Mbale — THE Forum for Democratic Change has complained to the police in Mbale that supporters of the National Resistance Movement are tearing down their leader's posters for the presidential campaigns.

They say NRM supporters tear the posters of the FDC presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye, and replace them with those of President Yoweri Museveni in the municipality.

The CID Officer for Mbale, Mr Isaac Oketcho, said they were investigating the matter.

"FDC registered a complaint on Monday morning (yesterday) and investigations into the matter were instituted immediately," he said.

"We have dispatched detectives to visit the scenes of crime and those implicated will definitely be brought to book depending on what the investigations will reveal," Oketcho added.

A survey around town by Daily Monitor also showed that Besigye's posters, which have been visible on most streets since January 15 when he campaigned in the municipality, had become fewer in the town centre.

Many of Besigye's posters were pulled down and burnt while others simply had Museveni's posters pasted over them.

The FDC officials did not give the number of posters that could have been destroyed.

The FDC Mbale District Chairman, Mr Habib Wambede, said he received information yesterday morning that the criminal acts were committed at around 1 a.m.

"The criminals also destroyed the posters of the FDC's Mbale municipality chairman Massa Musa who is vying for the Industrial Division LC3 seat," Wambede said.

He said he had been informed that the group tearing Besigye's posters was led by Lt. Siraje Lubwama and that at one time he pulled a pistol at some people near the taxi park.

"We have handed over the matter to the police and we shall not retaliate. Destroying Besigye's posters will not sway the support he enjoys here," Wambede said.

However, Lubwama, who heads the NRM Mbale district veterans committee, denied the allegations.

He said he was sick and there was no way he could indulge himself in such criminal acts.

"I don't know how someone who is recovering from being battered can go and endanger his life. I dismiss their allegations," Lubwama said.

He alleged that he was a victim of witch-hunt for his role in Operation Wembley, which hunted down armed criminals in various towns countrywide about three years ago.

The NRM Mbale spokesperson condemned the tearing of Besigye's posters saying it tarnishes the party's image.

"Let FDC adduce enough evidence against any of our supporters. I assure the public that we shall not hesitate to dismiss these culprits from the party and if they are arrested, we shall not bail them out," Mr Wasswa Masokoyi said.

Tearing a candidate's poster is an offence and carries a jail sentence of three months or a fine of Shs400,000 or both on conviction.