GOVERNMENT STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS ON THE POWER BLACKOUT AT MANDELA STADIUM DURING THE MATCH BETWEEN AND GUINEA AND ON VIOLENCE IN BUHWEJU DISTRICT

Rt. Hon. Speaker,

This House asked government to make a comprehensive statement on circumstances that surrounded the power blackout at Mandela National Stadium Namboole and the incident in Bushenyi/Buhweju District. Below is the statement:

A. POWER BLACKOUT AT MANDELA STADIUM DURING THE MATCH BETWEEN UGANDA AND GUINEA

Background On 10th September 2014 there was a football match between Uganda Cranes and Guinea team at Mandela National Stadium Namboole. The match started at 19 30 hours and went through the first half. It was during the second half, 15minutes towards the end of the match that a power blackout in the pitch happened between 20 55 hours and 21 02 hours. This lasted seven minutes.

1 Action Taken The Managing Director of the Stadium was arrested and escorted to police, interviewed and his statement recorded and consequently released on bond. A police case file SD REF 73/10/9/2014 (CRB 1353/2014) was opened to facilitate investigations and the following was established;

 That there was a football match between Uganda Cranes and Guinea which was scheduled on the 10th of September 2014 between 1930hours to around 2230hours at Mandela National Stadium organized by CAF.  The Stadium flood lights blacked out at 2055hours and restored back at 2102hours, giving an interval of 7 minutes.  It was also established that, Mandela Stadium has two lighting systems namely; the flood lights which lights the pitch and the ordinary lights, which serves the offices, the surrounding rooms and the hotel. The flood lights use more voltage than the ordinary lights. Thus, any slight interruption or change (either increase or decrease) in power voltage automatically affects the function of the floodlighting system and when power goes off, it gradually lights up within an interval between seven to ten minutes.  It was further established that there were two interruptions in

2 the Namugongo11 KV feeder from which is shared by Mandela Stadium on the 33/11kv substation Kireka. This interrruptions occurred between 1500hours and 2053hours two minutes before the incident in the Mandela stadium. This could have impacted on the neighboring areas, Mandal stadium inclusive.  According to the eye witness, Ms. Mamugerwa Hasifa, there was blast at the substation opposite the stadium and thereafter she saw darkness allover the stadium and the pitch.  Therefore, there could have been a technical problem within the power substation serving the stadium coupled with inefficient lighting system. Recommendations Government working through the Ministry of Education;  To implore the Mandela National Stadium management to consider acquiring a more powerful generator to beef up the existing ones so that it is equivalent to the power demand of the floodlights in cases of power fluctuations.  To upgrade lighting system to a more stable system which can accommodate any fluctuations in power supply without switching off the lights.

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Rt Hon Speaker, the second part of this statement is about,

B. THE VIOLENCE IN BUHWEJU DISTRICT Background On 18th September 2014, there was violence at Malindi Police Post in Engaju Sub-county, Buhweju District when boda boda riders from Bushenyi District stormed it to demand for a suspected boda boda thief, Muhangi Justus, so that they could lynch him. When the Police refused to hand over the suspect, the boda boda riders became rowdy, cut Cpl. Katungi, a UPDF veteran serving as SPC, injured another Policeman on the eye, and wanted to burn the Police Post using petrol. Cpl Katungi, in the process of defending himself, shot dead one Ndyamujura Asaph, and the rest of the boda boda riders ran away, abandoning 28 motor cycles at the Police Post. Police later impounded the motor cycles as exhibits and took them to Buhweju Police Station.

On 16th September 2014, a passenger, later identified as Katungi Justus, had hired a boda boda rider, Edon Kwatampora, to take him from Bitooma Sub-county to Kakanju sub-county in Bushenyi District, but on reaching Kasanda Trading Centre in Kakanju Sub- County, the passenger grabbed the motor cycle Reg. No. UEB

4 403J from the boda boda rider and disappeared.

On 17th September 2014, a suspect identified as Muhangi Justus was arrested in Buhweju District and detained at Malindi Police Post in Engaju Sub-County.

On 18th September 2014, about 40 boda boda riders in Bitooma Sub-County, on learning about the arrest of the suspect, organized themselves and rushed to Buhweju District where they were involved in the aforementioned violence.

The boda boda riders, fearing that they could be arrested for the offenses committed at Malindi Police Post, never went to claim their motor cycles from Buhweju Police Station. They instead reported to Hon. Raphael Magezi, their area MP to help them recover their motor cycles. Steps Taken  Cpl Katungi John Bosco who shot the boda boda cyclist was arrested, as investigations were launched.  Two investigations files were opened on the incident at Malindi Police post, one is CRB 311/2014 of Buhweju on the damage to property and attack on the Police. Another is CRB 320/2014 of Buhweju on the murder of a boda boda

5 cyclist.  The files have been concluded and have been forwarded to the DPP for advice.  The suspects who attacked the police post are on police bond.  On 23rd September 2014, Buhweju DPC and DISO met the boda boda owners (not riders), sensitized and cautioned them, and released 27 out of 28 motor cycles to them.  The suspected motor cycle thief, Muhangi Justus, is pending trial in court. However, due to interference by boda boda riders, Police was not able to quickly thoroughly investigate the theft case and the motor cycle (UEB 403 J) is still missing.

Thank you all.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY

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