Police have today arrested several opposition leaders who attempted to launch another phase of their civil defiance campaign.

Those arrested include FDC’s Kiiza Besigye, City lord mayor Elias Lukwago and his deputy as well as the 4GC coordinator Mathias Mpuuga.

The members of the opposition under the For God and My Country pressure group had lined up several activities for the launch of the walk to freedom campaign including a visit to the new taxi park.

They had also planned to hold a rally at the constitutional square which has been blocked by the police on grounds that it is illegal.

The group says the activities are in commemoration of the country’s golden jubilee.

However the police say no such activities can be allowed to take place at a time when the country is facing serious terror threats.

The city lord Mayor Elias Lukwago was arrested as he attempted to a address a crowd at Namayiba taxi park.

The police fired teargas to disperse the crowd before whisking Lukwago way to the central police station.

Earlier Lukwago had been arrested and placed under preventive arrest at his home in Wakaliga but he eluded the police and managed to proceed to Namayiba taxi park.

Forum for Democratic Change leader Dr. Kiiza Besigye was arrested from Kisenyi as made his way to the new taxi park.

Besigye too, had earlier eluded police from his home in Kasangati where officers had been deployed to reportedly prevent him from leaving his house.

The 4GC coordinator Matthias Mpuuga was also arrested this morning at his home in Lungujja and later taken to Kiira Road Police station where he was held briefly and later released without charge.

The protests to have now spread to Masaka district where the residents are protesting the arrest of their member of parliament