International Human Rights body Amnesty International has asked the Uganda police to withdraw all charges put on opposition politicians arrested in Monday’s walk to work protest.
This follows the arrest and charging of Forum for Democratic Change President, Dr. Kizza Besigye, Democratic Party President, Norbert Mao and several other top opposition politicians for what police termed as inciting violence and disobeying lawful orders of police not to walk to their places of work.
Kizza Besigye being arrested on Monday
Dr. Godfrey Odong, the National Director of Amnesty International in Uganda says the police used excessive force to stop opposition leaders from walking to their places of work, and then took them to court with unclear charges.
He says the government of Uganda must desist from abusing the rights of its citizens in such a “blatant manner”, saying the opposition leaders did not commit any crime by deciding to walk to their respective places of work.
The opposition in Uganda on Monday launched a walk to work protest which they said is meant to identify with may common Ugandans who can no longer afford transport fares and food due to rising food and fuel prices.
The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura had warned the opposition leaders against the walk to office protest, saying the police will “deal heavily” with them. He accused the opposition of planning to destabilize business in Kampala city.
Opposition leaders have however vowed not to give up their peaceful walk to work protest, and insisted they will go ahead with another such protest on Thursday. Besigye told journalists on Tuesday that since the police and government had not charged them for walking to their offices, which they were doing, the opposition leaders will “once again join other Ugandans to walk to office” until government acts to reduce the rising cost of living.