The United Nations Human Rights Center in Uganda has demanded the immediate release of opposition activists arrested and detained while walking to work on Monday.
Margaret Sekaggya
The Director of the Centre, Margaret Sekaggya, a former Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission says it is the right of every Ugandan walk to any place that they want.
This follows today morning’s arrest of Forum for Democratic Change President; Dr. Kizza Besigye, Uganda People’s Congress President, Olara Otunu, Democratic Party President, Nobert Mao and many others people participating in the walk to work protests on Monday.
Sekaggya told journalists in Kampala that the detention of the opposition leaders is illegal since it contravenes Uganda’s constitution and other human rights instruments that guarantee freedom of movement, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.
She said a team from the United Nations Human Rights Centre and Uganda Human Rights Commission tried to access some of the arrested leaders and were not successful. She said the OC at Kasangati Police Station, David Mukitale where Besigye was being held told them they cannot access the detained opposition leader until much later. Sekyaggya said this trend of events is worrying for the country’s human rights record.
Besigye and Otunu were later in the evening charged with inciting violence, engaging in unlawful riots and failing to obey lawful police instructions. Nobert Mao was remanded till May 2nd after he refused to ask for bail at the City Hall Magistrate’s Court where he was also charged with inciting violence, engaging in unlawful protest and failure to obey a police officer on duty.