Shop owners operating on various streets of Kagadi and Hoima have closed their businesses ahead of campaign Rallies for Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, Presidential candidate of the National Unity Platform-NUP party.
Kyagulanyi is set to address rallies in Muhoro and Kagadi Model Primary school before he proceeds to Kibaale, Kakumiro, Kikuube and Hoima for other rallies.
However, before his rallies, several businesses have been closed in the two towns.
In Kagadi town, several shops along Market, Kabalega and Mugenyi streets had closed by 9am amidst tight police deployment.
John Seguya who has an electronic shop along Kabalega Street says he has opted to stay home since Kyagulanyi’s rallies in various parts of the country have ended in chaos and he anticipates the same could happen in Kagadi.
Rose Kusiima who operates a retail shop along Kabalega Street says they anticipate chaos in the town center as Kyagulanyi holds rallies in the area adding that she closed her shop to secure her business premises from being destroyed.
Joseph Ndahura who operates a mobile money outlet in Muhoro says he has been compelled to close his business premises after witnessing heavy deployment of UPDF and Anti-riot police.
Jane Karungi who owns a Produce store in Kiryatete along the Hoima-Fortportal road says she cannot open her store since Kiryatete is ever the epicenter of chaos by NUP supporters.
Joseph Kabirit, the Chairperson Business Community Muhooro says most traders are fearing to operate today since they anticipate chaos. He however says with the deployment of UPDF and the police there may not be much violence.
Stephen Kamar, the Kagadi District Police Commander-DPC calls for calm among the business communities and the entire people of Kagadi saying police is in control to secure them with their property.
Meanwhile Hundreds of Kyagulanyi’s supporters took to the Kagadi-Muhooro-Kyenjojo road to go and welcome him at Musizi Bridge which is 15KM away from Kagadi town.
The supporters were being escorted by police and the Uganda people’s defense forces UPDF-soldiers.