Defense Ministry rejects NUP request for Kololo venue

The NUP had last week put in a request to the ministry to be allowed to use the expansive ceremonial grounds to celebrate their 4th anniversary.

In a letter dated July 9 addressed to the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, party Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said the party had reached several milestones in the past four years and that they anticipated a high turn-up of guests for the anniversary commemoration.

“We have decided to hold an event to commemorate four years since the unveiling of our party on July 22, 2024. The event is organised under the theme: ‘Four years of NUP: The milestones reached, obstacles encountered, and a glance at the future,” he wrote.

Rubongoya also noted that the party would be flexible with adjusting the date for the event should the grounds not be available on the specified date, noting that they could postpone the event until the end of August 2024.

Not available

But the Defense Ministry, today, Thursday wrote back informing the opposition party that Kololo would not be available, owing to ongoing “infrastructural development”

“Due to the ongoing infrastructural development at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, we regret to inform you that the grounds will not be available for tour event,” reads the letter signed by Sam Kallu on behalf of the PS.

“You are therefore requested to seek an alternative venue.”

The Defense Ministry's response to NUP pulse uganda

Bobi Wine, the NUP described the Defence Ministry’s response as “predictable.”

“These same grounds have been hosting different events, including recently when they had an event to apparently recognize 40 years of NRM- in actual sense 40 years of plunder and misrule. Different individuals and other organizations continue to hold concerts and other events there. Effectively, these public grounds are only available for use by everyone who worships Gen. Museveni and his regime!” he wrote.

“This exemplifies nothing but state capture! Even as we traverse Western Uganda for our #NUPCountryWideTour2 all venue owners in towns have been intimidated not to host us. Even those we had booked in Ntungamo and Isingiro were intimidated, and forced to cancel their bookings with us. Regime operatives have all been directed to give us venues that are located in villages that are sparsely populated. It still baffles them that many people are still able to travel these distances to come and listen to us. “