Kampala wasn’t a good place to be Thursday due to the riots that broke up in several suburbs as police battled to stop opposition leaders who were walking to their places of work.
Though most areas were peaceful and normal activities were going on reports of riots in Bwaise, Kalerwe, Kajansi and Kasangati kept many people on their toes that the worst might happen and the riots spread across the city.
Matters were not helped when it was first reported that opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye had been shot by soldiers who had been called in to beef up the police in Kasangati and Kalerwe areas. Besigye was injured on his right hand index and middle fingers but police say it must have resulted from scuffles and not police rubber bullets as claimed.
A pregnant woman in Kajjansi was left for dead after she was hit by a suspected bullet or tear gas canister. It left her intestines hanging out and she was rushed to Mulago hospital where she is fighting for dear life.
Several other people including school pupils and a baby were severely injured and made unconscious by the teargas as the police unleashed another round of anti riot measures.
Judith Nabakooba has confirmed that Kampala Metropolitan CID chief John Kato was severely beaten by the rioters in Kasangati and is admitted at a hospital in Kampala.
Over 103 people were arrested including opposition leaders and Members of parliament who were caught walking to their respective places of work. But two MPs, Geoffrey Ekanya (Tororo) and Odonga Otto (Aruu) managed to walk to Parliament without being arrested.
The opposition has threatened to continue the protests even on May 12th when President Yoweri Museveni will be swearing in. Besigye says opposition politicians are being arrested for walking to identify with the people suffering due to high prices of goods and services, while President’s office has asked and been given an extra three billion shillings for President Museveni’s swearing in ceremony.
Nabakoba however insists the police will not allow any such protests and advised the politicians to seek for alternative ways of expressing their grievances.
Ultimate Media