The Democratic Party has threatened to drag the government of Uganda to court for what they termed as malicious prosecution and unlawful detention.
DP president, Nobert Mao
DP President Nobert Mao said they were arrested while walking individually to their places of work, detained for long hours and presented before court after working hours (after 5pm), which Mao says contravenes the constitution.
He says the actions of the police were illegal and uncalled for since the people walking to their places of work did not present a threat to anyone.
Mao told journalists in Kampala today that the police and the ruling National Resistance Movement government have decided to brand the opposition as lumpens and every time the opposition talks of a demonstration, the police stops the demonstration on allegations that the opposition will disrupt business and lead to stealing of people’s property.
Mao says the government must respect the rights and freedoms of Ugandans to move and to demonstrate over any issue they are not comfortable about.
The police on Monday arrested former presidential candidates Mao, Forum for Democratic Change President Dr. Kizza Besigye and other top opposition politicians who were caught walking to their places of work as the opposition begun their walk to work protests against the rising cost of living in Uganda.