The Uganda police came under stinging attack on Monday by opposition leaders and human rights activists for its arrest of opposition leaders who decided to walk to their places of work in protest of the high cost of living in Uganda.
The police today arrested Forum for Democratic Chnage President, Dr. Kizza Besigye, Democratic party President General Nobert Mao and other opposition leaders.
Not that this was surprising, as Inspector general of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura had warned the opposition against the walk to work demos, but the manner in which the opposition leaders were violently arrested, put in police cells and produced hastily in different courts left sour words in many a person’s mouth.
FDC Secretary General Alice Alaso condemned what she called the police’s use of “excessive force” to arrest people who were “simply walking to their places of work”. The opposition had mobilised people to walk to work today as a protest against the huge increase in prices of food and other products, as well as high fuel prices as Uganda battles the highest inflation ever of 11.9%.
Besigye was held in a police cell for over six hours and later charged with inciting violence and failure to comply with lawful orders at Kasangatio magistrate’s Court.
Besigye pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the Kasangati Court Magistrate Jumire Mawanda released Besigye on a 10 million shillings non-cash bail after his lawyer David Mpanga applied for bail.
In a day of pure drama that has raised a lot of concerns in human rights circles, the police also arrested several opposition leaders who were walking to areas where they work. These included DP president Norbert Mao, FDC Spokesperson and MP elect for Bukooli Wafula Ogutu, Budadiri East Nandala Mafabi, Rukiga MP elect Jack Sabiti and Bugweri MP Abdu Katuntu among others. John Ken Lukyamuzi, the President of the Conservative party was stopped mid way at Kibuye and whisked back to his home as he walked to his offices in Kampala.
Mao and other opposition leaders were charged at Nakawa magistrate’s Court and later granted bail. It wasn’t clear who of the opposition and the government authorities will claim more victory as the opposition leaders got to walk in protest and attract the public attention after the arrests, and the police managed to show it can block any protest, even a one person walk protest.
Police Spokesperson, Judith Nabakoonba said Besigye was arrested after blocking a road leading into Kampala and ignoring orders of a policeman on duty. She said the police was forced to use teargas to disperse a crowd of Besigye supporters who were pelting police with stone’s after the FDC leader was granted bail.
Besigye said the opposition will continue with peaceful protests against what he termed as bad leadership in Uganda, adding that they will not “be intimidated by any amount of force”.
Besigye and the other leaders will re-appear in the respective court’s to answer the charges laid before them.
