Police has confirmed the arrest of State Minister for Labour Mwesigwa Rukutana.
Rukutana was arrested on Saturday by police in Ntungamo together with his three escorts following a shooting incident in Ruhama, Ntungamo district in which one person was seriously injured and a motor vehicle damaged during the NRM primaries on Friday.
“The victim was rushed to hospital in critical condition while the suspects are in detention on charges of inciting violence, attempted murder by shooting and malicious damage,” Polly Namaye, the Deputy Police Spokesperson said on Saturday.
In a video making rounds on social media, Rukutana is seen picking an AK47 rifle from his police guard and advancing towards a car occupied by unidentified people.
The guard then quickly removes the magazine from the gun, preventing the minister from shooting people.
The incident followed unprecedented violence in Rubaare (the minister’s home town) where Rukutana is battling Naome Kabasharira in the Rushenyi NRM MP primaries.
Voting in some parts of Rushenyi, Ntungamo District, Western Uganda, were on Friday postponed over violence.
However, Rukutana defended himself saying that he was forced to pick a gun from his guard to to protect himself from armed people.
But his rivals say he was bribing people at his home which they raided to collect evidence.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
