress.

Shortly later, Mr Tumwesigye was arrested by the same non-uniformed men believed to be part of the presidential security detail who handed him over to Kikuube district police.

Mr Ugenrwoth confessed to Kazi-njema News that he was actually heading to the president so he could physically tell him his concerns since the army men who took charge of security at the rig launch venue had denied him entry with a written petition.

He adds that his issue is about the dissatisfaction of a group of 32 casual labourers he leads under their umbrella ‘Jembe ni nguvu’ in relation to their works on the Kingfisher access road before it was taken over by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and constructed by the contractors of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) – the Kingfisher oil project developer.

While asked about his arrest and release, Mr Tumwesigye said he was surprised to be linked to the Jembe ni nguvu compensation issue where he is not party and moreover, he even never attempted to get up from his seat when speeches were underway.

“I think my issue was politically motivated because I was seated when Ugenirwoth moved to the president’s side. How then does one say I obstructed order at the gathering?,” asks Mr Tumwesigye.

The two were accused of disrupting order at a gathering, according to Mr Ugenrwoth.

ASP Julius Allan Hakiza, the Albertine Regional Police Spokesperson, confirmed their release on police bond.

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